How government programs drive up college tuitions

While he sounds reasonable, he's wrong. The GI Bill did indeed create an American middle class because it created a new class of highly productive workers. Yes, tuitions were lower in days of old, because mostly, it was a low inflation period.

Hey Peter. Another aspect to why college tuition is so high is because labor unions obtained legal monopolies over their markets. You can no longer be a doctor on your own. You have to be certified by the AMA. You can no longer be a lawyer on your own. You have to be certified by the ABA. Etc. So not only are they able to overcharge you in getting an education, they are able to overcharge you in the goods and services you receive from the markets the unions have legally monopolized.

You could have used a better job than Ford for your reference to paying for college. It is well known that Ford was willing to pay high wages to keep a higher level of worker. I'm still a huge fan and agree with everything you say, the reference just made your argument seem like your argument was desperate. Other than that, as a student I love everything you've said. SCHIFF FOR PRESIDENT 2012!!!!!

Ideally this makes a lot of sense, but I can't help thinking that top universities will keep their tuition high. The assumption is that no one can afford college without a student loan. This isn't exactly true. There are still a lot of rich people around who can easily foot the bill, and quite a few upper middle class people who can stretch to make it work. Sure, it's not the majority, but it's more than enough to fill UC Berkeley with competent students.

Makes total sense.

@wcub4

Then why were prices lower before government subsiidies? And can't you say that colleges and businesses have an incentive to up the cost of something if it's a guaranteed pay from the government? Come on now..