Education · code 8040
University tuition (national)
大学授業料（国立）
Key facts
As of August 2026, university tuition (national) prices in Japan are up 0.8% year on year and up 1.2% over five years. The official consumer price index stands at 99.5 (2020 = 100), up 4,226.1% versus January 1970, when the series begins.
University tuition (national) sits in the education group of Japan's CPI basket, with 680 monthly observations from January 1970 to August 2026. The series peaked at 105.3 in January 2020 and bottomed at 2.3 in January 1970; the latest reading is -5.5% against that peak. Against ten years ago it is -5.0%.
Latest CPI
99.5
2026-08 (2020=100)
YoY %
+0.8%
5y change %
+1.2%
Change since 1970-01
+4,226.1%
Annual average index by year
| Year | Index | YoY % | Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 104.7 | 0.0% | 12 |
| 2016 | 104.7 | 0.0% | 12 |
| 2017 | 104.7 | 0.0% | 12 |
| 2018 | 104.7 | 0.0% | 12 |
| 2019 | 104.7 | 0.0% | 12 |
| 2020 | 100.0 | -4.5% | 12 |
| 2021 | 98.3 | -1.7% | 12 |
| 2022 | 98.4 | +0.1% | 12 |
| 2023 | 98.4 | 0.0% | 12 |
| 2024 | 98.5 | +0.1% | 12 |
| 2025 | 98.7 | +0.2% | 12 |
| 2026 | 99.2 | +0.5% | 8 |
Average of the monthly index values in each year (2020 = 100). Blank months are excluded.
Frequently asked questions
- How much have university tuition (national) prices changed in Japan over the past year?
- As of August 2026, +0.8% year on year, measured by Japan's official consumer price index (2020 = 100).
- How much have university tuition (national) prices changed in Japan over the past five years?
- +1.2% compared with the same month five years earlier. The index now reads 99.5.
- When were university tuition (national) prices in Japan at their highest?
- The series peaked at 105.3 in January 2020. The latest reading is -5.5% against that peak.
- What is the difference between the index and the yen price?
- This page carries two kinds of number. The index (2020 = 100) measures percentage change over time and is not a yen amount; the yen figure is an actual average retail price from the government's retail price survey. Source: 総務省統計局 消費者物価指数 (e-Stat table 0003427113, nationwide, monthly).
Other items in this category
Cram school (elementary)
112.8 · +2.3%
Cram school (high school / yobiko)
126.4 · +3.7%
Cram school (junior high)
110.3 · +1.7%
High school tuition (private)
25.3 · -68.8%
High school tuition (public)
5.5 · 0.0%
Junior college tuition (private)
101.2 · +0.7%
Junior high tuition (private)
107.7 · +1.9%
PTA fee (elementary)
90.1 · -1.6%