With students heading back to school across the country, it’s time to crunch some numbers. The cost of returning to the classroom has risen more than 36% in the past 10 years, reaching an expected $858 per person for the 2025-2026 academic year, according to data from the National Retail Federation.
For college students, higher education brings an even higher jump. Costs for them have risen 47% in that same period.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL SPENDING
FOR U.S. CONSUMERS| DATA AS OF 2025
SOURCE: National Retail Federation
The rise in back-to-school costs mirrors broader inflation trends. Back-to-school costs have risen by double digits in the past 10 years. Nationwide, median wages are up 43.7% since 2015, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; average credit union compensation per employee is up 56%, according to data from Callahan & Associates.
Strategic Insights
- Roughly two-thirds of families started their 2025 school shopping earlier than usual this year, with 51% saying they did so out of concern that tariffs will lead to price hikes.
- Total spending for K-12 shopping this year is expected to reach $39.4 billion, with nearly one-third of that — $13.6 billion, or almost $296 per person — expected to go toward electronics.
- Spending per person for college students and their families is down by approximately $40 from 2024, although more shoppers means overall spending is expected to rise to $88.8 billion, a 2.5% increase.
- Shoppers for both K-12 and college students continue to do the majority of their shopping online. Notably, discount stores have reported a 5-percentage-point increase with college shoppers this year — a sign some consumers are feeling the economic pinch.
Bigger Than A Backpack Drive Credit unions across the country are helping families prepare for back-to-school season in a variety of ways. Plenty are undertaking traditional efforts like backpack drives and school supply drop-off zones, but some shops are offering a holistic approach that encompasses sports physicals, haircuts, and more. Elsewhere, credit unions are providing grant opportunities, specialized lending, and more. Click here for 10 ways credit unions are helping start the school year off right.