How much did a full year at a private 4-year college (tuition, room and board) cost?
A full year at a private 4-year college (tuition, room and board) cost $3,663 in 1975 and $60,920 in 2025: about 17 times as much.
Over the same years, prices in general (US inflation, measured by the consumer price index, CPI) rose about 6 times. That makes $3,663 in 1975 worth about $21,900 in 2025 money. So it got more expensive even after inflation: about 178% more, in real terms, than in 1975.
The biggest change between two listed years came between 2005 and 2025, when it went up 110%, from $29,026 to $60,920.
Private college, full year: price by year
| Year | Price | In 2025 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | $3,663 | $21,900 |
| 1980 | $5,594 | $21,900 |
| 1985 | $8,902 | $26,600 |
| 1990 | $13,476 | $33,200 |
| 1995 | $17,382 | $36,700 |
| 2000 | $22,240 | $41,600 |
| 2005 | $29,026 | $47,800 |
| 2025 | $60,920 | $60,900 |
"In 2025 dollars" adjusts each amount for inflation with the CPI, so the years can be compared fairly. How this works.
Where the numbers come from
The average published price from the College Board's yearly "Trends in College Pricing" report. Each school year is shown under the year it starts (2025 means the 2025-26 year). Many students pay less after grants and aid.
Source: College Board: Trends in College Pricing 2005 (Table 4a) / Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2025 (Table CP-1). View the source.
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