What If Scenario
What If You Invested Your College Tuition in the S&P 500?
The average 4-year college cost $30,000 in 2000. Run that same money through the S&P 500 and you can see what four years of market time did to it, the dips included.
3 min read
Class of 2004 (invested 2000)
$30,000 invested in 2000
Worth today
$255,523
26.6 years
+8.4% annualized
Class of 2009 (invested 2005)
$44,000 invested in 2005
Worth today
$411,055
21.6 years
+10.9% annualized
Class of 2014 (invested 2010)
Best$58,000 invested in 2010
Worth today
$539,006
16.6 years
+14.4% annualized
Class of 2019 (invested 2015)
$76,000 invested in 2015
Worth today
$343,603
11.6 years
+13.9% annualized
Class of 2024 (invested 2020)
$92,000 invested in 2020
Worth today
$233,670
6.6 years
+15.2% annualized
Based on price data through 2026-06-01. Price return only (no dividends).
About this calculation
Average published tuition + fees + room & board for 4-year institutions (NCES).
Returns are based on price appreciation only (no dividends reinvested). Past performance does not guarantee future results. Not financial advice.
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Numbers worth sharing
Occasional data drops when something interesting surfaces. No schedule, just signal.
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