Why college/university is so expensive in the USA

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Dormitory living has evolved significantly over the past decades, with modern accommodations often offering private rooms and amenities that were not available in the past, leading to higher costs. Many students find on-campus housing more expensive than off-campus options, raising concerns about the financial burden of college education. The discussion highlights the perception that universities prioritize profit over student welfare, with rising tuition fees and living costs contributing to student debt. Some participants express skepticism about the value of advanced degrees, questioning the return on investment given the current job market. Overall, there is a growing sentiment that higher education in the U.S. is becoming increasingly unaffordable and unsustainable.
  • #31
Why is tution skyrocketing ? Too many people.

When I was a first year engineering student, the tuition was around 9k. I saw way too many people getting into engineering without knowing what they wanted to do. They just wanted the prestige and the money but they didn't even know if they had the innovation required to solve real world problems.

People are being led to believe that you need to become a CEO, accountant, lawyer, doctor or an engineer in order to be deemed "worthy" in society and live a "good" life. Hence, a lot of people blindly enroll in university and the prices skyrocket.
 
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  • #32
People are being led to believe that you need to become a CEO, accountant, lawyer, doctor or an engineer in order to be deemed "worthy" in society and live a "good" life. Hence, a lot of people blindly enroll in university and the prices skyrocket.

Don't prices generally fall when there is a lot of something? Why would the masses enrolling make the price go up if they have to pay for it themselves?
 
  • #33
Zryn said:
Don't prices generally fall when there is a lot of something? Why would the masses enrolling make the price go up if they have to pay for it themselves?

Depends how you see the student. Is the student the supply or the demand?
 
  • #34
CheckMate said:
People are being led to believe that you need to become a CEO, accountant, lawyer, doctor or an engineer in order to be deemed "worthy" in society and live a "good" life. Hence, a lot of people blindly enroll in university and the prices skyrocket.

Good point. When demand increases, prices do too.

Zryn said:
Don't prices generally fall when there is a lot of something?

Only where there's a lot of supply. When there is a lot of demand, prices rise.