Are you really not aware that college is far more expensive now that it has ever been? Really? In 2024?

But let's look at the economics...

Firstly:

You can see that fees are up substantially over where they should be if inflation is taken into account- https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/see-20-years-of-tuition-growth-at-national-universities

Secondly:

Between 1980 and 2023, the average price of college tuition, fees and room and board skyrocketed 155%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The average tuition for private colleges is now $39,723, U.S. News and World Report found.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/college-tuition-cost-rise-loans-administrative-bloat/

Thirdly:

This is actually being studied academically- https://www.forbes.com/sites/prestoncooper2/2020/08/31/a-new-study-investigates-why-college-tuition-is-so-expensive/

Fourthly:

It's gone up almost 5% in the last five years alone- https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/college-tuition-and-fees-up-4-7-percent-since-february-2020.htm

I know I supposedly failed simple economics, but I am able to keep abreast of things like this.