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: Higher (G160311A027NBEA) from 1959 to 2023 about education, expenditures, government, GDP, and USA.

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.

Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) in United States was reported at 5.44 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Public spending on education, total (% of GDP) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

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.

Detailed tables showing the budget history of the U.S. Department of Education from FY 1980 to the FY 2018 President's Budget, by major program, and showing State allocations by State and by program from FY 1980-2017.

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.

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.

An average of 15,362 U.S. dollars were spent on each pupil in public elementary and secondary schools in the United States in the academic year of 2021. This is an increase from 1980, when 2,272 U.S. dollars were spent per pupil.

In 2018, the national average for spending on elementary and secondary education was 3.1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Vermont spent the most out of any state on elementary and secondary education, at 5.38 percent of its GDP.

Historical dataset showing U.S. education spending by year from 1972 to 2020.

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

Historical dataset showing Virgin Islands (U.S.) education spending by year from N/A to N/A.

Historical dataset showing Central America education spending by year from N/A to N/A.

Historical dataset showing North America education spending by year from 1972 to 2022.

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;

United States US: Government Expenditure on Primary Education: % of Government Expenditure on Education data was reported at 30.965 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 31.109 % for 2013. United States US: Government Expenditure on Primary Education: % of Government Expenditure on Education data is updated yearly, averaging 31.109 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2014, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 32.422 % in 2010 and a record low of 30.963 % in 2012. United States US: Government Expenditure on Primary 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 primary 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;

Historical dataset showing American Samoa education spending by year from N/A to N/A.

In the school year 2021-22, approximately 257 billion U.S. dollars were spent by private higher education institutions in the United States. In that same year, 441 billion U.S. dollars were spent by public higher education institutions.

In 2021, education expenditure was highest in the state of California at ****** billion U.S. dollars. Texas, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania rounded out the top five states with the highest education expenditures in the United States in that year.