Average Family Spending Rises to $378 for K–12; Tech & Clothing Dominate Budgets
Written by DJ Sight on August 18, 2025
Back-to-School Shopping Study 2025
Study Overview
The National Student Trends Institute conducted a survey of 2,500 parents and 1,000 college students across the U.S. in July 2025 to analyze spending habits, shopping preferences, and emotional attitudes around back-to-school shopping.
Spending Habits
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Average family spending: $378 per K–12 student (↑ 8% from 2024).
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College students: $642 per student (↑ 5% from 2024).
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Top spending categories:
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Clothing & shoes (41%)
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School supplies (24%)
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Tech & electronics (21%)
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Dorm/apartment essentials (14%)
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Emotional Side of Shopping
Parents: 72% say back-to-school shopping feels “financially stressful but emotionally exciting.”
Students: 64% view it as a way to “express personal style” and “start fresh.”
College students: 49% admit they overspend on non-essentials (decor, fashion, gadgets).
Surprising Insights
1 in 4 parents said their child influences more than 70% of purchase decisions.
44% of families reported shopping at secondhand or resale stores (↑ 11% from 2023).
18% of families used Buy Now, Pay Later services for big-ticket items like laptops.
Tagged as back to school
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