Student Price Index Rises 7.5% in Manhattan

A K-State economics club's annual index finds student costs climbing faster than the national consumer price index.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Inflation

Student Price Index Rises 7.5% in Manhattan

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Do you think everyday costs are rising faster for you than for the average American?

The K-State economics club released its 24th annual Student Price Index, which shows a 7.5% student inflation rate, up from 3.6% last year. The figure compares with a 3.7% Consumer Price Index inflation rate over the same period.

Why it matters

Rising gasoline, textbook and entertainment costs add pressure to student budgets in Manhattan and across Kansas. The index suggests everyday expenses for college students are rising faster than broader national inflation measures.

The Student Price Index rose 7.5% against 3.6% last year and a 3.7% Consumer Price Index rate, with textbooks up 20.6% and movie tickets up 28.6% within the bundle. The index is built from local price collection, so it does not establish a national student inflation rate.

The players

K-State Economics Club

The student organization at Kansas State University that compiles the annual Student Price Index.

The details

Economics club members gathered prices from local stores, restaurants, gas stations and bars for a bundle that included textbooks, tuition, housing, gasoline, groceries, internet, ICAT and movie tickets, beer and pizza. Internet prices fell 9.1% within the bundle, while tuition rose 4.8%, groceries 3.7% and housing 4.2%.

2025: Heightened inflation affected everyday student costs.
September 2026: BLS data showed gasoline prices up 34.2% nationally.
November 5, 2026: The K-State economics club published the 24th annual Student Price Index report.

Inflation Benchmark

The Student Price Index's 7.5% rate sits roughly double the 3.7% Consumer Price Index reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The gap points to student-specific costs such as textbooks and gasoline rising faster than the broad consumer basket.

Students in Manhattan face higher costs for textbooks, gasoline and entertainment, with textbook prices up 20.6% and movie tickets up 28.6% within the index bundle. Budgeting for these categories may require adjusting spending on other necessities.

The takeaway

Tracking costs students actually pay, such as textbooks and fuel, can reveal inflation that broad national indexes miss. Students can compare their own monthly spending against these categories to plan their budgets.