In the late 1970s, I attended San Jose State University, while living at my parent’s home. SJSU did not have a computer science program, then, so I was a general engineering major – and later transferred to UC, lrvine to complete their degree in computer science.
The costs of attending the public university in the late 1970s are closer to today’s costs than realized. This comparison does not, however, includes costs of housing and food services. I lived at home to reduce my expenses.
—— This answer created, in part, with the assistance of AI search ——
After adjusting for inflation, San Jose State University’s tuition and fees in 1979 were roughly equivalent to today’s net cost for in-state students—especially when factoring in financial aid. However, the list price has increased significantly, and the burden on students has grown due to broader enrollment and reduced state support.
🎓 Tuition & Fees Comparison: 1979 vs. 2025
| Year | In-State Tuition & Fees | Inflation-Adjusted (2025 $) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | ~$300/year | ~$1,200–1,400/year | Based on CSU historical estimates |
| 2025 | $8,410/year | $8,410/year | Official SJSU in-state tuition |
| 2025 (Net Cost) | ~$4,200/year | ~$4,200/year | After grants/scholarships |
- List price increase: From ~$1,300 (adjusted) to $8,410 — a 6x rise.
- Net cost comparison: After aid, today’s students pay ~3x more than in 1979 (adjusted).
- Aid impact: SJSU reports that most students receive enough aid to cut tuition roughly in half.
- (Tuition and fees also found on this page: https://www.collegetuitioncompare.com/trends/san-jose-state-university/cost-of-attendance/)
📊 Contextual Drivers of Cost Growth
- Tuition inflation: College tuition has outpaced general inflation by a wide margin — over 1,500% since the late 1970s (this includes both public and private schools).
- State funding decline: California’s per-student support has dropped, shifting costs to families.
- Enrollment surge: More students attend college today, increasing total educational spending and competition for aid.
- Living costs: Housing, food, and transportation now add $25,000+ annually to the cost of attendance (AI says $25,000 but most universities, on their web sites, say students should budget about $20,000 for this category).
🧠Cultural and Financial Reallocation
Even if tuition seems comparable after aid and inflation, the scale and scope of college spending today are vastly larger. More families are paying more, and the opportunity cost (in terms of asset acquisition, savings, and lifestyle) is deeper.
Far more people today attend college than did in 1980. As of 1980, about 16% of adults had a 4 year or greater college education. As of 2025, about 40% have a 4 year degree.
This has increased demand on colleges – enabling them to charge more – plus, increased the burden on families as more and more children go onto get a college education. There are other factors too, including the growth of community college systems in the 1970s, which provided an alternative and lower cost option for taking college courses.
In addition to more students attending college, there has been a shift to somewhat fewer students attending less expensive public colleges with an increase in students attending private colleges – which often costs 4x to 10x more than public colleges and universities.
Comparing the Past to the Present
When we compare the costs of college education in the past to today we need to recognize that the past was not the same as the present.
- In 1980, about 16% of adults had a 4 year or higher education degree versus about 40% in 2025.
- Vastly more people attend college now, than in the past – which increases the cost burden on families sending (usually) all of their children to college.
- A somewhat higher percent of students today attend private schools, than in 1980 and these cost much more than public school.
- Many of today’s college campuses are far nicer than the facilities of the past. At a basic level, today’s colleges have technology capabilities far in advance of what was available in 1980.
- New dormitory facilities are far nicer than the basic shared room and shared bathrooms (for the whole dorm wing) of 50 years ago. In 1980, virtually all dorm rooms were a single room, with 2 beds and 2 desks, and one large, shared bathroom/toilet/shower at the end of the hall. This is still true among older facilities – but almost all new dorm construction now has private bedroom spaces and shared communal spaces. Private spaces are found to reduce stress, improve sleep and mental health of students. Some campuses, particularly those focused on remaining less costly, still have shared rooms but the trend is toward private dorm rooms.
When comparing costs across decades, we must recognize that what students purchased 40 or 50 years ago, was a different product compared to today.
Prices are much higher today – and have risen far faster than inflation (before adjustments for grants and scholarships).
Private dorm rooms and 1 Gbps Wi-Fi is nice, but it may not translate into higher salaries and a better return on investment.
The worst price increases have been at private colleges
Source: https://www.demos.org/sites/default/files/publications/DEMOS_DFC_Yearbook_FA_Optimized_0.pdf
