The annual cost of attending a four-year private institution in the United States reached $48,510 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 young people, even when they receive financial aid. This is true across many institutions, not just the colleges with the biggest recent tuition hikes.
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 from 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. This means college prices are disproportionately high for potential undergraduates at a wide array of institutions, and not just at the most expensive college in each state.
Click here to see the cost of college the year you were born
Click here to read our methodology
Source: Keystone Features / Getty Images
1971
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $2,930 (inflation adj.: $18,140)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $1,410 (inflation adjusted: $8,730)
> Per capita income: $4,491 (inflation adjusted: $22,255)
> 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 adj.: $18,580)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $1,550 (inflation adjusted: $9,320)
> Per capita income: $4,880 (inflation adjusted: $23,385)
> 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 adj.: $18,320)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $1,600 (inflation adjusted: $9,100)
> Per capita income: $5,383 (inflation adjusted: $24,477)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.6%
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
1974
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $3,420 (inflation adj.: $17,450)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $1,650 (inflation adjusted: $8,420)
> Per capita income: $5,852 (inflation adjusted: $24,101)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.3%
Source: Ed Uthman / Flickr
1975
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $3,680 (inflation adj.: $17,110)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $1,780 (inflation adjusted: $8,280)
> Per capita income: $6,340 (inflation adjusted: $24,102)
> 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 adj.: $17,570)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $1,940 (inflation adjusted: $8,560)
> Per capita income: $6,890 (inflation adjusted: $24,831)
> 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 adj.: $17,520)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $2,040 (inflation adjusted: $8,430)
> Per capita income: $7,532 (inflation adjusted: $25,486)
> 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 adj.: $17,680)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $2,150 (inflation adjusted: $8,250)
> Per capita income: $8,371 (inflation adjusted: $26,483)
> 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 adj.: $17,270)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $2,330 (inflation adjusted: $8,030)
> Per capita income: $9,252 (inflation adjusted: $26,881)
> 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 adj.: $17,030)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $2,550 (inflation adjusted: $7,770)
> Per capita income: $10,204 (inflation adjusted: $26,765)
> 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 adj.: $17,410)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $2,870 (inflation adjusted: $7,900)
> Per capita income: $11,326 (inflation adjusted: $27,266)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.1%
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Source: David Herman / Getty Images
1982
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $7,130 (inflation adj.: $18,430)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $3,200 (inflation adjusted: $8,270)
> Per capita income: $12,021 (inflation adjusted: $27,416)
> 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 adj.: $19,580)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $3,430 (inflation adjusted: $8,650)
> Per capita income: $12,721 (inflation adjusted: $27,829)
> 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 adj.: $20,460)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $3,680 (inflation adjusted: $8,910)
> Per capita income: $13,929 (inflation adjusted: $29,362)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.1%
Source: Getty Images
1985
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $8,900 (inflation adj.: $20,810)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $3,860 (inflation adjusted: $9,020)
> Per capita income: $14,779 (inflation adjusted: $30,104)
> 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 adj.: $22,670)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $4,050 (inflation adjusted: $9,320)
> Per capita income: $15,510 (inflation adjusted: $30,920)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.4%
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Source: Mike Powell / Allsport / Getty Images
1987
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $10,460 (inflation adj.: $23,160)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $4,200 (inflation adjusted: $9,300)
> Per capita income: $16,313 (inflation adjusted: $31,548)
> 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 adj.: $24,800)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $4,460 (inflation adjusted: $9,480)
> Per capita income: $17,479 (inflation adjusted: $32,532)
> 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 adj.: $25,440)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $4,720 (inflation adjusted: $9,560)
> Per capita income: $18,698 (inflation adjusted: $33,345)
> 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 adj.: $26,050)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $5,070 (inflation adjusted: $9,800)
> Per capita income: $19,641 (inflation adjusted: $33,553)
> 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 adj.: $26,260)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $5,450 (inflation adjusted: $10,080)
> Per capita income: $20,056 (inflation adjusted: $33,154)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 21.4%
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Source: Gary Newkirk / Allsport / Getty Images
1992
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $15,030 (inflation adj.: $26,960)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $5,830 (inflation adjusted: $10,460)
> Per capita income: $21,099 (inflation adjusted: $33,973)
> 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 adj.: $27,570)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $6,210 (inflation adjusted: $10,840)
> Per capita income: $21,738 (inflation adjusted: $34,151)
> 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 adj.: $28,020)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $6,620 (inflation adjusted: $11,240)
> Per capita income: $22,574 (inflation adjusted: $34,739)
> 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 adj.: $28,720)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $6,740 (inflation adjusted: $11,140)
> Per capita income: $23,600 (inflation adjusted: $35,569)
> 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 adj.: $29,470)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $7,140 (inflation adjusted: $11,460)
> Per capita income: $24,762 (inflation adjusted: $36,539)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 23.6%
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Source: David Seelig / Allsport / Getty Images
1997
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $19,360 (inflation adj.: $30,400)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $7,470 (inflation adjusted: $11,730)
> Per capita income: $25,984 (inflation adjusted: $37,686)
> 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 adj.: $31,590)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $7,770 (inflation adjusted: $12,000)
> Per capita income: $27,545 (inflation adjusted: $39,635)
> 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 adj.: $32,470)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $8,080 (inflation adjusted: $12,210)
> Per capita income: $28,647 (inflation adjusted: $40,615)
> 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 adj.: $32,430)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $8,440 (inflation adjusted: $12,310)
> Per capita income: $30,640 (inflation adjusted: $42,388)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 25.6%
Source: Darren McCollester / Newsmakers
2001
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $23,860 (inflation adj.: $33,880)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $9,030 (inflation adjusted: $12,820)
> Per capita income: $31,574 (inflation adjusted: $42,856)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 26.2%
Source: William Thomas Cain / Getty Images
2002
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $24,870 (inflation adj.: $34,800)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $9,670 (inflation adjusted: $13,530)
> Per capita income: $31,807 (inflation adjusted: $42,611)
> 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 adj.: $35,710)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $10,530 (inflation adjusted: $14,430)
> Per capita income: $32,645 (inflation adjusted: $42,901)
> 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 adj.: $36,550)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $11,380 (inflation adjusted: $15,140)
> Per capita income: $34,219 (inflation adjusted: $43,875)
> 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 adj.: $37,070)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $12,120 (inflation adjusted: $15,630)
> Per capita income: $35,806 (inflation adjusted: $44,640)
> 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 adj.: $37,770)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $12,840 (inflation adjusted: $15,900)
> Per capita income: $38,089 (inflation adjusted: $46,229)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 28.0%
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Source: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
2007
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $31,990 (inflation adj.: $38,700)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $13,560 (inflation adjusted: $16,410)
> Per capita income: $39,801 (inflation adjusted: $47,111)
> 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 adj.: $38,720)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $14,370 (inflation adjusted: $16,460)
> Per capita income: $40,855 (inflation adjusted: $46,950)
> 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 adj.: $41,040)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $15,240 (inflation adjusted: $17,830)
> Per capita income: $39,250 (inflation adjusted: $45,147)
> 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 adj.: $42,160)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $16,180 (inflation adjusted: $18,700)
> Per capita income: $40,518 (inflation adjusted: $45,821)
> 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 adj.: $42,350)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $17,160 (inflation adjusted: $19,140)
> Per capita income: $42,709 (inflation adjusted: $47,105)
> 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 adj.: $43,390)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $17,820 (inflation adjusted: $19,600)
> Per capita income: $44,582 (inflation adjusted: $48,252)
> 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 adj.: $44,190)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $18,380 (inflation adjusted: $19,830)
> Per capita income: $44,817 (inflation adjusted: $47,862)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 31.7%
Source: janniswerner / iStock
2014
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $42,450 (inflation adj.: $44,900)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $18,930 (inflation adjusted: $20,020)
> Per capita income: $47,038 (inflation adjusted: $49,490)
> 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 adj.: $46,330)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $19,570 (inflation adjusted: $20,660)
> Per capita income: $48,967 (inflation adjusted: $51,391)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 32.5%
Source: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / Getty Images
2016
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $45,350 (inflation adj.: $47,490)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $20,150 (inflation adjusted: $21,100)
> Per capita income: $49,874 (inflation adjusted: $51,786)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 33.4%
Source: Drew Angerer / Getty Images
2017
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $46,990 (inflation adj.: $48,380)
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $20,790 (inflation adjusted: $21,400)
> Per capita income: $51,722 (inflation adjusted: $52,774)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 34.2%
Source: Photo by Drew Angerer / Getty Images
2018
> Private tuition, fees, room and board per year: $48,510
> Public tuition, fees, room and board per year: $21,370
> Per capita income: $53,697
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 35.0%
Methodology
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 2018 dollars. The share of adults with at least four years of college came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey.
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