Appreciate the essay and information shared. A couple of quick thoughts that may be relevant. First, does the data you reviewed account for investment in facilities? It could be captured under support costs, but my sense is that colleges have made massive investments in upgraded facilities (many feel like resorts as much as institutions of higher learning) that should be reflected somewhere in the accounting data. Second, I find the explanation of increased course offerings to be persuasive as a primary driver of the increased costs. If true, that begs the question of what value is delivered by those extra classes and programs? Given that our system currently pushes most people towards... (read more)
Appreciate the essay and information shared. A couple of quick thoughts that may be relevant. First, does the data you reviewed account for investment in facilities? It could be captured under support costs, but my sense is that colleges have made massive investments in upgraded facilities (many feel like resorts as much as institutions of higher learning) that should be reflected somewhere in the accounting data. Second, I find the explanation of increased course offerings to be persuasive as a primary driver of the increased costs. If true, that begs the question of what value is delivered by those extra classes and programs? Given that our system currently pushes most people towards... (read more)