During the academic year of 2021, around 18,614 constant 2022-23 U.S. dollars were spent on each pupil in public elementary and secondary schools in the United States. This is an increase from 1990, when 12,206 constant 2022-23 U.S. dollars were spent per pupil.

Graph and download economic data for Government current expenditures: Education (G160291A027NBEA) from 1959 to 2024 about education, expenditures, government, GDP, and USA.

Actual value and historical data chart for United States Public Spending On Education Total Percent Of GDP

Out of the OECD countries, Luxembourg was the country that spent the most on educational institutions per full-time student in 2020. On average, 23,000 U.S dollars were spent on primary education, nearly 27,000 U.S dollars on secondary education, and around 53,000 U.S dollars on tertiary education. The United States followed behind, with Norway in third. Meanwhile, the lowest spending was in Mexico.

Graph and download economic data for Total Construction Spending: Educational in the United States (TLEDUCONS) from Jan 2002 to Aug 2025 about education, expenditures, construction, and USA.

In 2022, Norway was the country that spent the highest share of its gross domestic product (GDP) on higher education, reaching 1.8 percent. Of this, 0.1 percent came from private sources. Austria followed behind, with its total spending reaching 1.6 percent of its GDP. On the other hand, higher education spending in Luxembourg only amounted to 0.4 percent of its GDP. To find out more about the expenditure on higher education per student in selected countries worldwide, please click here.

This statistic shows the total education expenditure in Taiwan from 2014 to 2024. In 2024, the total spending on education in Taiwan increased to around ***** billion New Taiwan dollars from around ***** billion New Taiwan dollars in the previous year.

Graph and download economic data for Total Public Construction Spending: Educational in the United States (PBEDUCONS) from Jan 2002 to Aug 2025 about public, education, expenditures, construction, and USA.

This statistic depicts total back-to-school spending in the United States from 2006 to 2025. In 2025, total planned back-to-school expenditure in the United States amounted to about **** billion U.S. dollars.

The United States Department of Education had outlays of about 639.37 U.S. dollars in 2022. This was a significant increase from the previous year. By 2029, the outlays of the Department of Education are expected to decrease to 173.5 billion U.S. dollars.

This dataset contains school-level expenditures reported by major functional spending category starting with fiscal year 2019. It also includes school-level enrollment, demographic, and performance indicators as well as teacher salary and staffing data.

The dataset shows school-level per pupil expenditures by major functional expenditure categories and funding sources, including state and local funds (general fund and state grants) and federal funds.

School districts only report instructional expenditures by school. This report attributes other costs to each school on a per pupil basis to show a full resource picture. The three cost centers are:

1. Non-instructional per pupil spending reported at the school district level;
2. Instructional per pupil spending reported at the district level; and
3. Instructional per pupil spending reported at the school level

Economically Disadvantaged was used 2015-2021. Low Income was used prior to 2015, and a different version of Low Income has been used since 2022. Please see the DESE Researcher's Guide for more information.

This dataset is one of three containing the same data that is also published in the School Finance Dashboard: District Expenditures by Spending Category District Expenditures by Function Code School Expenditures by Spending Category

List of Indicators by Category

Student Enrollment

• In-District FTE Pupils
• Out-of-District FTE Pupils
• Total FTE Pupils

Student Demographics

• Student Headcount
• Low-Income % Headcount
• English Learner % Headcount
• Students with Disabilities % Headcount

Teacher Salaries

• Teacher FTE
• Teachers per 100 FTE Students
• Average Teacher Salary

Other Staff

• Instructional Coach FTE
• Instructional Support FTE
• Special Education Instructional Support FTE
• Paraprofessional FTE

MCAS Performance

• ELA Grades 3-8 % Meets Exceeds
• Math Grades 3-8 % Meets Exceeds
• ELA Grade 10 % Meets Exceeds
• Math Grade 10 % Meets Exceeds

District-Level FTE Pupils

District-Level State and Local Non-Instructional Expenditures Per Pupil

• Administration
• Benefits and Fixed Costs
• Operations and Maintenance
• Pupil Services

District-Level Federal Non-Instructional Expenditures Per Pupil

• Administration
• Benefits and Fixed Costs
• Operations and Maintenance
• Pupil Services

Sub-total A

District-Level State and Local Instructional Expenditures Per Pupil

• Guidance and Psychological Services
• Instructional Leaders
• Instructional Materials
• Other Teaching Services
• Professional Development
• Teachers

District-Level Federal Instructional Expenditures Per Pupil

• Guidance and Psychological Services
• Instructional Leaders
• Instructional Materials
• Other Teaching Services
• Professional Development
• Teachers

Sub-total B

School-Level State and Local Instructional Expenditures Per Pupil

• Guidance and Psychological Services
• Instructional Leaders
• Instructional Materials
• Other Teaching Services
• Professional Development
• Teachers

School-Level Federal Instructional Expenditures Per Pupil

• Guidance and Psychological Services
• Instructional Leaders
• Instructional Materials
• Other Teaching Services
• Professional Development
• Teachers

Sub-total C

Total A+B+C

In 2021, about 174.9 billion U.S. dollars were funded by the government for postsecondary education programs in the United States. A further 92.07 billion U.S. dollars were funded by the government for elementary and secondary education in that year.

United States US: Government Expenditure on Education: Total: % of Government Expenditure data was reported at 13.452 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.277 % for 2013. United States US: Government Expenditure on Education: Total: % of Government Expenditure data is updated yearly, averaging 13.277 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2014, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.452 % in 2014 and a record low of 12.933 % in 2011. United States US: Government Expenditure on Education: Total: % of Government Expenditure data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. General government expenditure on education (current, capital, and transfers) is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on all sectors (including health, education, social services, etc.). It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median;

This statistic depicts total combined planned back-to-school and back-to-college spending in the United States from 2007 to 2025. In 2025, total combined back-to-school and back-to-college expenditure in the United States amounted to more than *** billion U.S. dollars.

This dataset includes expenditure data reported by school districts, charter schools, and virtual schools starting with fiscal year 2009. It also includes student enrollment, demographic, and performance indicators as well as teacher salary and staffing data.

In addition to showing the overall cost per pupil, this dataset provides detail about how much districts spend in major functional areas such as administration, teaching, and maintenance. For more information about the data and how to interpret it, please visit the School Finance Dashboard.

Economically Disadvantaged was used 2015-2021. Low Income was used prior to 2015, and a different version of Low Income has been used since 2022. Please see the DESE Researcher's Guide for more information.

This dataset is one of three containing the same data that is also published in the School Finance Dashboard: District Expenditures by Spending Category District Expenditures by Function Code School Expenditures by Spending Category

List of Indicators by Category

Student Enrollment

• In-District FTE Pupils
• Out-of-District FTE Pupils
• Total FTE Pupils

Student Demographics

• Student Headcount
• Low-Income % Headcount
• English Learner % Headcount
• Students with Disabilities % Headcount

Teacher Salaries

• Teacher FTE
• Teachers per 100 FTE Students
• Average Teacher Salary

Other Staff

• Instructional Coach FTE
• Instructional Support FTE
• Special Education Instructional Support FTE
• Paraprofessional FTE

MCAS Performance

• ELA Grades 3-8 % Meets Exceeds
• Math Grades 3-8 % Meets Exceeds
• ELA Grade 10 % Meets Exceeds
• Math Grade 10 % Meets Exceeds

Expenditures

• Administration
• Instructional Leadership
• Teachers
• Other Teaching Services
• Professional Development
• Instructional Materials, Equipment and Technology
• Guidance, Counseling and Testing
• Pupil Services
• Operations and Maintenance
• Insurance, Retirement Programs and Other
• Total In-District Expenditures
• Total Expenditures

In the 2024-25 school year, New York spent around ****** U.S. dollars per pupil on public elementary and secondary schools - the most out of any state. Vermont, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and New Jersey rounded out the top five states for elementary and secondary school expenditure per pupil.

Graph and download economic data for Total Private Construction Spending: Educational in the United States (PREDUCONS) from Jan 1993 to Aug 2025 about education, expenditures, construction, private, and USA.

Total Construction Spending: Educational in the United States was 137604.00000 Mil. of $ in August of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Total Construction Spending: Educational in the United States reached a record high of 137604.00000 in August of 2025 and a record low of 70897.00000 in January of 2004. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Total Construction Spending: Educational in the United States - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on December of 2025.

United States US: Government Expenditure on Tertiary Education: % of Government Expenditure on Education data was reported at 27.502 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 27.227 % for 2013. United States US: Government Expenditure on Tertiary Education: % of Government Expenditure on Education data is updated yearly, averaging 27.227 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2014, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28.463 % in 2012 and a record low of 25.653 % in 2010. United States US: Government Expenditure on Tertiary Education: % of Government Expenditure on Education data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Education Statistics. Expenditure on tertiary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median;

Time series data for the statistic Government expenditure on tertiary education as % of GDP (%) and country United States. Indicator Definition:Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure on tertiary education (current, capital, and transfers), expressed as a percentage of GDP. It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. Divide total government expenditure for a given level of education (ex. primary, secondary, or all levels combined) by the GDP, and multiply by 100. A higher percentage of GDP spent on education shows a higher government priority for education, but also a higher capacity of the government to raise revenues for public spending, in relation to the size of the country's economy. When interpreting this indicator however, one should keep in mind in some countries, the private sector and/or households may fund a higher proportion of total funding for education, thus making government expenditure appear lower than in other countries. Limitations: In some instances data on total public expenditure on education refers only to the Ministry of Education, excluding other ministries which may also spend a part of their budget on educational activities. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/