College Debt and Colleges' Extravagance

Glenn Ricketts

Why is there such ballooning debt among so many new college graduates? Many reasons, say Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus, and the trend has some very long roots. But in this recent Atlantic article, they finger a new prime suspect: colleges and universities themselves, with their lavishly-funded overseas centers, colossal sports palaces, luxurious student residences and other expensive additions all funded by tuition income. Where does that come from? It's borrowed, of course, by the students.

Go to a community college for your first two years, say Hacker and Dreifus, you'll be much less out-of-pocket if you decide to go for a full bachelor's degree elsewhere after that.

  • Share

Most Commented

January 8, 2025

1.

NAS Condemns the AHA's “Scholasticide” Resolution

The National Association of Scholars condemns the “Resolution to Oppose Scholasticide in Gaza,” which the members of the American Historical Association passed by 428 t......

January 27, 2025

2.

Exclusive Documents: UC-Boulder Breaks Civil Rights Law to Advance Racial Preferences

New FOIA documents grant a window into how the University of Colorado-Boulder, in the name of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, discriminates on the basis of protected class and upholds a co......

February 13, 2025

3.

The Grown Ups are Back: On Gender, Trump Replaces Confusion and Chaos with Clarity and Common Sense

With this administration, the grown ups are back: Trump is replacing confusion and chaos with clarity and common sense—not just for women’s sports but also for America....

Most Read

May 15, 2015

1.

Where Did We Get the Idea That Only White People Can Be Racist?

A look at the double standard that has arisen regarding racism, illustrated recently by the reaction to a black professor's biased comments on Twitter....

October 12, 2010

2.

Ask a Scholar: What is the True Definition of Latino?

What does it mean to be Latino? Are only Latin American people Latino, or does the term apply to anyone whose language derived from Latin?...

May 26, 2010

3.

10 Reasons Not to Go to College

A sampling of arguments for the idea that college may not be for everyone....