The annual cost of attending a four-year private institution in the United States reached $51,690 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.Â
In order to be able to get a degree, millions of students rack up tens of thousands of dollars in debt, sometimes amassing a debt burden that will take decades to fully pay off. (Here are 50 U.S. counties with the most student debt.)
Based on data from the College Board, a nonprofit group associated with American postsecondary institutions, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the average cost nationwide of attending both four-year public and a four-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 today 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 colleges in every state.
Click here to see the cost of college the year you were born
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Source: Dwayne Bey / Getty Images
1971
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $2,930 (adj. for inflation: $19,450)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $1,410 (adj. for inflation: $9,360)
> Per capita income: $4,471 (adj. for inflation: $29,914)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 11.4%
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Source: Susan Schiff Faludi / Three Lions / Getty Images
1972
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $3,090 (adj. for inflation: $19,870)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $1,550 (adj. for inflation: $9,970)
> Per capita income: $4,857 (adj. for inflation: $31,486)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.0%
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Express Newspapers / Getty Images
1973
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $3,220 (adj. for inflation: $19,490)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $1,600 (adj. for inflation: $9,690)
> Per capita income: $5,363 (adj. for inflation: $32,730)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 12.6%
Source: John Downing / Express / Getty Images
1974
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $3,420 (adj. for inflation: $18,650)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $1,650 (adj. for inflation: $9,000)
> Per capita income: $5,836 (adj. for inflation: $32,077)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.3%
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Source: Express Newspapers / Getty Images
1975
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $3,680 (adj. for inflation: $18,390)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $1,780 (adj. for inflation: $8,890)
> Per capita income: $6,324 (adj. for inflation: $31,852)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 13.9%
Source: Fortgens Photography / Getty Images
1976
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $3,980 (adj. for inflation: $18,800)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $1,940 (adj. for inflation: $9,160)
> Per capita income: $6,875 (adj. for inflation: $32,740)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 14.7%
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Source: Fortgens Photography / Getty Images
1977
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $4,240 (adj. for inflation: $18,810)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $2,040 (adj. for inflation: $9,050)
> Per capita income: $7,516 (adj. for inflation: $33,607)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.4%
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
1978
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $4,610 (adj. for inflation: $19,010)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $2,150 (adj. for inflation: $8,860)
> Per capita income: $8,356 (adj. for inflation: $34,727)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 15.7%
Source: yellowsarah / Getty Images
1979
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $5,010 (adj. for inflation: $18,550)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $2,330 (adj. for inflation: $8,630)
> Per capita income: $9,232 (adj. for inflation: $34,457)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 16.4%
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Source: M. Fresco / Evening Standard / Getty Images
1980
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $5,590 (adj. for inflation: $18,230)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $2,550 (adj. for inflation: $8,320)
> Per capita income: $10,180 (adj. for inflation: $33,477)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.0%
Source: Getty Images
1981
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $6,330 (adj. for inflation: $18,720)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $2,870 (adj. for inflation: $8,490)
> Per capita income: $11,300 (adj. for inflation: $33,685)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.1%
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Source: cws_design / Getty Images
1982
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $7,130 (adj. for inflation: $19,860)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $3,200 (adj. for inflation: $8,910)
> Per capita income: $11,999 (adj. for inflation: $33,693)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 17.7%
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
1983
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $7,760 (adj. for inflation: $20,940)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $3,430 (adj. for inflation: $9,260)
> Per capita income: $12,698 (adj. for inflation: $34,546)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 18.8%
Source: bgwalker / Getty Images
1984
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $8,450 (adj. for inflation: $21,860)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $3,680 (adj. for inflation: $9,520)
> Per capita income: $13,906 (adj. for inflation: $36,267)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.1%
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Source: cws_design / Getty Images
1985
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $8,900 (adj. for inflation: $22,230)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $3,860 (adj. for inflation: $9,640)
> Per capita income: $14,755 (adj. for inflation: $37,158)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.4%
Source: Getty Images
1986
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $9,850 (adj. for inflation: $24,160)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $4,050 (adj. for inflation: $9,930)
> Per capita income: $15,490 (adj. for inflation: $38,297)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.4%
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Source: Getty Images
1987
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $10,460 (adj. for inflation: $24,750)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $4,200 (adj. for inflation: $9,940)
> Per capita income: $16,289 (adj. for inflation: $38,854)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 19.9%
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Source: Tony Duffy / Allsport / Getty Images
1988
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $11,660 (adj. for inflation: $26,490)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $4,460 (adj. for inflation: $10,130)
> Per capita income: $17,455 (adj. for inflation: $39,981)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 20.3%
Source: Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images
1989
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $12,560 (adj. for inflation: $27,230)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $4,720 (adj. for inflation: $10,230)
> Per capita income: $18,676 (adj. for inflation: $40,812)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 21.1%
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Source: GomezDavid / Getty Images
1990
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $13,480 (adj. for inflation: $27,720)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $5,070 (adj. for inflation: $10,430)
> Per capita income: $19,621 (adj. for inflation: $40,679)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 21.3%
Source: Comstock / Getty Images
1991
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $14,190 (adj. for inflation: $28,000)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $5,450 (adj. for inflation: $10,760)
> Per capita income: $20,030 (adj. for inflation: $39,850)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 21.4%
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Source: Jupiterimages / Getty Images
1992
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $15,030 (adj. for inflation: $28,800)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $5,830 (adj. for inflation: $11,170)
> Per capita income: $21,090 (adj. for inflation: $40,732)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 21.4%
Source: Comstock / Getty Images
1993
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $15,800 (adj. for inflation: $29,390)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $6,210 (adj. for inflation: $11,550)
> Per capita income: $21,733 (adj. for inflation: $40,754)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 21.9%
Source: Comstock / Getty Images
1994
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $16,500 (adj. for inflation: $29,930)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $6,620 (adj. for inflation: $12,010)
> Per capita income: $22,575 (adj. for inflation: $41,276)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 22.2%
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Source: yellowsarah / Getty Images
1995
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $17,380 (adj. for inflation: $30,650)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $6,740 (adj. for inflation: $11,890)
> Per capita income: $23,607 (adj. for inflation: $41,974)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 23.0%
Source: Comstock / Getty Images
1996
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $18,360 (adj. for inflation: $31,450)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $7,140 (adj. for inflation: $12,230)
> Per capita income: $24,771 (adj. for inflation: $42,780)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 23.6%
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Source: LindaYolanda / Getty Images
1997
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $19,360 (adj. for inflation: $32,420)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $7,470 (adj. for inflation: $12,510)
> Per capita income: $25,993 (adj. for inflation: $43,884)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 23.9%
Source: Shanina / Getty Images
1998
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $20,460 (adj. for inflation: $33,740)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $7,770 (adj. for inflation: $12,810)
> Per capita income: $27,557 (adj. for inflation: $45,811)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 24.4%
Source: Shanina / Getty Images
1999
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $21,480 (adj. for inflation: $34,660)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $8,080 (adj. for inflation: $13,040)
> Per capita income: $28,693 (adj. for inflation: $46,668)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 25.2%
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Source: landonarnold / Getty Images
2000
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $22,240 (adj. for inflation: $34,720)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $8,440 (adj. for inflation: $13,170)
> Per capita income: $30,672 (adj. for inflation: $48,265)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 25.6%
Source: Westersoe / Getty Images
2001
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $23,860 (adj. for inflation: $36,210)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $9,030 (adj. for inflation: $13,710)
> Per capita income: $31,617 (adj. for inflation: $48,375)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 26.2%
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Source: cws_design / Getty Images
2002
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $24,870 (adj. for inflation: $37,160)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $9,670 (adj. for inflation: $14,450)
> Per capita income: $31,839 (adj. for inflation: $47,957)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 26.7%
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Amax Photo / Getty Images
2003
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $26,060 (adj. for inflation: $38,070)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $10,530 (adj. for inflation: $15,380)
> Per capita income: $32,717 (adj. for inflation: $48,181)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 27.2%
Source: Wolfsburg1984 / Getty Images
2004
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $27,470 (adj. for inflation: $39,090)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $11,380 (adj. for inflation: $16,190)
> Per capita income: $34,280 (adj. for inflation: $49,173)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 27.7%
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Source: Altinosmanaj / Getty Images
2005
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $28,740 (adj. for inflation: $39,560)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $12,120 (adj. for inflation: $16,680)
> Per capita income: $35,868 (adj. for inflation: $49,765)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 27.7%
Source: LSOphoto / Getty Images
2006
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $30,500 (adj. for inflation: $40,670)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $12,840 (adj. for inflation: $17,120)
> Per capita income: $38,120 (adj. for inflation: $51,237)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 28.0%
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Source: lechatnoir / Getty Images
2007
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $31,990 (adj. for inflation: $41,470)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $13,560 (adj. for inflation: $17,580)
> Per capita income: $39,883 (adj. for inflation: $52,122)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 28.7%
Source: deucee_ / Getty Images
2008
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $33,800 (adj. for inflation: $42,200)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $14,370 (adj. for inflation: $17,940)
> Per capita income: $41,026 (adj. for inflation: $51,633)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 29.4%
Source: JasonDoiy / Getty Images
2009
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $35,070 (adj. for inflation: $43,940)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $15,240 (adj. for inflation: $19,090)
> Per capita income: $39,356 (adj. for inflation: $49,708)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 29.5%
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Source: Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images
2010
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $36,470 (adj. for inflation: $44,960)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $16,180 (adj. for inflation: $19,940)
> Per capita income: $40,690 (adj. for inflation: $50,564)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 29.9%
Source: Koh Sze Kiat / Getty Images
2011
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $37,970 (adj. for inflation: $45,370)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $17,160 (adj. for inflation: $20,510)
> Per capita income: $42,783 (adj. for inflation: $51,538)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 30.4%
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Source: DisobeyArt / Getty Images
2012
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $39,450 (adj. for inflation: $46,190)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $17,820 (adj. for inflation: $20,860)
> Per capita income: $44,614 (adj. for inflation: $52,654)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 30.9%
Source: Kemal Yildirim / Getty Images
2013
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $40,960 (adj. for inflation: $47,260)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $18,380 (adj. for inflation: $21,210)
> Per capita income: $44,894 (adj. for inflation: $52,220)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 31.7%
Source: Prostock-Studio / Getty Images
2014
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $42,450 (adj. for inflation: $48,200)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $18,930 (adj. for inflation: $21,490)
> Per capita income: $47,017 (adj. for inflation: $53,816)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 32.0%
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Source: Alex Brandon-Pool / Getty Images
2015
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $43,880 (adj. for inflation: $49,760)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $19,570 (adj. for inflation: $22,190)
> Per capita income: $48,891 (adj. for inflation: $55,895)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 32.5%
Source: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
2016
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $45,350 (adj. for inflation: $50,790)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $20,150 (adj. for inflation: $22,570)
> Per capita income: $49,812 (adj. for inflation: $56,238)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 33.4%
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Source: Igor Alecsander / Getty Images
2017
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $47,000 (adj. for inflation: $51,540)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $20,790 (adj. for inflation: $22,800)
> Per capita income: $51,811 (adj. for inflation: $57,275)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 34.2%
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Anchiy / Getty Images
2018
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $48,290 (adj. for inflation: $51,690)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $21,400 (adj. for inflation: $22,910)
> Per capita income: $54,098 (adj. for inflation: $58,377)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 35.0%
Source: PIKSEL / Getty Images
2019
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $49,870 (adj. for inflation: $52,430)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $21,950 (adj. for inflation: $23,080)
> Per capita income: $56,047 (adj. for inflation: $59,404)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 36.0%
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Source: Geber86 / Getty Images
2020
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $50,580 (adj. for inflation: $52,530)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $22,290 (adj. for inflation: $23,150)
> Per capita income: $59,510 (adj. for inflation: $62,306)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 37.5%
Source: Fly View Productions / Getty Images
2021
> Private tuition, fees, room & board per year: $51,690 (adj. for inflation: $51,690)
> Public tuition, fees, room & board per year: $22,690 (adj. for inflation: $22,690)
> Per capita income: $00 (adj. for inflation: $00)
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 37.9%
Methodology
To determine the cost of college the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed historical data on tuition, fees, and 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. Data on tuition, fees, and room and board for four-year public and private nonprofit schools was adjusted for inflation by the College Board.Â
Supplemental data on personal income per capita came from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and was adjusted for inflation using the consumer price index for all urban consumers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data on the percentage of adults 25 years and over who have completed at least four years of college came from the Current Population Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau.
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