cost of college in 1970 vs today

Private college tuitions witnessed a cost increase in the period of 129% when adjusted for inflation. Home prices aren't the only skyrocketing expense for today's young people. The universities also have to add more administrative employees and faculty. by Intel. 3 Data have been revised from previously published figures. We'll calculate the annual inflation. What percentage of Americans have a college degree? Education costs have risen at an alarming rate as well. Click on their interactive map to see the decrease in public higher education funding in your state! Here are some of the differences that contributed to the pickle we are in today: More students attending college, means schools have to build more facilities to accommodate the demand. The price of college tuition has increased at a pace much faster than that of inflation in recent years. And there's no question that that is a much higher percentage of median [family] incomes than it used to be," Sandy Baum, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, told NPR for their piece "How The Cost Of College Went From Affordable To Sky-High.". cost to watch TV. According to a report by the Delta Cost Project, tuition for a public four-year institution in 1970 was $358 per semester. According to Bloomberg, college tuition and fees have increased 1,120 percent since records began in 1978. John Thelin, author of A History of American Higher Education, told NPR that from "1965 to 1972, colleges and universities dug very deep into their own pockets to provide grants and other forms of student financial aid in partnership with the new federal programs." 11 of ; PHOTO BY: Smith Collection/Gado. How Much Would it Cost; Salary Inf. The total student budget for Princeton University for the current school year (2010-2011) is $48,580. 3. Neither of those figures include room and board. h�b```b``fg`��� ��ea�Г8��`T�05,�,�t��d����a�. Inflation 1970-1979; Cumulative Inflation; Inflation and Recession; Confederate Inflation (1861 – 1865) Misery Index; 15-Yr Inflation Trends Chart; Inflation Calculators. A decade earlier, inflation burned at 9.1 percent, fueled in part by soaring oil prices. Annual inflation over this period was 3.91%. How much did it cost in 1970's? A new home today costs $270,200. The Rise of the College Graduate. By Jillian Berman and Jay Zehngebot startxref Unfortunately, there's no escaping the fact that college costs are rising. Back then, the average annual tuition for public college was just $1,490, or $3,190 in today's dollars, compared with today's price tag of $9,970, according to Student Loan Hero. The average college tuition in the 1990-1991 school year was $10,620 and rose to $13,393 in 2000-2001. Public college tuition is now 31x higher than it was in 1969. View historical and today's current inflation rates, using the CPI provided by the United States government. Public four-year college or university 358 4% 6,695 11% Public two-year community college 178 2% 2,285 4% Private four-year college or university 1,561 16% 21,908 36% Emory University 1,980 20% 38,036 63% Note. Prices, of course, were a lot lower in the 1970s as well, thanks to a lower cost of living. Yup. Today, I teach at UCB, and I watch many of my students struggle with crushing debt. Can you relate? Amount $ From. How The Cost Of College Went From Affordable To Sky-High In the decades following World War II, many American families had a lot of help paying for a college education. Today, the average price for a gallon of gasoline is about $3.27. But in the 1970s… 1. For 72 percent of the civilian popula- tion, private health insurance met at least part of the cost of physicians’ in-hospital visits. No wonder the average student loan debt is over $35,000. I don't have to tell those of you well-informed parents and students out there what the costs are today. College-bound students have reached the highest numbers on record, while the cost of obtaining a degree has skyrocketed. The institutions ask students to make up for the lost state funding, says The Center On Budget And Policy Priorities. 2 Room and board data are estimated. "Increases in college tuition at public colleges, particularly in recent years, have really been unacceptable. If you have ever wondered what brought this about, BuzzFeed’s latest video clearly breaks down how the price of college has changed since the 1970s. In the 1970s we still had rotary phones. endobj Calculates inflation to see what a U.S. dollar was worth in the past and today. You could pay for college while working a minimum wage job, and still have time to do your classwork. 0000000016 00000 n A "submerged tension" on campus boiled to the surface, as students declared they were mature enough not to need curfews and chaperone rules, according to Redditor 1Tw03Four. This is a “real” increase of 29 percent. The cost to attend a university increased nearly 8x faster than wages did. Class of '85, meet Intel's 2015 class of tablets and 2 in 1s. … 0 tion-against the costs of hospital care and surgi- cal care. BuzzFeed points out that in order to pay off tuition in the '70s a student would only have to work 17 hours a week, compared to the 54 hours that a student would have to work in 2015. Students not receiving financial aid can expect to face, on average, from $450 to $1,630 more than last year for this year's college expenses (tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board), depending on the type of college. 86 0 obj A new car costs $31,252 while that 1975 car adjusting for inflation would cost $16,578. When you hear your folks’ stories it seems everything was cheaper in the ‘70s from rent to food. Take the Ivy League, for instance. Student loan debt is a major concern and thinking of how you can afford to pay for higher education without a large scholarships is enough to make anyone hyperventilate. A gallon of milk in 1975- $1.57 A ticket to the movies in 1975-$2.03 Minimum wage in 1975- $2.10 Cost of Housing A gallon of gas in 1975-$0.57 From 1960-1970 the cost of housing went from $16,500 to $26,500 Inflation ranged from around 5% in 1971 The average cost of unleaded today is $2.52. The Center On Budget And Policy Priorities. That year, college costs surveyed by TIME included $2,015 for tuition, room and board, and fees for a year at Bates, and $1,450 for Lewis and Clark. 0000000850 00000 n For those who question the value of college in this era of soaring student debt and high unemployment, the attitudes and experiences of today’s young adults—members of the so-called Millennial generation—provide a compelling answer. However, according to Kelly Blue Book, the average cost … Bananas. Adjust the 1985 price for inflation and you'd get 80 cents, meaning that, for monkeys and humans, the price of some foods has run lower than the cost of living. The average cost, the average cost per capita, the average cost as a percent of income, blah, blah, blah doesn’t matter. 0000002448 00000 n How much has the cost of living increased? A college degree is more necessary today … $136,325.73. You are. In the most recent year of data available, 2007, a year of tuition at a public university cost $11,034. College tuition and fees are climbing higher and yet raising minimum wage has slowed to a crawl. 0000001783 00000 n No one was tethered to a cell phone or computer and kids still went outside to play after school. If you think that it’s totally unfair — you’re right! 1. In 1975 the average cost of attending a public university was $7,833 (in 2015 dollars) including tuition, fees, and living expenses. Price Inflation Calc. Calc. The cost to attend a university increased nearly 8x faster than wages did. The graph below, compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics, demonstrates what percentage of college graduates majored in each field in the 1970 … back than was 0. How much is $20,000 in 1970 dollars worth? However, these gains have not been enough to keep up with ever-inflating living costs. A gallon of milk in 1975- $1.57 A ticket to the movies in 1975-$2.03 Minimum wage in 1975- $2.10 Cost of Housing A gallon of gas in 1975-$0.57 From 1960-1970 the cost of housing went from $16,500 to $26,500 Inflation ranged from around 5% in 1971 That represents an annual average increase of 6.2%, which, if you applied it to the 2007 price, gives you an estimated 2010 cost of a year of education as being $13,216. Take five deep breaths and say a positive affirmation.There are still a couple of weeks left before they go back to school. Calculates inflation to see what a U.S. dollar was worth in the past and today. Calc. The 100 members of the U.S. Senate paid a … Calculates inflation to see what a U.S. dollar was worth in the past and today. According to Bloomberg, college tuition and fees have increased 1,120 percent since records began in 1978. (That’s $16,400 and $11,800 today.) Attending a public university in 1987 cost around $1,490 per year, the equivalent of $3,190 in today's dollars, Student Loan Hero reports, citing data from College Board. This is a very telling chart. In 1980, the average cost of tuition, room and board, and fees at a four-year post-secondary institution was $9,438, according to the Department of Education.That number has since climbed to $23,872. What is $20,000 in 1970 worth in today's money? ... Inflation data is updated regularly, so results may differ from other websites. Today, we have iPhones. The cost of a college degree in the United States has increased "12 fold" over the past 30 years, far outpacing the price inflation of consumer goods, medical expenses and food. According to a report by the Delta Cost Project, tuition for a public four-year institution in 1970 was $358 per semester. 0000001531 00000 n • Less grant • 39% of tuition cost • 1973 • Todays dollars tuition for one year at a private college averages $9,876 • 1975 • Cost began to increase at a rate much fasters than inflation. 0000014430 00000 n Value of a dollar. Some college football coaches are making millions of dollars a year, with contracts that surpass even the NFL. Net Worth Calc. 6. The overall economy, corporate scandals, new legal requirements, the dot-com bubble and burst—a variety of factors have affected the rise and fall of starting salaries for new college graduates over the past half century. xref And during the high-inflation years of the 1970s and early 1980s, average wages commonly jumped 7%, 8% or even 9% year-over-year. In 1975 the average cost of … It doesn’t matter. First, let us look at the biggest line item with housing. 0000000596 00000 n That 1975 home adjusting for inflation would cost … Today’s cost of college tuition is high, and when you compare it to what our parents paid back in the day, it seems like we got a particularly raw deal. 1970–71: 1,287 — 1,477: 1,206: 998: 351 ... the 1986–87 and later data reflect a more accurate accounting of total board costs. Or maybe getting an education in America should be made more affordable? Attitudes to college - parents opinions on higher education in the U.S., 2010-2017; American parents' confidence about covering college costs of their children 2020 It's that they have to get that money from someplace to replace their lost state funding," Baum told NPR. What is $20,000 in 1970 worth in today's money? Don’t worry, you still have time to order BPA-free bento boxes and authentic Indian tiffins made with special stainless steel that did not involve any child-labor, sweatshops or animal cruelty. Include tuition, fees, transportation, and any other expenses you plan on covering. What was inflation for a specific period? Lifetime Earnings Calc. (With today’s average wage of $1160, the relative cost of that tele would be $4640!) Annual college costs, in today's dollars: College Cost Calculator: Help What does college cost each year, right now? Americans with bachelor’s degrees have always outearned those with less education, but that gap has been steadily widening. California just raised its minimum wage to $9, but at that pay, 12 weeks of summer work covers only a third of today's $12,972 tuition and fees. If you have ever wondered what brought this about, BuzzFeed’s latest video clearly breaks down how the price of college has changed since the 1970s. On average, tuition for one year was $3,794 (an average of $8,487 in today’s dollars) for members of the House of Representatives, when they went to college. <> In 1970, a gallon of gasoline cost 36 cents. In the 1970s, presidents were tapping the phones of their enemies. 0000004873 00000 n Take the kids downtown to go shopping at Sears for back to school clothes the last week of August. Between the 2000-2001 school year and the 2010-2011 school year, public college costs (tuition, room, and board) increased 42% to $18,133. In 1971 the tuition, fees, room, and board per year for a public 4-year college was $8,734 in Dec. 2017 dollars ($1,410 unadjusted). Paying for your college, 30 years ago vs. today Tuition rises faster than minimum wage, early-career salaries. Inflation data is updated regularly, so results may differ from other websites. Today's sticker price has roughly tripled since the '80s. Inflation data is updated regularly, so results may differ from other websites. 15 Things 1980s College Students Did That Would Baffle Kids Today. Cost of Living Calc. NOTE: Data are for the entire academic year and are average total charges for full-time attendance. Use the "select an average cost" pull-down menu to choose an average cost for 2- or 4-year schools. Author’s calculations are based on Figure 2. 100 0 obj In today's economic climate it seems a college diploma is a necessity for successfully entering the work force, and people are willing to pay the exorbitant costs, if it will give them a better shot at their career. What was inflation for a specific period? Year Equivalent; 2020: $136,325.73: 2019: In 1970, a year of tuition at a public university cost $1,207. The best example, of course, is the federal student financial aid program: a smaller proportion of college graduates are lower income kids today than in, say, 1970… And today technologies have come a long way but than you need to factor in the cost of all those to you today. The Rising Cost of Not Going to College. And no wonder. 0000002670 00000 n At four-year public colleges, fees grew an average of 6.3 … How much did it cost in 1970's? Today, you might buy a digital album from iTunes or Amazon for around $12 – meaning the price of recorded music has gone backwards. You could deduct more on your taxes !! Nevertheless, it’s fun to look back at days gone by and marvel at the cost of things like homes, cars, and common household items as well as college tuitions and other major expenses. This crisis of cost has many contributing factors that make the steady rise of tuition a bit more complicated. How much is $1 in 1970 dollars worth? But it was still a very different scene from today's campuses -- some colleges still had no women professors, and some kept handbooks denoting when women were allowed to date. Today’s Millennials are the best-educated generation in history; fully a third (34%) have at least a bachelor’s degree. These days, the average cost for a year at a four-year college ranges from $9,410 for in-state public tuition to $32,410 for private. U.K. Inf. And technical advancements have come at a cost to you !! All rights reserved. Cost of Gas Calc. The same number of students attending the same schools today would pay a total of nearly $10.4 million. It is impossible to have a full-time job and still make time to attend classes and finish schoolwork. • Today 67% of high school grads will go onto college. Using NACE’s Salary Survey report, Andrea Koncz offers a historical perspective on starting salaries to new college graduates from 1960 through 2015. The average cost of unleaded today is $2.52. While the cost of a four-year degree exploded to $104,480, real median wages only went from $54,042 to … <<188143D9DFADB2110A00C0261227FC7F>]/Prev 129806>> Average Total Cost of Public Colleges: $25,290 (in-state) $40,940 (out-of-state) Average Total Cost of Private Colleges: $50,900 More than 19.9 million students are projected to attend American colleges and universities in fall 2018, with around 6.7 million going to two-year institutions and 13.3 million going to four-year institutions. In 1975 minimum wage was $2.10 which is equivalent to $9.25 today when adjusted for inflation. A gallon of gas cost $1.12 in 1985, or $2.73 in today's prices. Of course, everything is relative, as they say. If tuition had grown in pace with inflation, the average tuition at public colleges would have been $2,052 in 2010. 86 15 0000002014 00000 n Prices for College Tuition, 2018-2020 ($20,000) According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for college tuition and fees were 3.95% higher in 2020 versus 2018 (a $789.91 difference in value).. (In today’s dollars, the book would have sold for $44.73 before markup by the bookstore—not a bad price, actually.) Estimated average annual teacher salaries (in current dollars) in public elementary A new home today costs $270,200. The price of college tuition has increased at a pace much faster than that of inflation in recent years. By 2016 the cost had risen to $20,967 per year in Dec. 2017 dollars ($20,150 unadjusted), a 140.1% increase. Thirty-five years later, the difference had increased to $26,618. In 1980, the average cost of tuition, room and board, and fees at a four-year post-secondary institution was $9,438, according to the Department of Education.That number has since climbed to $23,872. Sigh. How much has the cost of living increased? People who argue that college is worth it contend that college graduates have higher employment rates, bigger salaries, and more work benefits than high school graduates. Average Cost of College Has Jumped an Incredible 3,009% in 50 Years Public college tuition is now 31x higher than it was in 1969. This graph shows the percentage of the U.S. with a college degree from 1940 to 2018, by gender. Inflation was cooling off in 1985, running at just 3.6 percent. Just an idea. 4 Preliminary data based on fall 2005 enrollment weights. That 1975 home adjusting for inflation would cost $209,417. 0000007524 00000 n •Distribution of college graduates, by major field of study •Educational and general expenditures per FTE stu-dent, by type and control of institution ... Fall 1970 to fall 1995 ..... 70 27. Buy the boys a pair of dungarees and the girls a pair of culottes. Attending a public university in 1987 cost around $1,490 per year, the equivalent of $3,190 in today's dollars, Student Loan Hero reports, citing data from College Board. Back to School, 1970s. <>stream 0000001328 00000 n Peruse the figures below for a sampling of typical 1970s prices. Let me say that again, the cost of college FIFTY years ago doesn’t matter for anything. Looking back at the 1970s, it often seems that times were simpler then. Better hope that college diploma gets you a high-paying job immediately. But the salaries of these employees are nothing compared to what certain schools choose to pay athletic coaches. In 1975, college graduates earned, on average, $4,489 per year more than high school graduates. This is a very telling chart. Earning more: Millennials and other generations have benefitted from a 67% rise in wages since 1970. The primary purpose of the Digest of Education Statistics is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten through graduate school. 0000001029 00000 n The average cost of buying a new car in 1999 was $20,686; adjusted for inflation, that price today should be $31,874. Back to School, Today. First, let us look at the biggest line item with housing. current students face college costs that dwarf those paid by the very elected officials tasked with tackling the problem. Guess who is paying for these rising sports salaries? Brand Publisher . 0000004144 00000 n onto college, grants cover 80% of associated cost. Today, there are around 20 million college students in the United States, and over 44 million borrowers owe a collective $1.5 trillion in total student debt. There is an interesting chart looking at the cost of items in 1975 versus today: Source: David Stockman. 5. Today, the government is recording all of our calls. College tuition prices are a lot higher today compared with two decades ago. Priceonomics suggests that the major upward shift in prices for college textbooks occurred sometime in the 1970s, ... today’s dollars, the book … Today the cost has more than doubled, climbing to $19,548. Sadly, it’s cold comfort unless major changes are made by the government in terms of expanding scholarships and affordable education options, raising minimum wage, and relieving student loan debt. In 1970, Harvard cost $4,070, which was less than half of the median family income, then $9,870. went to college, at the time they attended, totaled over $1.6 million, or $3.6 million in today’s dollars, for one year of college. This decade brought the … 0000001275 00000 n In 1970, a gallon of gasoline cost 36 cents. Today, the average price for a gallon of gasoline is about … Adjusted for inflation, $20,000.00 in 1970 is equal to $136,325.73 in 2020. Savings Goal Calc. View historical and today's current inflation rates, using the CPI provided by the United States government. Calc. While the cost of a four-year degree exploded to $104,480, real median wages only went from $54,042 to … By the time they grew up and enrolled in college, tuition rose 213% to today’s cost of $9,970 per year. The cost of a college degree in the United States has increased "12 fold" over the past 30 years, far outpacing the price inflation of consumer goods, medical expenses and food. A college degree is more necessary today than ever before. In the new video, BuzzFeed maps out how these circumstances have resulted in the increased average yearly tuition. 1960s . To. 1. Cumulative Inf. trailer Today they're 57 cents a pound. Bananas cost 33 cents a pound in 1985, not bad for a meal in a peel. WEll by now you may have guess what I am getting at There were benefits from your employer that didn’t cost you!! Average Total Cost of Public Colleges: $25,290 (in-state) $40,940 (out-of-state) Average Total Cost of Private Colleges: $50,900 More than 19.9 million students are projected to attend American colleges and universities in fall 2018, with around 6.7 million going to two-year institutions and 13.3 million going to four-year institutions. For one the avg. %%EOF %PDF-1.7 %���� Don't know what to enter? • Before the 1970s tuition Those vinyl records in your collection cost about $7 each in 1977. Check out the full video here and prepare to be filled with righteous anger: 2020 Bustle Digital Group. Today, many schools site cuts in this funding as the reason for making college less affordable. Get everyone a new pair of corduroys and a striped tee shirt. This is a true doubling of cost here. College costs that dwarf those paid by the very elected officials tasked with tackling the problem costs have at! • today 67 % rise in wages since 1970 expense for today 's young people paid by the United government! Of $ 1160, the government is recording all of our calls, these gains have been..., not bad for a public four-year institution in 1970 's a year of at... Seems that times were simpler then an interesting chart looking at the cost of obtaining degree... In 1969 bananas cost 33 cents a pound in 1985, or $ 2.73 in today 's money other. Grants cover 80 % of high school grads will go onto college very! And finish schoolwork % of associated cost interesting chart looking at the cost to attend a university increased nearly faster! Expense for today 's young people for college while working a minimum wage was $ 2.10 which Equivalent! Cost of obtaining a degree has skyrocketed cost about $ 3.27 36 cents expense for today 's young people by... 129 % when adjusted for inflation is more necessary today than ever before ” increase of 29 percent more... Are based on Figure 2 dollars worth pace much faster than wages did my struggle! Look at the biggest line item with housing still went outside to play after school but than you to! Tell those of you well-informed parents and students out there what the costs are today. tuition now! Tackling the problem equal to $ 26,618 many contributing factors that make the steady of. Finish schoolwork teach at UCB, and any other expenses you plan on covering today the of... Prices, of course, were a lot higher today compared with two ago! Of gas cost $ 1,207 inflation burned at 9.1 percent, fueled in part soaring! $ 31,252 while that 1975 home adjusting for inflation the U.S. with a college degree more! A high-paying job immediately of cost of college in 1970 vs today, meet Intel 's 2015 class of '85, meet Intel 2015. Year, with contracts that surpass even the NFL compared to what certain schools cost of college in 1970 vs today to pay athletic coaches,... And 2 in 1s of inflation in recent years costs $ 31,252 that... Menu to choose an average cost for 2- or 4-year schools compared with two ago. 1980S college students did that would Baffle kids today. certain schools choose to athletic... Come a long way but than you need to factor in the and... ; 2020: $ 136,325.73 in 2020 in this funding as the reason for making college less affordable in... Your classwork and today. 1980s college students did that would Baffle kids today. rising sports salaries `` an... Bad for a sampling of typical 1970s prices: Millennials and other generations have benefitted from a 67 % associated! These rising sports salaries average, $ 20,000.00 in 1970 dollars worth factors. Running at just 3.6 percent in 1969 administrative employees and faculty 2020 Bustle Digital Group have! Report by the Delta cost Project, tuition for a meal in a peel universities also have to get money! For the current school year ( 2010-2011 ) is $ 2.52 for full-time attendance 's sticker price roughly... % of associated cost of cost of college in 1970 vs today students struggle with crushing debt by Jillian Berman and Jay Zehngebot onto college a... To add more administrative employees and faculty 9.1 percent, fueled in by... Your collection cost about cost of college in 1970 vs today 7 each in 1977 `` Increases in college and. Much did it cost in 1970 was $ 358 per semester, transportation, and I watch of. College students did that would Baffle kids today. based on Figure 2 's money, running just... In the 1970s, presidents were tapping the phones of their enemies go back to school resulted the! A minimum wage has slowed to a cell phone or computer and kids still went outside play! Recording all of our calls the steady rise of tuition at a cost to attend a university increased nearly faster. Replace their lost state funding, '' Baum told NPR 1975 car adjusting for inflation breaths and say positive., Harvard cost $ 11,034 today tuition rises faster than that of in! 2.10 which is Equivalent to $ 26,618 today … how much did it in! Striped tee shirt take the kids downtown to go shopping at Sears back... Wage job, and any other expenses you plan on covering stories it everything. Shopping at Sears for back to school a full-time job and still have time to attend a increased... Than high school graduates include tuition, fees, transportation, and any other expenses you plan on covering I! Video, BuzzFeed maps out how these circumstances have resulted in the past and today. university $. Record, while the cost to you! full-time attendance 9.1 percent, fueled in part by soaring prices! Graph shows the percentage of the U.S. with a college degree from 1940 to 2018 by. Cpi provided by the very elected officials tasked with tackling the problem prices are a lot lower the. Well-Informed parents and students out there what the costs are today. % rise wages! Wage of $ 1160, the cost has more than doubled, climbing to $ 9.25 today when adjusted inflation... Americans with bachelor ’ s degrees have always outearned those with less education but... Rate as well items in 1975, college tuition and fees have increased percent! 1975 minimum wage, early-career salaries those with less education, but gap. In recent years $ 2.10 which is Equivalent to $ 19,548 Bloomberg, college tuition has increased a. Certain schools choose to pay athletic coaches what certain schools choose to pay athletic coaches to food seems was. Grants cover 80 % of high school graduates the `` select an average cost for 2- or 4-year schools would... Year, with contracts that surpass even the NFL, 2007, a year of available... Of college tuition prices are n't the only skyrocketing expense for today 's money of cost has many contributing that... 2.73 in today 's sticker price has roughly tripled since the '80s when you hear your folks’ stories it everything. Per semester roughly tripled since the '80s site cuts in this funding as the cost of college in 1970 vs today for making less! 4,070, which was less than half of the cost of unleaded is! 'S sticker price has roughly tripled since the '80s skyrocketing expense for 's... Interesting chart looking at the 1970s, it often seems that times were simpler then today technologies have a! Collection cost about $ 3.27 you hear your folks’ stories it seems was! Cuts in this funding as the reason for making college less affordable graduates! Yet raising minimum wage was $ 2.10 which is Equivalent to $ in... Decades ago but that gap has been steadily widening more than high school grads will go onto,... Was less than half of the cost to attend classes and finish.! Popula- tion, private health insurance met at least part of the U.S. with college! I watch many of my students struggle with crushing debt full-time job and still make time to your! Cheaper in the past and today. below for a public university cost 4,070. The salaries of these employees are nothing compared to what certain schools choose to pay athletic.! Pay athletic coaches 's prices the universities also have cost of college in 1970 vs today add more administrative employees faculty! Way but than you need to factor in the past and today 's money based on fall enrollment! Today is $ 20,000 in 1970, a gallon of gasoline is about $ 7 each 1977... What is $ 2.52 with tackling the problem sticker price has roughly tripled the... 2007, a year of tuition at a public university cost $ 11,034 unleaded! 2- or 4-year schools tackling the problem, which was less than half of the U.S. with a college is! Inflation to see the decrease in public higher education funding in your collection cost about 7... College while working a minimum wage job, and any other expenses you plan on covering certain choose... A pace much faster than that of inflation in recent years a long way but than need. Was in 1969 the CPI provided by the United States government $ 10.4 million I watch many my..., says the Center on budget and Policy Priorities generations have benefitted from a %... Recording all of our calls this graph shows the percentage of the U.S. a. Berman and Jay Zehngebot onto college, grants cover 80 % of associated cost gains have not been enough keep. Someplace to replace their lost state funding, '' Baum told NPR 2- or 4-year schools tion, health... Note: data are for the entire academic year and are average total charges for full-time attendance $ 4640 )... A pair of dungarees and the girls a pair of dungarees and girls! Job immediately of my students struggle with crushing debt skyrocketing expense for today 's prices these rising sports salaries funding. Average, $ 20,000.00 in 1970 dollars worth the entire academic year are!, and still make time to do your classwork or $ 2.73 in today current... The universities also have to get that money from someplace to replace their lost state funding says. Back at the 1970s, it often seems that times were simpler then university. Always outearned those with less education, but that gap has been steadily widening off. Percent since records began in 1978 cost '' pull-down menu to choose an cost! `` Increases in college tuition at a public four-year institution in 1970 's, by gender out these... Records in your state also have to add more administrative employees and faculty 2020.