Why is College So Expensive?

College is a good deal, but it could be a much better deal. A combination of factors have driven the costs of higher education in America to increase extremely quickly, pricing some people out of an education and building over a trillion dollars in student loan debt. So why? Why did those costs increase and what are schools spending all that fat cash on. Turns out, it's pretty complicated.
Can you lower your student loans?
www.vox.com/2014/10/1/6050243/...
SOURCES
Trends in College Spending: 1998 to 2008 www.deltacostproject.org/sites...
Trends in College Spending 2001 to 2011: www.deltacostproject.org/sites...
Vox.com - Everything you need to know about Student Debt: www.vox.com/cards/student-debt...
Vox.com - Everything you need to know about college costs: www.vox.com/cards/college-cost...
Is Starting College and Not Finishing That Bad? www.hamiltonproject.org/papers...
Public Colleges Revenue Shift: www.insidehighered.com/news/2...\
Tuition Fees and Room and Board over time: trends.collegeboard.org/colleg...
Hiring Spree Fattens College Bureaucracy: www.wsj.com/articles/SB1000142...
Problematic Boom in Higher Education Administrators: www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02...
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[@kurzgesagt]

Just want to throw in there that college is free in Germany (and healthcare extremely cheap for students, like $70/month for full coverage). Even if you fly home twice a year or so it will be much, much cheaper over here and may be an interesting experience. Just for consideration.

[@Kevin-cm5kc]

***** It's free in Scotland as well. If i lived in America , i most likely wouldn't be graduating right now. No way my family would have that money =/

[@zacharyjones5102]

A education or health care systems video would be interesting *cough* *husten*

[@sterling-9259]

***** That's what I wanted to ask

[@sterling-9259]

jim bob Ya, my family can't pay for it... I spent two hours last night compiling a list of scholarships (52 so far) that I qualify for or can enter so I can hope to pay for college.

[@Bobby.Kristensen]

***** FALSE! Taxpayers have to pay for it. And taxpayers have to take the risk instead of individuals. facepalm

[@vlogbrothers]

Loving the great discussion going on in the comments. Remember, educational videos are exempt from the 4 minute rule!

[@frank4knowledge]

***** that was a surprising and very valauble video. thanks very much

[@bubblegumgun3292]

***** we got a little thing called "Quantitative easing" and the college bubble, you can thank obama also it started in the 72 when nixon stopped the gold standard

[@Mrjonnyjonjon123]

***** love your channel :D

[@INSTALEARN]

***** just for a bit of context, here in communist invasion Denmark, uni is free and we get paid 1000$ a month for living expenses. We can afford such things when we don't spend all the taxes on starting wars based on lies killing millions of people..... That said, education should be computerized, not only for dramatic cost reduction but also massively improved efficacy. Hundreds of people wasting their lives on some random clown writing with chalk on a board in slow motion from scratch every time is hardly 2015. I am confident that even the hard sciences could be sped up by a factor 10 and the lesser 'sciences' could be completed in an afternoon :) But for realz. The potential for improvement is staggering and a tremendous lost opportunity for every second that passes and we don't do it.

[@prisonerofknowledge4421]

Dan Frederiksen Well said, Dan!

[@jeremygarst394]

College is so expensive in part because the government was like "let's give students low-interest loans so more of them can go to college so our country will be smarter. " And they did, and we liked it, so then colleges were like "Oh the government is giving you low-interest loans? Well then you won't mind if we increase the price of tuition." And they did, and they liked it.

[@mariaa.396]

That doesn't really hold water when you look at the fact that people didn't NEED student loans that long ago meaning that the cost is inflated. They could literally work summers and pay their own tuition - even for Master's. If you watch the video, you will note that he actually talks about factors that HAVE increased the cost. Student Services increasing, decreased state funding and increased in tuition.

[@tylerdurden3722]

@@mariaa.396... Offering those things that cost more is only viable if demand is higher. Demand is higher because access to financing is higher. It's a kind of inflation, in its own microcosm.

[@SidIcarus]

@@tylerdurden3722 Ok. So what about countries that provide "free" or massively subsidized college, like Germany. Why is it that the cost per student is 70% more (or higher) in the US than it is in Germany? If Germany can just turn around and bill the government, why aren't costs massively inflated like you proposed? Instead the cost per student in Germany seems to be trending down year over year.

[@rod.lustosa]

@@SidIcarus I agree and say more. Here in Brazil, even being poorer and with bigger corruption problems, university and healthcare are good and free. And taxes are not that high in comparison. Edit: a poor family can treat health problems and go to university for free. Much more fare I think

[@iamcleaver6854]

IMHO the government should not be creating debt. It should be paying tuition for the talanted people whom it is willing to employ afterwards.

[@steveharrison4100]

The "student services" expenses he mentioned are mostly unnecessary and wasteful. I was involved in my university's Housing Events Committee a couple years ago, so I was one of the people who got to vote on when, and to whom, we gave funding. People would just randomly ask for university-sponsored pizza parties all the time. Ordering hundreds of pizzas for random groups of students isn't a responsibility of the university. All it means is that the entire student body has to pay for it. One group even requested money to buy non-alcoholic beverages for an event to teach freshman how to play beer pong in a "safe" environment before they started going to parties. That seems like it might be just a little bit unethical. If clubs, political organizations, and even local churches and restaurants weren't directly funded by taxes and student tuition, then maybe taxes and tuition wouldn't be so high. According to the video, the costs of student services have risen by 27.4% in the last decade. This is why. When a university supports the entire town in which it's built (like the one I'm attending) and employs/instructs most of the population of that town, the lines between private and public interests get blurred. Corruption and greed run rampant. I'll be so glad when I graduate and get out of here.

[@ashh1371]

Steve Harrison This sounds EXACTLY like my alma mater, which is a sister college to UVA.

[@lemon_boii1074]

Dang

[@deefdragon]

So, one of the things that this misses is what those pizzas mean to a student. Education is stressful. Those pizza parties are one of the best ways for students to relax. While I do agree that it may have gone too far, the extra student services expenses will help students to not be stressed. If you are stressed when learning a material, you are gonna grow to hate it, and so any job that uses that material will be much less appealing to you, undermining the worth of your education. If you can mitigate some of that stress, that's HUGE. I do agree that there is a LOT of greed, and wasted money, but there is also a very large reason for those expenses to have grown to begin with.

[@rickwillingham1421]

@@deefdragon Try working a job while you're in college and buy your own pizzas.

[@vincentdolente7053]

Get out of America and never look back. The depopulation will merely cause the morons to double down.

[@MarcEricLaneGlobal]

Hank, I agree with everything you just said. I'll give you a practical example of what you said that I witnessed first hand. When I was a freshman at Rutgers, the school paid over $30,000 dollars to have none other than Snooki (from the Jersey Shore tv show) come speak at the school to promote her book.

[@Thewhitequeen0]

I know this is your experience, but just reading that made me want to break something in rage.

[@tenaciousdean6179]

***** Did that really benefit the students though? I'm pretty sure the 2,000 or so students probably didn't want their money to be spent on advertisements aimed at them

[@amandaagnew6787]

Thewhitequeen0 same here ..

[@hejthenerd]

***** Did they really pay her to come to come and promote her book?? Sounds like the only one benefiting from that was Snooki

[@servant74]

***** In the '70s we paid $20K for entertainers and $10K for speakers to come to our little college in Texas. The growth in fees at $30K isn't out of line. Some of the $500K fees for some politicians seems to be inordinate.

[@hanak5479]

I wonder if all the people who are commenting "thank goodness I'm not from the US, my education is free!" know how legitimately bad you're making me (us?) feel.

[@hanak5479]

***** I like your attitude :)

[@sdegueldre]

Ainsley Jey TBH going to uni outside of the US will cost you less than going in the US, even if you need to go to Europe, with the plane and living cost, you'll pay less. Look into it. I have a friend who's paying for her education and living cost just by working during the holiday and weekends, she manages to pay food, tuition and even go on vacation in the summer like that, no debt and no outside financial support (though she lives with her parents so she doesn't pay rent)

[@hanak5479]

***** I don't know about that. I'm a UK citizen, but because I haven't lived in any EU country for at least the past three years, I'd have to pay the international student fees, which is still much more expensive than an in-state public school here in the states.

[@sdegueldre]

that's a shame. Best of luck!

[@sighcantthinkofaname]

***** That might work out ok for some, but if you want a degree where the requirements are different in different places it doesn't work. Like if you want to be a lawyer or social worker, they have different laws and requirements. So the classes you want might not be offered abroad, and I don't know how transfer credits work.

[@venetiantemper3358]

I'm getting my degree in engineering from a school with a 90-something percent hiring rate, and I still will spend the next five years of my life trying to pay off my student loans. I'll be graduating with well over $100,000 in debt, and I'm one of the lucky ones who has good odds of getting a job. It terrifies me, my parents are still trying to pay off their student loans from over 20 years ago and I don't want to live like that.

[@venetiantemper3358]

Logan Waltz exchange "roommate" for "potential fiance" and that's covered. I'm just really stressed out since my grades arent the best and I'm a semester behind everyone else I know. I'll probably be fine, its just nerve-wracking to have that huge debt hanging over you.

[@venetiantemper3358]

Logan Waltz yeah, ill probably be fine. its just scary, you know? it helps hearing a stranger tell me i'll be alright after college, it makes me feel a little less anxious for the future. thanks!

[@venetiantemper3358]

Logan Waltz sorry to hear that, bro. hopefully things will improve for you soon! thanks for the pick-up!

[@brainboy109]

+VenetianTemper, 100k for a degree? What on earth? You obviously didn't choose a public school. Either way, if you do have a good engineering job you can pay it back in just a few short years if you budget correctly. Good luck and don't lose sight of the prize!

[@venetiantemper3358]

***** thanks for the encouragement! Its finals season and I'm feeling the hurt. Yep, I went with a private school that covers half of my cost with scholarships versus a public school that gave full rides for the first year and little support after that. Having my professors know me by name is really nice though.

[@shilacarroll6046]

I agree. I think colleges are capitalizing off of their students and it's more about numbers than providing quality education. Especially for those of us who pay our own way through school, without parents footing the bill.

[@NotTotallyHopeless]

So I go to a very expensive private college and when friends from home or whatever come visit they are totally and completely shocked to find out how shitty our food is, our athletics are, and how little budget our non academic clubs get. And I was too. Until I realized that my school employs top professors from around the world and has class sizes from 8 to 20. And I think that ultimately I like my investment. I know all my professors by name and have gotten a number of personal mentors who really care about me and want me to succeed. They helped me get my internship for the summer and are advising me about grad school. That's more important to me than a nice football field.

[@dassajuarez6628]

Yes, except that that's not how real world works. Outside you will have to realize that not everybody is there to help you and most of the time people only care about themselves, you will have to compete against other people (far more than 8) and since school or college is supposed to get you ready for life it isn't really helpful that it protests life in a way it isn't. I am not saying you college sucks or anything, just that it perhaps do you good to try to be in a more challenging environment. On another note, I'm happy you have met nice and well educated professors, since there are many people that pay thousands for a college and they don't even get to have good teachers :)

[@AlthenaLuna]

Dassa Juárez I think you missed the point entirely, and you're being rather insulting about it. I think their point was that - unlike many schools, like the ones in the focus of this video - their school has actually invested in something that MATTERS, the quality of the teaching and education. An education with engaged and helpful professors who are willing and able to help you figure out how to advance your career goals and education is way more effective - individually and institutionally - than being thrown to the wolves with the rest of the oversaturated pool of applicants, as you seem to prefer.

[@NotTotallyHopeless]

Dassa Juárez I think I'm pretty well aware that not everyone is a nice person and that a lot of people are out for themselves. I've left my house a couple times in the past and experienced people like that. Not to mention that what some colleges incorrectly do is set you up to challenge yourself in relation to others. My college is about challenging yourself to do the best that you can do, which is far more challenging then trying to be better than the other people in the class even if there are 100 other students. I think you missed my point entirely and are being a little condescending.

[@NotTotallyHopeless]

AlthenaLuna thanks :) I appreciate that you commented

[@tigerfanfrv]

NotTotallyHopeless class size and program were the deciding factors when i chose my college. a small private women's liberal arts college, my largest class has 25 people in it, the food was decent, the dorms were nice. I honestly think (10 years later) that had i gone to a large school with a few 100 per class, i would have disappeared through the cracks.

[@leigha.b.1875]

I'm a senior in high school (I guess now I am since the old seniors graduated last weekend) and I already know I will have to take at least a year off to work before going to college, and then go to a community college for my first two years. I've been looking at scholarships, and more often than not I don't fit into them because I'm a straight white female of English decent. I don't know how I'm going to get through college.

[@katoyukimaru]

Leigh B Good luck! Also, descent*.

[@OnTheNerdySide]

Leigh B Best of luck to you. Depending on your local community college, it's a pretty good experience as long as you get involved with a club or group of some sort. Just please don't put off going back for too long like I did. I'm a 35 year-old student and I am finally starting my university career after four years slowly moving through community college on Pell Grants.

[@sujurean]

Honestly as a person that is going through a rigorous 4 year 126 credit program, the best thing you could do is take community classes for two years with the future university transfer. Basically apply to an institution, get accepted and then work with the academic advisors TO MAKE SURE whatever courses at a community college you are taking will transfer over to the university. Then take those courses at a community college, try not to over load yourself if you know you have things going on presently in the bg like work, pressing family issues etc. Once you have those credits in tow, apply as a transfer student and then you'll be able to take the courses at the institute that match the possible degree you wish to seek. What ever you do, don't approach college majors blindly, if you get stuck with something you don't enjoy, switch it up for something else. You want to prevent wasting your time and money at these institutions. The reason why I warn so much about these things is because I WISH I went this path instead of going "lol I'm gonna just take my liberal arts classes here because they will be more fun" granted they would be more fun if I didn't have 4 5 hour long studio classes to take at the same time. I ended up dropping the liberal arts classes just to get through the studio classes (which 80% of the time was 2-4 hour critiques on work and 1 hour of classroom instruction/actual working time). I understand if my advice wouldn't work around your situation as much, I just thought i would give you some advice if in case you were with open ears at the moment :>. Best of luck with the years to come, I am very sure you will do great!

[@Meloncov]

Leigh B Third party scholarships can be tough to find, but if you have good grades and test scores (and if you didn't in high school, cc effectively gives you a second chance) it's still very possible to get substantial scholarships directly from the schools.

[@untappedinkwell]

Leigh B If you belong to a church or organization (some honor rolls, a scouting program, etc), you want to check with them and see if they offer any scholarships. Many times these scholarships are small, and competitive, but any little bit helps. Also, because they're community based, you have a better chance. There's nothing wrong with doing community college though. It's a fiscally responsible decision. However, like sujurean said, MAKE SURE that every course you take at community college will transfer to where you want to go. Triple check it with an academic advisor.

[@iLOVEpicklesBRO28]

I graduated high school on the day this was uploaded

[@SoulTaken]

How are you doing now?

[@imsickoflifeanditstactics5063]

How's it going dude? I hope your okay

[@EDarien]

So why did this video ignore the government subsidy of colleges which allowed the inflated tuition rates due to the "everyone gets a loan!" system that allows these colleges to raise tuition without negative consequence because they know they're getting their money from the loans anyway?

[@richardwilliams2014]

+EDarien Preach it! To admit that would admit that vlog is a liberal leaner. College is expensive because government loans allows people to pay for more expensive tuition. vlogbrother just talks a mean game but he completely MISSED THE WHOLE POINT!

[@EDarien]

Richard Williams That's my big problem with the "liberal intellectual" mindset. They talk down to people as if they know what's going on. And I'm not saying they're not probably smarter than the average American. But the problem is, as the adage says, "A little knowledge is more dangerous than no knowledge." Then, by claiming intellectual superiority, they go on to educate more and more people whom swallow it whole because they look and sound smart opposed to actually being smart.

[@richardwilliams2014]

+EDarien Mic drop. Standing ovation. Well said!

[@brandonp5019]

Amen.

[@scottsbarbarossalogic3665]

I know, right? Thinking that he knows something because researched and collected evidence. But the real kicker is that he then tries to inform people by showing them that evidence. How utterly, and truly, wrong. It is a wonder universally acknowledged that people like you _who truly know, and know that they truly know, without doubt or evidence, who may stand up and bravely point out "The Other" to be considered simply_ are a gift undeserved upon this poor earth, so that we, the meek wretches, may not have our ideas challenged. Or recognise the hypocrisy of such statements

[@kooolkidninjamaster]

I get paid to go to university and sixth form in Malta. Plus all education is free. You just need scholastic requirements. :3

[@ryancaruana728]

Wow really? I'm half Maltese and live in England but I didn't know you could get paid to go school over there

[@simransingh8449]

Ryan Caruana you also have to look at the quality of education. Getting a degree from a British university will you get you hired anywhere around the world, will a degree from a uni in Malta do that for you? 90% no

[@ryancaruana728]

No I know it won't most of the degrees are only valid in Malta, I'll be applying for university in about a year and Cambridge is currently my first choice if I could get in :D

[@gurkfisk89]

simran singh I'm not sure about Malta, but we have a similar thing going on here in Sweden. And a degree from a Swedish university is absolutely valid elsewhere in the world. Some universities does ofc have better reputation in some fields than others, but I'm rather sure that's tha case in the UK too.

[@kooolkidninjamaster]

Ryan Caruana you would defiantly get free uni. I don't know if you fit the requirements tho. There's like 5 requirements.

[@NotTotallyHopeless]

I get so annoyed when people complain about how professors make so much money. My dad is an adjunct professor and he makes very little money and has no pension and no health insurance. Most adjuncts have doctorates and are super well qualified and educated but make much less than most highschool teachers. Plus most states don't allow adjuncts to unionize and take away a lot of the rights of their union if they get one.

[@skippinginthesky]

It's because we say "the average college professor" which includes both people like your dad and people like the football coach who make millions of dollars.

[@NotTotallyHopeless]

skippinginthesky​ yea but most college professors don't make a lot of money so it's a bit silly to say that professors make a lot of money. The full time professors at my college don't make a huge amount of money either and many of them are experts in their field

[@sterling-9259]

NotTotallyHopeless My dad's adjunct too

[@evercuriousmichelle]

NotTotallyHopeless Thank you for pointing that out. The undergrad I graduated from refuses to let adjuncts unionize (even though the cafeteria workers already unionized) and they don't pay their adjuncts a living wage if the adjunct is trying to support a family. It's awful. I care that my profs live comfortably.

[@Firebert]

NotTotallyHopeless Yeah, for people who don't know about adjunct profs, they should check out Tolarian Community College's video about being an adjunct professor. He usually does videos about Magic: The Gathering, but his video about that really was depressing.

[@Fosterz1020]

at our college they spend lots of money on the buildings, these big fancy buildings that are just eye candy!

[@Fosterz1020]

Erica Fabulous which are very much "Sales" stuff

[@Praisethesunson]

It's a slush fund for developers(capitalists). Intentional waste you have gone into inescapable debt to make.

[@alec187]

So a financial crisis make colleges more expensive Corona Virus: I’m about to ruin this kid’s non-existent career

[@skykid]

For the international viewers, the reason American college is so expensive is simply because the government gives virtually nothing to those schools. Most are considered private institutions and aren't state funded at all, which is exactly why they act like businesses sometimes. The money has to come from somewhere.

[@DakuHonoo]

skykid well, why aren't they run like state business which doesn't have to have any profit, just no loss? college students are good for the economy and in turn for taxes, aren't they?

[@skykid]

DakuHonoo we have many local state colleges that are, and many can be attended free by state residents. The problem is they generally don't offer free four-year degrees. Many students attend for two years and then go to a larger university for the rest of their education.

[@DakuHonoo]

skykid how come they don't offer proper degrees? what are they good for then?

[@skykid]

DakuHonoo they do offer propor associates degrees. And if you attend a larger school for bachelors or higher, then most of that credit will transfer. You end up saving $10-$20 thousand that way if you go for higher education. Then again, some people don't need four year degrees. On the other hand, I would agree with the sentiment that capitalism has failed us in the education department, so no argument there.

[@ineinerbank]

skykid not true. us colleges have a much larger government funded budget that most other universities.

[@MrNotThatFamous]

why is the english teacher tryna tell me its mandatory that i purchase his book, that he wrote -_-.

[@AuntSteve]

Mr Not That Famous What Min said. Talk to the faculty of your school, most places have strict rules about what teachers can and cannot force kids to read. If he's getting a kickback from it, he probably can't force you to buy it.

[@NeccoWecco]

Mr Not That Famous So you learn to write and read english?

[@TheWeakMinded]

Mr Not That Famous I have had 3 teacher require textbooks that they have written, the cost has always been printing coverage, they didn't make profit.

[@juststeveschannel]

Mr Not That Famous If you write a book, you put in it what you feel is most important, in the clearest, most concise manner you feel it can be expressed. Why would you want to use anyone else's text? Why would you (if you were the professor) want to spend hours and hours of much more precious class time going over what you'd already offered in a form that can be permanently referenced? The cost of textbooks can be debated, but that argument falls mainly at the feet of publishers. If a professor DIDN'T want me to use his or her own textbook, I'd be curious why. And if that book wasn't worth the price, I probably wouldn't want that professor in the first place. Just my take on the question, but hopefully worth considering.

[@AuntSteve]

I think we're all actually missing some key information. Is it a textbook/workbook, or a novel? Are you in K-12 or College?

[@ethicalsoprano]

As someone who will be looking deeply into colleges fairly soon, it's kind of terrifying to look out at everything. Not only do you have to get into colleges in an increasingly competetive environment which allows festering of mental illnesses such as anxiety due how stressful it is, but you have to pay tons and tons of money for it! It seems to be a necessity to go to college, but it's got such a high price. And for someone like me who doesn't have the faintest idea of what they want to do, trying to find to some place to spend at least four years and thousands upon thousands of dollars to even attempt to make it in the real world is terrifying. Seems like you're supposed to have everything planned out as soon as you leave eighth grade sometimes.

[@danpro4519]

Just a note on the "educational returns" data. I think it's hard to say the correlation equals causation here. For example, those who enter and finish college may already have the smarts and diligence to make it the real world, that doesn't mean college caused it. Ultimately, college is only truly an investment if a student has a clear focus on their goals and are willing to take advantage of what's available. Simply going is not enough.

[@NikBY]

Dan Pro Even the students without a clear focus and leave college/university greatly enriched and prepared for the next step in their lives. If someone goes for three years, pursuing X, and then by fluke find their passion in year 4 and graduate at the end of 5 years, those first three years weren't a waste. They inform you on different topics, they broaden your perspective on your area of interest, they give you transferable skills, and they allow you to say "I tried X and I hated it, because of Y (too much math/not enough human contact/not enough current events/too much lab work/sitting still too much/not enough time thinking about theory) and that makes a difference. It sucks: three years not finding your passion! But, you probably built relationships in that time, and hopefully did other stuff - clubs, work, projects - that created a better PERSON.

[@lucymoon]

I'd LOVE to know how the money students spend on university in the UK breaks down

[@JoneseyBanana]

meowitslucy I did some digging and my UK university (in 2010/11, so a fair while ago) spent 35% of its budget on academic departments, 15% on administration and central services, 14% on premises, 19% on research grants & contracts, 6% on academic services, 4% on accommodation and catering, and 5% on "other". In terms of where they got the money from, 29% was from funding council grants, 15% from home and EU tuition fees, 15% from international tuition fees, 4% from "other tuition fees", 23% from research grants and contracts, and 14% from "other income".

[@lucymoon]

JoneseyBanana That's really interesting, thanks! 2011 was before the fee raise, right?

[@JoneseyBanana]

meowitslucy Yeah, you're right. 2012/13 was the first year of £9000 fees. I seem to remember that the universities were pushing for that fee increase so strongly because the government were cutting the amount of public funding that they got from the treasury, so nowadays that pie chart is probably more skewed towards student fees with a smaller proportion from the HE funding council grants.

[@XBR99]

As an incoming high school junior, I will be taking the SAT next year. I have no idea what I wanna do with my life or where i wanna go. My mom wants me to go to a university and major in tech, but thats not what i want to do at all. I'm hoping to get some scholarship money for playing rugby. Honestly the only reason I'm going to college is because I will be the 3rd person in my family to obtain any form of college degree, and also because a college degree is needed for most forms of "success" in life.

[@Scott89878]

Xavier Rolando I got a degree in business 9 years ago and never got a job from it. I've almost paid my loans off though and am working to start a farming business.

[@XBR99]

Scott89878 thats one of my qualms on focusing on getting a job on the basis of my degree, that is whatever I end up majoring in. I dont plan to major in buisness though.

[@CDGM94]

In all honesty. Take a deep breath and take a year off. Get a job at one place and keep switching industries every 3 months. As soon as you get bored at a job switch to the next one. During that time read a lot. Ask yourself education for whom and for what. Ultimately I advice if and when you go to college do not go for a degree. Just take things that are interesting to you and then leave.

[@XBR99]

CDGM94 I do want to travel and volunteer some places around the world. But I'm gonna be playing college rugby, I'm on track to a scholarship (I just made state all stars). So i probably can't take a year off after i graduate. Plus my mom would kill me if I didnt go straight to college.

[@CDGM94]

Xavier Rolando I used to be like that. I have scholarships, and this and that. And my parents! You'll meet plenty of people that get in because of a scholarship. They get injured, lose interest, or can't handle the stress of sports plus college. That just compounds the problem of having a vague sense of what you want to do with your life and the money you'll be spending. Your parents don't have to approve or like your choices. The only reason your mom doesn't want you to take a year off is because she doesn't know what else to say.

[@KainusGulch]

I love the pictures on your wall in this vid. Narnia and the layers of the atmosphere. awesome.

[@MirRandom]

This video is so important! Thank you so much for saying all of this out loud!

[@pucksandpaperbacks]

I go to Community College, which helps...but they keep raising the tuition. It's really hard to afford. College should be free. Thanks for this video Hank!

[@XBR99]

It wouldnt be free it'd be put into taxes, thus causing a raise in taxes. Which is why socialist countries in europe have high taxes, but they also have a high quality education, and enviroments. Sadly people in the US dont like the idea of socialism or high taxes.

[@CommentorX]

***** If college were free, there wouldn't be any college aged girls stripping to earn tuition. I consider that a bad thing.

[@FutureActress224]

Well hopefully soon Obama's legislation will pass and the first two years of community college will be free which will help out a whole new generation.

[@amyamyamy17]

(Vote for Bernie)

[@mermaidismyname]

Xavier Rolando In all seriousness, America is so stinking rich we probably could shift more towards socialist programs and still have lower taxes than in European countries. All we have to do is like, stop funding shit wars and giving corporate subsidies to the companies that are currently destroying the planet. It's all about priorities.

[@almohsen12]

it costs about 500 euros a year for most colleges here in germany and many other contrys lol :P

[@BlackwaterPark666]

flat moe not true. the fee was 500 euros per half year and they don't excist anymore.

[@Inucat]

flat moe I pay 280€... where do you pay 500? Heidelberg?

[@carlacolumna2046]

flat moe I pay nothing. 0€ in Leipzig. I think in bavaria, too.

[@almohsen12]

my brother in Duisburg-essen cuz of the transportation-ticket ,,,, i only pay about 280 too

[@almohsen12]

btw , is there any DFTBA club here in germany ?

[@DiamondPickaxe831]

The thing that terrifies me the most is the fact that going to college is such a huge monetary and social commitment that is basically necessary if you want to get anywhere in the world anymore.

[@tonyboy4334]

Uh hello, limitless loans to anyone and their dog is part of why the cost of college is going up. Did no one learn from the housing crash???

[@6663000]

The cost of education has increased because demand has increased, partially as a result of government-run student loan programs that offer cheap debt. It's neither bad nor good, it is not "wrong", and the government has absolutely no obligation to do anything about it...it just is... this is how markets work. Schools are businesses, students are customers, and that's fine. If students demanded that schools stop spending money on superfluous student services and amenities... then they would do so. Again, those things only exist because demand exists for them.

[@LyricalDJ]

j6663000 That's a very market-based view of education. Let's just say that in quite a few western countries people feel that it's in the best interests of everyone if public education is of a decent to high standard and affordable for as many people as possible. If the Netherlands followed your view (and our liberal government is trying to move in that direction) then it'll be more like the past prior to the 1960s when the elites were the only ones who could afford a college education.

[@Thewhitequeen0]

"The cost of education has increased because demand has increased-" And why has demand increased? Is it because most decent jobs will barely give you a second glance without a degree of some sort (and that's only for the profitable ones! Good luck with your degree in Psychology if you weren't planning to be a psychologist.) It amazes me how there is an illusion of choice about going to college, and about spending. If you look at the comment section, nothing is so clear cut about supply and demand. Clearly there are a number of people who don't like or want extra spending on certain aspects of college, but no one can just tell to change it. There are a number of complex obstacles that they purposefully have in place to not only be thorough, but discourage people from trying to change anything. Cost will keep going up, even when people don't like it or want it to, along with both societal and the economic pressure to go to college for reasons other than to further your education. How is that not wrong?

[@6663000]

Thewhitequeen0 So in other words, demand has gone up because the degree has become more valuable (ie. it is important to have a degree if you want to get a job) Doesn't it stand to reason that as a degree becomes more valuable, the cost of obtaining one would increase? Nothing wrong with that.

[@Thewhitequeen0]

j6663000​ Not if it's presented as a choice. What clear alternative is there than to go to a college or a university of some sort and get a degree, just so you can get a job and be in debt after having to pay costly tuition using student loans (Granted, there are grants and scholarships, but despite however much it's stated that there are millions upon millions of dollars out there for that purpose, why aren't more people using them? Are they not looking good enough, or is it just another complex system meant to discourage getting one?) My end point is that despite college being a business, with a degree being part of the transaction for paid tuition, it is inherently wrong to place students between a rock and a hard place (either pay to get a degree, which doesn't even guarantee a job, or possibly struggle without one, with the same prospects. I understand how supply and demand works, and I'm not saying I understand everything about this issue to say the definitive answer is for the government to pay for all students to get a degree, but I do know that the cost of a degree being raised without a guarantee of any sort of job, which almost certainly leads to debt from loan payments (however cheap it may be) is morally wrong, especially when you should have the right (imo) to be educated without hinderance.

[@acecase25]

j6663000 One thing I'd like to note is that people are demanding colleges cut spending on "superfluous student services," and the good thing about capitalism is that when there is a demand, there will soon be a supply. Every once in awhile I hear an ad for a nursing college near me, and that's what they advertise. "We don't have a geology department, OR basketball team because we want to focus on teaching you how to be a nurse as efficiently as possible." I feel like the free market is a bit underrated today...

[@katzenschildkroete]

In Germany college is free! Except for the books though, but they are not too expensive either.

[@zDoubleE23]

Its paid by taxes, not free. Its also a system that forces people who have no interest into going to college to pay for it anyway.

[@chrisesparza3786]

@@zDoubleE23 yeah, but look on the bright side. At least you don't have thousands of student debt

[@MOONIKKADDICTIONS]

Oooooh my goodness, I am loving this pl with 46 vid and I am enjoying watching dem all.. keep the good work going😍😜

[@Appleblade]

Very nice explanation! Good stuff!

[@itierney]

C'mon the whole idea of a college degree needing a building you go to so you can sit infront of a professor belongs in the pre internet age. Why not have degrees exams standardised so that anyone can sit the exam and get the degree. Where you get the information is your choice. You could study online, from books or go to a college. This would mean if you were motivated enough you could get an education for way cheaper. Its basically the open university idea they had in the UK in 1969.

[@vicki2954]

MOOC's ! :)

[@tuggspeedman1359]

That's a great idea, It would be great if it worked that way.

[@GoogleGebruiker]

I wouldn't want a physician/surgeon with an internet degree to perform surgery on me.

[@hexa3389]

Really depends on the topic. You can't say how good you research based on an exam. And research is really important for majors such as math, physics, philosophy, etc.

[@iamcleaver6854]

And how exactly do you imagine becoming a doctor or a chemist without on-campus training???

[@JennieKerfuffle]

My parents have suggested that I go to Germany for college to evade student debt since tuition is free there (or near free? something like that). The other day I wanted to walk up this paved trail in the mountain and my mom told me "I don't think you should go by yourself" and I looked at her and was like "you want to ship me off to a foreign country for four years but won't let me walk up a mountain by myself?" PARENTS, AMIRITE?!

[@nicoleb7177]

hi hank and john! just wanted to say that i have been keeping up with vlogbrothers since i was in fifth grade (big s/o to my early involvement in the harry potter community for getting me to this channel!) i'm now an upcoming third-year in college, and i absolutely love that i can come back to these videos whenever i want to learn more or need comfort no matter what stage of life i am in. i hope it's always this way. DFTBA!

[@maxwell_edison]

I really like how these videos are set up, in a way that makes it as if you're just watching conversations between two brothers. It's an interesting & entertaining twist on the informative videos.

[@MichaelRpdx]

The business of education is displacing the practice of education. (Paraphrasing Freakenomics on medicine.)

[@MrsL132]

***standing ovation!***

[@Tyler2534]

***** that's not at all clear seeing as almost all of the top schools in the world are still located in the US. At a rudimentary level this even suggests that running a school more like a business tends to yield BETTER results in terms of real education, not worse ones.

[@juandiegosapotec]

Tyler H False comparison. The best schools in America and the world are not run like business and never will be. They are immune to this trend. Why? because they're the best. Everyone wants to go to Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley and Yale. But for the rest, what most Americans attend, more expensive schools are not yielding better educations.

[@Tyler2534]

juandiegosapotec I'm really struggling to understand your point.. Mine is that it is not at all clear that the business of education and the practice of education are opposed in any way. Harvard, Yale, Stanford are all extremely expensive private institutions that are run like businesses and also provide what is widely considered to be the best education in the world. You're saying they aren't run like businesses because they are the best and everyone wants to go to them? I don't follow.

[@juandiegosapotec]

No, I am saying they are not run like businesses

[@carrcorp2]

Government guarantees student loans colleges can therefore charge students more with less risk

[@daviskampschror4874]

+Osca Carrillo exactly

[@Don-xu5fr]

+Osca Carrillo This is somehow irrelevant, obviously, which is why it was not covered in the video. I mean next to the idea that we took instructor pay out of the table that compared rising costs with everything else and generally speaking misrepresented as much as possible to push the idea that capitalism is bad ... I assume your point held the same value. It's become increasingly clear that these guys refuse to acknowledge anything that refutes their initial thoughts on a subject.

[@MarioFan756]

Thanks, Hank. I was really waiting for a video like this.

[@imaswifty4eva]

Colleges who try to "get my business" really irk me. My email inbox is flooded with emails from various universities that got my info from the PSATs. I have a huge stack of paper mail as well - there's probably about a hundred letters, booklets, etc. (I got a pretty good score, and marked my major as undecided and my religion as "other" - so there's a pretty wide variety). But the crazy thing about this whole situation is that I keep hearing from the same colleges, over and over! There are some colleges/universities which have contacted me only once or twice that I would seriously consider attending, but then there are these crazy colleges who send me emails every three days asking if I've changed my email, urging me to visit, or telling me to reply for more information. College mail was exciting when it first started, but now I'm just annoyed.

[@FreyaQuirksALot]

It's so sad :( in the uk it's really awful too, I can't go to uni but my boyfriend has so much pressure to get in, then pay for it

[@starlinguk]

Freya Mary Go to Germany. Foreign students can study for free over there.

[@thomasjansen9866]

Freya Mary It's not great but it's no way near as bad as in the US... I hope you get to where you want to be, it's damn shame that you're held back from learning

[@50doctorwho]

Freya Mary Scotland gets free uni.

[@thomasjansen9866]

50doctorwho yeah its free for everyone in EU except the british -.-

[@rubypottyhead]

we (uk people) do have a MUCH better deal that those in America, though. If you go to university in uk, you will only be expected to pay that back once you're earning above £21,000- and even then you'll only be paying 9% of your monthly earnings towards it, like a tax. It is predicted 70% of our generation will not pay our student loans back- if after 30 years you are still earning a small amount, the debt is cancelled and the government will pay if for you. So, it is still hugely unfair we have to pay fees at all, at such large amounts, but I feel extremely lucky, and sorry for Americans :(

[@ImNotPotus]

College, like Housing, rises in cost if you can use borrowed money to pay for it. House prices crash when loans default. College prices do not crash when loans default because the Government picks up the tab on guaranteed loans and the student cannot discharge the debt. End of lesson. Give an unlimited supply and you get spiraling demand. So to recap; remove the discharge laws and guarantees on student loans and see costs plummet. Don't get me started on health care. STUDENT LOANS the politicians answer to not having to provide jobs unemployment checks to the youth. Don't believe me, dig deeper into the BLS labor statistics. The only net increase in jobs were in the over 50 age brackets.

[@KurtGodel432]

+ImNotPotus Housing does not rise in cost necessarily. Tell that to the inhabitants of Detroit, or Flint.

[@ImNotPotus]

"...if you can use borrowed money", no one lends to Detroit or Flint, they are cash on hand places. They won't be lonely much longer. Make sure to finish reading the sentence while on board your train of thought.

[@sylviapolak4049]

+ImNotPotus Dont take student loan Period.

[@ImNotPotus]

+Sylvia Polak, you, dear lady are correct but I will lend you some punctuation.

[@sylviapolak4049]

English is my 4th language.I was saving energy cost by not punching the dots.600 calories per day, one doughnut I will not have to consume per day. You linguistic nutzies of the internet are annoying. The text was understood why whining about punctuation. ?? I know the karma is going to get me for this one but I would rather worry more about rat DNA in the McDonalds than little dots here and there in a small text.

[@katerinazissouli3642]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Goofy8907]

Spot on John, love you and your brothers show!

[@LithiumAndDietSoda]

Oh the irony. Behold the richest and freest country in the world, where half the population can't get college education. The way the college system in America is treated like a buisness is sickening!

[@sydneybolen]

This video was so needed.

[@zward25]

Great riff here Hank. Very cogent and informative!

[@kamonrot]

Thanks for the helpful information!

[@HannahTarr]

Can Americans go to university in a European country that has cheaper prices?

[@untappedinkwell]

Hannah T Yes. But often times the cost to relocate to another country is a pretty big barrier. And, many of the qualifying exams and such are more difficult to do. (That second one is just cause the american school system isn't really designed to be compatible internationally).

[@HannahTarr]

untappedinkwell Okay. That's good to know, thanks.

[@katherineesquivel139]

Yes we can and some do but the problem with that is that it is expensive to be able to move to europe, get somewhere to live, find a form of trasportation. Also getting a job in another country would be difficult so it kinda evens out

[@untappedinkwell]

Hannah T No problem! Another thing to think about (and a reason that most people don't do it) is because leaving your entire support network (parents, friends, etc.) behind to go to a foreign country is really, really hard. And it's not even the leaving part that's the issue, usually, it's the time differences. Having someone be six hours ahead or behind is REALLY hard when you need to talk to somebody! It's a great experience and there are a lot of "study abroad' programs that allow you to do this for a semester/year instead of the full time, but knowing whether or not you need to be in the same time zone as your support network is something to consider.

[@HannahTarr]

untappedinkwell Oh yeah, I had forgotten about that... I have a few years until I have to go to college, though, so I can think about it.

[@tvlangsam]

The cost of education has risen in correspondence with the government's willingness to provide loans. College used to cost X dollars, the government let students borrow X dollars, colleges saw that everyone could afford college so they raised tuition to XX dollars, the government responded with XX dollars in loans, and so on and so forth. That was not broached in this clip.

[@StinkySkunk100]

+TheSnorkeler Of course it wasn't. Not only are government loans given to students, they are one of the few types of debt that doesn't get dissolved if you declare bankruptcy.

[@brycefergusson8573]

Brilliant! Thank you so much, Hank!! You vlogbrothers are alright, man.

[@Chorum28]

your crashcourse videos taught me more than most of my professors and yes it's like a business get you in, get you out as fast as they can to make room for new students

[@youngamerican2988]

Also, the government subsidizes loans to students and give enormous grant money to foreign green cardholders to attend college here. By subsidizing loans, the colleges know that they can charge more per student because of the favorable tax treatment that occurs. This inherently raises taxes (slightly) on the American people. Meanwhile, the colleges keep increasing tuition and lowering the quality of teachers. Try dual enrolling in high school so that you can get your AA by the time you graduate and save a ton of money in the future.

[@JoleneGov]

+Young American I'm currently working on my AA during High school. Correct me if I'm wrong, my AA is supposed to shed two years off of my undergraduate program?

[@youngamerican2988]

Jolene Gov Yessir. Assuming you go full time once out of high school.

[@jfarrow3856]

Was this video educational enough to allow Hank to avoid an OVER FOUR MINUTE LONG VIDEO punishment?

[@AuntSteve]

YaYa Farrow His punishment should be to do the math (or at least research) for when the system is going to equal out for cost/reward.

[@stevenedgar8061]

AMAZING VIDEO HANK!

[@maurasalamon7798]

Hiya Hank! Ik this video is over a year old and you probably won't see this but I am doing a public speaking competition and I picked student loans and college tuition as my topic and this video really helped! Thanks!

[@TheJBieberMania]

I'm going to college in september and I admit I'm scared to death. A big change is going to occur in two months. And I couldn't agree more with what you said... College is indeed very expensive. Education should be for free, we shouldn't pay to learn, develop our skills and widen our knowledge.

[@saif0316]

Diana Santos How’d it go?

[@stiras1]

I'm glad I live in Norway! I don't pay for it at all! Well I pay like 60 dollars a year for the registration fee or something, but it allows me to talk to a psychologist, or go to a cheaper dentist for students etc. Students here take up a student loan that will cover other things like textbooks, rent, transportation etc. Our loan is interest free until we graduate though, and even then it's not so bad. Also if we live away from our parents and pay rent the government make part of our loan into a scholarship. :D

[@jacobandrews2663]

stiras1 why's your country so perfect

[@josecuevasko4912]

Thank you for your time.

[@jacquelinegordon2744]

Thank you so much! I'm going to be commuting to UC Davis next fall for financial reasons, and when I say that to people, they are shocked. How could I sacrifice a portion of the college experience?! How could I "miss out" because of cost?! It's like we have this idea that there is only one way to go to college, and we seem to leave the whole higher education part of it in the dust. Whatever happened to the starving college student surviving on Ramen noodles? Cafeterias at colleges are so fancy now. We need to stop pushing "the college experience" down students throats and expecting them to be crippled by debt for years afterwards because of it. I appreciate this video so much.

[@Robert399]

College is *supposed* to be a good deal because society benefits from having a better educated, more productive workforce. If college cost as much as the value it provides, that would be terrible: then you'd be asking young people to waste years of their lives purely for altruistic reasons. And for some perspective, that would mean saddling them with a debt so large they don't finish paying it until the day they retire (assuming they make compulsory repayments only). That's insane.

[@dylanwest723]

In Scotland all education is free 😀

[@dylanwest723]

***** cant tell if sarcasm or not -_-

[@MrWolf57]

Dylan West Speaking to some Americans at my uni in Scotland it is cheaper for them to study in Scotland than America (including travel, visas and other extra costs).

[@dylanwest723]

***** 😁

[@tessrach1]

Dylan West Only I'm you're Scottish though - I live in England and although my Opa was Scottish, I'm 'not Scottish enough' to go for free :-(

[@dylanwest723]

***** that sucks man

[@danceguardmusicgirl1]

SO MUCH YES. Thank you, Hank, for this wonderful video!! So informative, easy to follow, and well done. DFTBA!

[@aBirdAndHisBoy]

Hank, your hair game is very strong in this video. -Chris (1st Viner with a MACAW sidekick )

[@darthvader7888]

Get rid of guaranteed student loans and watch tuition plummet.

[@GothicElf68]

One way to cut college expense for the student would be to stop requiring all those extra classes that do not have a thing to do with the student's major. Our educational system is set up around what I consider to be an old fashioned belief in a "well rounded" education. Meaning, even if your degree does not have a damn thing to do with say, science, you still have to take science courses. For example, someone in my human biology course is studying culinary arts. WHAT does this person need a science course for? If she was studying to be a nutritionist or dietitian, then yes, human biology would help a great deal. But not to be a chef. Why does someone wanting to be a journalist need college algebra when business math is all they will ever use in their job (if they even use that.) Cut out all the classes that do not relate to one's major and you will save a lot of money and time both. The average Bachelor's degree, that is supposed to take four years, anymore will take a student about 6 years to complete, going to school full-time, due to all the extra general education classes that are required for a degree. Unless a student takes more than 12 credit hours a semester, which can cause a sacrifice in grades, it is almost guaranteed they will spend more than four years in the process of earning a bachelor's degree. The educational system needs to be reworked.

[@careydanna4924]

True!! What do you do if they require those Courses to be taken? It's Ridiculous!! And that Journalism why taking College Algebra lol I'm thinking the same thing. I'm in Mass Comm

[@TheeBlackSilhouette]

Guess the gov is trying to milk as much money as possible.

[@uzairakram899]

dual credit should be standard practice for the education system, it saves time and money for most students.

[@rocknregalia]

This is great. I am an adjunct professor and have taught secondary education as well, and across the board more money goes to administration and infrastructure than the actual classroom. It is nearly impossible to become a tenured professor here in California. I have colleagues who have taught adjunct for over 20 years, long ago giving up on the possibility of a tenure track position. This is sad because full time professors are able to maintain a stronger focus on student needs, do not have to carry a portable classroom in their trunk, and do not have to split their loyalty between several institutions in order to make a living.

[@LittleRoundMirror]

I know this is an important video and everything, but I wanted to say I like your hair like that. It looks cool :3

[@alexkozliayev9902]

I think that treating students like costumers is a right thing. I study in university in Russia, and government pays for me. So students basically is resource. If they have better grades they have more money, if they don't - less money. So teachers don't give a shit about informating you, they don't care if they are late, if they lost your work it is your problem. Learning programs is just formal, they mostly concerning about testing you than actually teach. Maybe problem with expensiveness of colleges in USA is in cheap student loans. So student take loan, but because it is in low rate, he make riskier decision to take more expensive deal, but with cool stuff, because he didn't spend that money now, but in (not as he thinks) far future.

[@Millsy383]

Government guaranteed loans + interest free grants + increasing population + increased cost of living = more people applying for college. When demand outweighs supply, prices rise... basic economics.

[@alvincay100]

He failed to mention the role of the government in creating this situation. That's a shame.

[@musicguy8336]

Yeah federal aid is a biiiiiiiiiig deal. It's causing the same exact thing that is happening with healthcare right now.

[@juzojuzo1806]

since when kids future and availability of quality education should be treated like a buisness? regardless, good education and at least near equal starting point for youth is something that should be treated as a human right ( if it isnt ) and basic buisness principles should not be applied

[@musicguy8336]

Juzo juzo Actually yes, it should. It is something of value. Higher education is a luxury and should be treated as such. Calling something a human right just because it's a good idea to have it is asinine. Rights shouldn't cost money. Free speech and choice don't cost money; college does.

[@juzojuzo1806]

higher education is not something like waterscooter or iphone, its not just nice to have it, future of a country depends on a model, that most capable, hard working and talented get their oportunity to shine regardless of their backround denying potencially smarter people higher education and opportunity to hone their talent will be your countries downfall eventually

[@oddment7]

Well said!

[@chaswards]

Thanks Hank! This definitely will help me with a speech I'm writing for my public speaking class.

[@BlackGateofMordor]

Part of the problem could possibly be that America views university as essential, and that there are simply too many universities. America has *almost 5000* whereas here in Australia, with only about twelve times smaller a population, there are 43. It's crazy. With this has come a massive sense of competition because very few of those have international recognition, let alone recognition across the country.

[@acecase25]

Black Gate of Mordor I can't speak for other Americans, but I kind of don't like the Australian model. There are Australians at the college my brother goes to who came here because they just couldn't get a valuable degree in Australia for the topic they wanted to major in, and I prefer quality over low costs when it comes to something as important as education.

[@alphablitz1024]

In addition to all these great points, you can't forget that student loans are both subsidized and guaranteed. That means easier access to money for people who wouldn't otherwise have been able to afford college. And that means higher demand for college. That's good! Except that it also entails rising costs, as any econ student will tell you. Colleges couldn't get away with this kind of inflation if students didn't have access to the loans they need to pay soaring tuition rates. This is *not* an argument against student loans, but it's necessary to look at the unintended consequences (college inflation) of good things (guaranteed student loans).

[@KandiceMichelleYoung]

You are so on point with this video. I, personally, spent a long time going to college in the wrong major. I then switched majors, and paid my way through up until my last seven hours. I was unable to complete those hours, because I could no long afford to pay for school. Had I only been paying for my tuition and other necessities, this wouldn't have been an issue. However, because I was forced to pay for admission to football games, basketball games, etc. (that as a non-traditional student I never attended) the option was off the table. This also came about the year that it was revealed the accounting department screwed up and incorrectly allocated the grant money for a bigger fine arts building. Infrastructure fees were then increased to make up for the school's error. It's quite ridiculous. I would love to finish my degree, but I'm still facing the same challenge. It appears that each year the school finds something they can use to tack on more fees to their students. The only plus for me is that I do have the hours equivalent to a 4-year degree and then some, because I spent so much time studying something that I later realized I would never be able to spend the rest of my life doing.

[@TessaGermaine]

I completely agree Hank that college tuition should be used mostly towards the student's education, and college is overpriced. However, I do think it is important to have those extra things in campus life. As a rising high school senior, I am currently preparing to apply to colleges. I have toured many campuses focusing on my prospective department, and I have to say though the education I will be getting is the most important thing to me, I also find the campus life to be a huge factor. Many campuses I have toured have guest speakers, concerts, gyms, special event weeks, and other things that I am sure cost a lot of money. I am willing to help pay for that though, because if I am going to be living on a campus for 4 years of my life, I want to have a good time. I am the type of person who is much more focused on my studies, but I also want to meet people, relieve stress, find new interests, and have a fun time at my university. Personally, I am not just going to college for an education, but to join a community of learners, and I find it is important that the community I join is going to be a happy, fun, and involved one. Those events are not just fluff to entice students, but they bring students together. So in a way I view the extra things colleges provide as not "selling an experience" but "providing enrichment" as you stated. It enriches people's social skills, mental state, and provides life experiences that can help them in the present and future. (Of course this does not apply to ALL extra things. Some are unnecessary.)

[@IonelG56]

It is sad that you failed to mention the fact that a lot of the blame for high tuition is the fact that most student take out loans for this. Loans that are backed by the state and have amounts in any other condition no sane bank would offer. Of course colleges would start asking more if people have access to more money. The state offering such incentives to both banks and colleges has created this bubble and artificial market.

[@savagepinksock]

degrees in stem fields should be state funded

[@caitlynjones2147]

***** I would argue that degrees in the humanities are equally as important. As Hank said, (paraphrasing) the humanities are one of the only fields computers can't emulate yet. :)

[@savagepinksock]

Caitlyn Jones you can argue all you want, but a bunch of English literature graduates aren't going to help america compete with the advances made in other countries someone with an engineering degree is just better for the economy

[@caitlynjones2147]

Humanities encompasses far more then just English and art. I'm not saying humanities are MORE important (I myself graduated from a STEM field) I'm just saying that they're equal. Forcing people into STEM fields that don't want to be there by essentially making that the free option isn't going to help the state's budget, the US economy, or the students themselves. I agree we need more people in STEM fields, but totally removing the humanities would be a nightmare. More people need better education, regardless of their field of choice. You can argue all you want, but your opinion stated as a fact doesn't make you right either. I wish it wasn't so impossible to just have a discussion about something instead of everything turning into a fight :/

[@savagepinksock]

Caitlyn Jones will more engineers improve the economy? yeah probably ... will more humanities graduates improve the banter at starbucks ? yeah probably, which should we encourage ?

[@caitlynjones2147]

If things like history, law, archaeology- Never mind. That kind of close minded thinking doesn't even merit a response, I'm sorry I wasted our time.

[@snooodless]

I am attempting to write an argumentative essay on making college tuition free and I watched this video to possibly learn and reduce the stress of researching the topic through numerous articles online. Thank you.

[@aricamccarthy1421]

The school I'm attending this fall is so expensive and I even got money to go but it still hits that 40000 u mentioned and it's absolutely insane. I really enjoyed this video and do hope that society can start, as u said, look at college as being a provider for the students and not the "customers"

[@lukesamconnorvideos]

I wish my college only costed 40k *cries internally*

[@alexd5637]

What about government guarantees of the student loans? Do you think a bank would give a lot of money to somebody who wants to study in a worthless university? No, they wouldn't they don't want to lose money to a dumb student.

[@drwindsurf]

I think it is interesting that in your video and in the comments that no-one talks about the underlying reason for increasing tuition cost - States and Federal governments have been steadily reducing the amount that they pay to support state colleges. This is the direct reason Colleges have had to increase tuition to cover this shortfall, they then ended up in competition to attract students resulting in the increasing non-instructional expenses you mentioned. As State Colleges increased their tuition Private institutions did so as well because they could (and a reduction in the amounts of their endowments) because they are businesses and always have been. Thanks again for another fantastic and thought provoking email :)

[@MariamLionking]

Thank you it was really helpful for my essay:)

[@christianbohm6118]

As an european (german to be more specific) I don't get why the hell you americans pay so much for something that should be available to everyone. It works for europe, why shouldn't it work for the US? (And no, please, please dont assume our education is worse. It is not.)

[@ctennyson4697]

not educational enough...PUNISHMENT

[@daandekker6115]

Dobby The llama No.

[@ctennyson4697]

spazinator11 Agreed

[@DanielThureskog]

The Slap clock is still ticking. Hank Green should be afraid, very afraid.

[@Vallavender333]

He had graphs and statistics. He even said why things are the way things are. I feel educated.

[@daandekker6115]

spazinator11 He does not. The purpose of this video was primarily education so there mustn't be any punishments.

[@laurap4415]

One small area of student services that I wish had been mentioned relates to mental health, including substance use disorders. Working in a college health environment, we are seeing more and more students seeking treatment for increasingly severe problems - and that necessitates more providers available to see them (although we rarely get that increase in staff).

[@adamgtrap]

All that stuff you began listing off at 2:43 was absent from my college. It was also pretty affordable though.

[@bronwenraza6176]

I'm so lucky to live in Wales ....

[@ffionwynjones1153]

Uni is only free if you stay in Wales (although is is subbed)

[@bronwenraza6176]

Ffion Wyn Jones I know but the remaining bit after they help you will be covered by an allowance that I'll get because my mam earns below a certain amount :)

[@bronwenraza6176]

Lawrence Clarkson I'll be applying to both sides :3

[@palawanewatani]

It's free in Wales?

[@bakirev]

I'm so lucky to live in Switzerland.

[@chesseswar]

So college costs are going up, And it's going into non-academic fields of the college (not sure field was the right word, but whatever). I'm not in college (currently going into high school) but why do college students need so much stuff on campus that they most likely won't use. I mean, nowadays, at least for me, all it takes to entertain me is the internet, and being that all college students have access to that, why do they need golf courses and climbing walls (IDEK if there are such things on campus but whatever). I understand the "fresh cafeteria food" thing and good dorm rooms, but I feel as though the other stuff is a bit... Unnecessary. Maybe I'm wrong, just an ignorant high-schooler that doesn't understand what college entails. Still, I don't understand the need for such services.

[@AlthenaLuna]

Pranav Eswaran No, you're pretty spot-on in your criticism - and don't let people dismiss your perspective just because you're young and inexperienced...we've all had to learn by asking. As for particulars - I don't know about golf courses, but some schools (my undergrad college - I'm in grad school now - included) do have climbing walls. To an extent, I understand the motivation to provide enrichment for students who are in an entirely different environment from what they're used to at home and - in the case of my undergrad college and a fair number of others - a semi-isolated rural setting without much ELSE to do that isn't a half-hour or more away in a car you probably didn't have, let alone bring to school. Do I still think it should be prioritized over the value of our actual education? No, certainly not to the level it's at.

[@mermaidismyname]

Pranav Eswaran well I cam guarantee you cafeteria food is shit no matter where you go. Honestly they should just have groceries and a few restaurants on campuses and it would probably be better. I do believe my college actually does have a climbing wall in one of the gyms but I highly doubt it has a golf course. I am actually fine with there being gyms and what not because I think it is important for students to relieve stress. What you have to understand is big colleges function like mini cities of young people. It is quite probable most students rarely go far from the campus. I guess the point is to have everything you might need or want on campus so you don't spend time commuting and can spend more time in class and studying. But you are correct some of it does seem unnecessary. Like for example my college has been spending the past year moving all the internet signals into the rooms themselves instead of in the hallways. But you could still accesses the internet in your rooms perfectly fine anyway so I didn't understand what the big fuss was.

[@TheMcLexie]

Pranav Eswaran as a high school student you are exactly who colleges and universities are looking at to see what type of facilities and services they need to offer. I would argue that having some opportunities to exercise on campus are important to overall student health and wellbeing. You could say that only the students who want to use these services should have to pay for them or maybe the school shouldn't offer them at all and you should have to join a gym off campus and pay membership, but what about low income students. They might not be able to afford to pay for the service if it wasn't split evenly among all students. These services include tutoring, counseling, the rec center, the library, campus health services.

[@wrinkleintime4257]

I totally agree with you. I think all that stuff is unnecessary too. This month I start my first year of college, and it's going to cost me a little over $32,000 a year. It was actually at $35,000, but they lowered the price (yay! $3,000 less to worry about!)Since my family is super poor, I get the most financial help the government will give. But I still need to do work study and take out loans and since I didn't win any big scholarships... What I have to provide is still quite a bit. I understand why having great teachers and valuable resources ( like tutors and stuff) would be a part of the cost and valuable. But all those extra things that don't apply to one's learning and betterment... It's school. School is supposed to be all about learning! Yeah, it can be enjoyable. But the whole learning part is why you're there in the first place. It sucks how all the pomp and superficial things are becoming a priority rather than the knowledge you can acquire. And what sucks more is that we have to pay for it... We have to pay for all this unnecessary stuff the majority of us can't afford. Ugh! I wish college could be free, or at least a lot cheaper!

[@chesseswar]

Very good point!

[@JSex723]

Great video, Hank! I studied for a while in Germany and there were vast differences in cushy "student amenities" and price ($200 per semester in Germany vs. $20,000 per semester in the US) compared to my American university. The quality of instruction, however, was very high at both. Somewhere along the way, the US decided that higher education was a privilege, not a right, and that will get us back in the end, especially when people spend their flat wages on paying back these loans, rather then other forms of spending.

[@-biki-]

I live in the USA. I made a goal to keep my college debt under 10k. I did it, but it was hard. I didn't buy any school supplies (like paper, pens, and things like that). I took what I could find in garbage cans and on the sidewalk. You'd be amazed what people throw away. I also slept on the floor without a mattress, found half of the things I own from garbage cans, and only bought clothes once a year from charity thrift stores. I also excelled in my studies and got a few scholarships. In other words, I stuck my neck out there yes, but was also quite lucky. The system is bullshit. I'd like to tell people to do things like I did, but it's not sustainable at all. The old tell the young to live within their means, while not having the faintest clue about what the job market means for this generation OR college expenses. Living within your means can mean only $10 a week for food. I know. I did it. It's hell.

[@-biki-]

In theory, yes. However, I come from a poor family; no car, no phone. Couldn't afford them. Without those things, your job search is greatly restricted. The ability to land a job depends on a lot of factors (ability to connect physically and communication wise, people you already know). I was in a new city, no established friends there, no car, no phone. Also, it was in 2008. The economy sucked big time. It's like a game of cards. Everyone is dealt different hands.

[@Mistrblank]

It's not complicated, it's sub prime lending to students because the loans are guaranteed by the government even though they're completely unsecured. Schools cost more because they can ask for more and we as stupid collective people think that it's expensive, that's what it is, so we'll pay it. After all, if it's more expensive, it must be better, right? Plus we were all told we need it. Then we all forgot how to calculate ROI to learn that a degree in philosophy at an out of state college (or worse, university) probably won't automatically get us that dream job to pay off the debt. WRONG. And while we're left holding the bill, we're surprised that the banks (Sallie Mae is a private institution after all) and Schools are collecting the checks.

[@hannahc6576]

Does this video violate the 4-minute rule?

[@mcsquared28]

That's what I was wondering...

[@enta_nae_mere7590]

Hank said on twitter that this was educational.. So no it doesn't

[@DarthAthar]

***** It should since this is more of a rant than an educational thing.

[@therehelais]

Educational videos are exempt

[@elmiraadili]

Maddy Curtis there's discussion in another comment about this. It doesn't because it's educational.

[@joeketa6352]

In 1992 I chose to start my BFA at an art school. In the US art school tuition started at about $10,000 a year which seemed unreasonable at the time considering artists usually make little in return. I cashed in on being half-Canadian and got an arguably better education at a Canadian art school for one-fifth the price. I left school with very little debt. Meanwhile, my brother stayed in the US, got a degree in anthropology and started his marriage in so much debt that it almost ruined it. The job he holds does not require a degree. So in a pure financial sense, it was just a money pit. I worry a lot about what my children will do. I suppose they can watch Crash Course but I think university in its present form will be out of the question.

[@SliverOfSilverStars]

I am very flustered right now in regards to this whole college situation. I previously attended a community college and now I am transferring to a four year university. (Let me just say that going to community college after high school was a great decision that I would highly recommend to anyone who is not sure what they want to do or where they want to go.) So, I was struggling to choose between an expensive, prestigious, research college that is "better" for my humanities major, or a cheaper, local, state college. The advice that I got from people close to me was very confusing and conflicting. Despite the a rather small handful of people telling me that I would be wasting my money, I just recently (and kind of impulsively out of indecision) pledged myself to the expensive school. I ultimately chose this based on the advice of my community college professors whom I respect, trust, and would assume have a better understanding of the academic world than me or my family and friends. Even after my final decision, I am very conflicted and unsure if I have made the "right" decision. I am doubting that the extra money will be worth it. I honestly don't want to spend that much money, especially because I am fairly certain that, with my major, I will have to do more schooling after a BA. All I can hope for now is that I am able to score some last minute scholarships that will supplement my payments because my family will not help me. So yeah, I'm just really stressed recently when it comes to college, money, and my future. I guess any advice or encouragement from fellow nerdfighters would be welcome. Thanks for the video, Hank! And thanks, all, for letting me rant and express my concern! C:

[@MisterTipp]

Lel Hi from Sweden!

[@MisterTipp]

Not at all made out to be worse than it is on the Internet. France, Germany and the UK are still fine, aren't they?

[@jlw9113]

Or there is a positive feedback loop from government loan subsidies driving up college tuition.

[@heavyhandedvlogs]

Completely unrelated to the topic(s) in the video, but your hair is looking pretty damn fly, Hank.

[@surreptitially]

I'm going to negate the awesomeness of educated, thoughtful comments and merely say that I love your hair, Hank. It's fantastic, and it looks great on you.