Special Report

Cost of College the Year You Were Born

Michael B. Sauter

Published: June 12, 2018 10:10 am

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 10:29 pm

The annual cost of attending a four-year private institution in the United States reached $46,950 last year, more than double what it was less than two decades ago.

For many Americans, a college degree is often regarded as a measure of success, yet a postsecondary education has become cost prohibitive for many youths, even when they receive financial aid.

Among those who choose to pursue a degree, millions rack up tens of thousands of dollars in debt, in many cases amassing a burden that will take decades to fully pay off.

Based on data provided by the College Board, a nonprofit group associated with American postsecondary institutions, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed nationwide the average costs of attending four-year public and private colleges each year since 1971. Both figures include tuition, fees, and room and board.

In 1971, a four-year education at a private college in the United States cost less than one-tenth what it does today. Even after adjusting for inflation, a year of private college costs more than two and a half times what it did back then.

To determine the cost of college the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed enrollment-weighted historical figures for average tuition and fees, including room and board, from the College Board, a nonprofit organization working on behalf of colleges and universities. Years listed are for the beginning of the academic year. It is important to note that the inflation adjustment figures for college costs come directly from the College Board’s analysis, whereas 24/7 Wall St. made the inflation adjustment for personal income based on the personal consumption expenditure price index, which came from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and is chained to 2009 dollars. The share of adults with at least four years of college came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey.

Click here to see the cost of college the year you were born.

Source: Keystone Features / Getty Images

1971
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $2,930 (inflation adjusted: $17,620)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $1,410 (inflation adjusted: $8,450)
> Per capita income: $4,488 (inflation adjusted: $19,283)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.4%

Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images

1972
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $3,090 (inflation adjusted: $18,040)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $1,550 (inflation adjusted: $9,080)
> Per capita income: $4,876 (inflation adjusted: $20,258)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.0%

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Source: Ed Uthman / Flickr

1973
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $3,220 (inflation adjusted: $17,790)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $1,600 (inflation adjusted: $8,820)
> Per capita income: $5,372 (inflation adjusted: $21,176)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.6%

Source: Keystone / Getty Images

1974
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $3,420 (inflation adjusted: $16,930)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $1,650 (inflation adjusted: $8,160)
> Per capita income: $5,841 (inflation adjusted: $20,854)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.3%

Source: Ed Uthman / Flickr

1975
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $3,680 (inflation adjusted: $16,630)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $1,780 (inflation adjusted: $8,030)
> Per capita income: $6,329 (inflation adjusted: $20,855)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.9%

Source: Tony Duffy / Getty Images

1976
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $3,980 (inflation adjusted: $17,050)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $1,940 (inflation adjusted: $8,300)
> Per capita income: $6,871 (inflation adjusted: $21,463)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 14.7%

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Source: Peter Keegan / Keystone / Getty Images

1977
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $4,240 (inflation adjusted: $17,010)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $2,040 (inflation adjusted: $8,180)
> Per capita income: $7,511 (inflation adjusted: $22,032)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.4%

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Source: Tony Duffy / Getty Images

1978
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $4,610 (inflation adjusted: $17,180)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $2,150 (inflation adjusted: $7,990)
> Per capita income: $8,353 (inflation adjusted: $22,898)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.7%

Source: Frances M. Ginter / Getty Images

1979
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $5,010 (inflation adjusted: $16,790)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $2,330 (inflation adjusted: $7,800)
> Per capita income: $9,232 (inflation adjusted: $23,246)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 16.4%

Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1980
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $5,590 (inflation adjusted: $16,560)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $2,550 (inflation adjusted: $7,550)
> Per capita income: $10,177 (inflation adjusted: $23,141)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.0%

Source: Courtesy of BU Photography / Boston University

1981
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $6,330 (inflation adjusted: $16,920)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $2,870 (inflation adjusted: $7,670)
> Per capita income: $11,289 (inflation adjusted: $23,564)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.1%

Source: David Herman / Getty Images

1982
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $7,130 (inflation adjusted: $17,890)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $3,200 (inflation adjusted: $8,020)
> Per capita income: $11,969 (inflation adjusted: $23,676)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.7%

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Source: Leo Vals / Getty Images

1983
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $7,760 (inflation adjusted: $19,010)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $3,430 (inflation adjusted: $8,410)
> Per capita income: $12,675 (inflation adjusted: $24,038)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 18.8%

Source: Steve Powell / Getty Images

1984
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $8,450 (inflation adjusted: $19,870)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $3,680 (inflation adjusted: $8,660)
> Per capita income: $13,883 (inflation adjusted: $25,369)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.1%

Source: Getty Images

1985
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $8,900 (inflation adjusted: $20,210)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $3,860 (inflation adjusted: $8,760)
> Per capita income: $14,743 (inflation adjusted: $26,020)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.4%

Source: Rick Stewart / Getty Images

1986
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $9,850 (inflation adjusted: $22,020)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $4,050 (inflation adjusted: $9,050)
> Per capita income: $15,480 (inflation adjusted: $26,742)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.4%

Source: Mike Powell / Allsport / Getty Images

1987
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $10,460 (inflation adjusted: $22,490)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $4,200 (inflation adjusted: $9,030)
> Per capita income: $16,290 (inflation adjusted: $27,309)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.9%

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Source: Rick Stewart / Getty Images

1988
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $11,660 (inflation adjusted: $24,090)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $4,460 (inflation adjusted: $9,200)
> Per capita income: $17,450 (inflation adjusted: $28,157)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 20.3%

Source: Scott Halleran / Allsport / Getty Images

1989
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $12,560 (inflation adjusted: $24,710)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $4,720 (inflation adjusted: $9,280)
> Per capita income: $18,675 (inflation adjusted: $28,890)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 21.1%

Source: Ken Levine / Allsport / Getty Images

1990
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $13,480 (inflation adjusted: $25,300)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $5,070 (inflation adjusted: $9,520)
> Per capita income: $19,611 (inflation adjusted: $29,079)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 21.3%

Source: Ken Levine / Getty Images

1991
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $14,190 (inflation adjusted: $25,500)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $5,450 (inflation adjusted: $9,800)
> Per capita income: $20,011 (inflation adjusted: $28,730)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 21.4%

Source: Gary Newkirk / Allsport / Getty Images

1992
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $15,030 (inflation adjusted: $26,180)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $5,830 (inflation adjusted: $10,160)
> Per capita income: $21,069 (inflation adjusted: $29,470)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 21.4%

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Source: Jonathan Daniel / Allsport

1993
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $15,800 (inflation adjusted: $26,780)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $6,210 (inflation adjusted: $10,530)
> Per capita income: $21,703 (inflation adjusted: $29,617)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 21.9%

Source: Doug Pensinger / ALLSP / Getty Images

1994
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $16,500 (inflation adjusted: $27,210)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $6,620 (inflation adjusted: $10,920)
> Per capita income: $22,536 (inflation adjusted: $30,127)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 22.2%

Source: Andy Lyons / Getty Images

1995
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $17,380 (inflation adjusted: $27,900)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $6,740 (inflation adjusted: $10,820)
> Per capita income: $23,561 (inflation adjusted: $30,857)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 23.0%

Source: Andy Lyons / Getty Images

1996
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $18,360 (inflation adjusted: $28,620)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $7,140 (inflation adjusted: $11,140)
> Per capita income: $24,719 (inflation adjusted: $31,699)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 23.6%

Source: David Seelig / Allsport / Getty Images

1997
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $19,360 (inflation adjusted: $29,530)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $7,470 (inflation adjusted: $11,390)
> Per capita income: $25,941 (inflation adjusted: $32,701)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 23.9%

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Source: Donald Miralle / Getty Images

1998
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $20,460 (inflation adjusted: $30,690)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $7,770 (inflation adjusted: $11,650)
> Per capita income: $27,498 (inflation adjusted: $34,400)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 24.4%

Source: Harry How / Allsport / Getty Images

1999
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $21,480 (inflation adjusted: $31,530)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $8,080 (inflation adjusted: $11,860)
> Per capita income: $28,599 (inflation adjusted: $35,260)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 25.2%

Source: Darren McCollester / Getty Images

2000
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $22,240 (inflation adjusted: $31,500)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $8,440 (inflation adjusted: $11,950)
> Per capita income: $30,585 (inflation adjusted: $36,791)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 25.6%

Source: Darren McCollester / Newsmakers

2001
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $23,860 (inflation adjusted: $32,900)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $9,030 (inflation adjusted: $12,460)
> Per capita income: $31,525 (inflation adjusted: $37,204)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 26.2%

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Source: William Thomas Cain / Getty Images

2002
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $24,870 (inflation adjusted: $33,800)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $9,670 (inflation adjusted: $13,150)
> Per capita income: $31,789 (inflation adjusted: $37,019)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 26.7%

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Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images

2003
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $26,060 (inflation adjusted: $34,680)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $10,530 (inflation adjusted: $14,020)
> Per capita income: $32,657 (inflation adjusted: $37,292)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 27.2%

Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

2004
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $27,470 (inflation adjusted: $35,500)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $11,380 (inflation adjusted: $14,700)
> Per capita income: $34,280 (inflation adjusted: $38,215)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 27.7%

Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

2005
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $28,740 (inflation adjusted: $36,010)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $12,120 (inflation adjusted: $15,180)
> Per capita income: $35,859 (inflation adjusted: $38,867)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 27.7%

Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

2006
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $30,500 (inflation adjusted: $36,680)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $12,840 (inflation adjusted: $15,440)
> Per capita income: $38,130 (inflation adjusted: $40,252)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 28.0%

Source: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

2007
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $31,990 (inflation adjusted: $37,600)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $13,560 (inflation adjusted: $15,930)
> Per capita income: $39,776 (inflation adjusted: $40,963)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 28.7%

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Source: Robert Spencer / Getty Images

2008
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $33,800 (inflation adjusted: $37,610)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $14,370 (inflation adjusted: $15,990)
> Per capita income: $41,052 (inflation adjusted: $41,025)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 29.4%

Source: David McNew / Getty Images

2009
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $35,070 (inflation adjusted: $39,860)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $15,240 (inflation adjusted: $17,320)
> Per capita income: $39,366
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 29.5%

Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

2010
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $36,470 (inflation adjusted: $40,940)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $16,180 (inflation adjusted: $18,160)
> Per capita income: $40,276
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 29.9%

Source: Mario Tama / Getty Images

2011
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $37,970 (inflation adjusted: $41,140)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $17,160 (inflation adjusted: $18,590)
> Per capita income: $42,469
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 30.4%

Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

2012
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $39,450 (inflation adjusted: $42,150)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $17,820 (inflation adjusted: $19,040)
> Per capita income: $44,263
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 30.9%

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Source: Mario Tama / Getty Images

2013
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $40,960 (inflation adjusted: $42,920)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $18,380 (inflation adjusted: $19,260)
> Per capita income: $44,453
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 31.7%

Source: janniswerner / iStock

2014
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $42,450 (inflation adjusted: $43,610)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $18,930 (inflation adjusted: $19,450)
> Per capita income: $46,459
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 32.0%

Source: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

2015
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $43,880 (inflation adjusted: $45,010)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $19,570 (inflation adjusted: $20,070)
> Per capita income: $48,403
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 32.5%

Source: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / Getty Images

2016
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $45,370 (inflation adjusted: $46,150)
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $20,150 (inflation adjusted: $20,500)
> Per capita income: $49,213
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 33.4%

Source: Drew Angerer / Getty Images

2017
> Private tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $46,950
> Public tuition, fees, room, and board per year: $20,770
> Per capita income: $50,393
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 34.2%