We just need to reduce or eliminate government backed student loans and the problem will take care of itself. This "crisis" is almost a replay of the housing crisis we just had, government backed loans encourage lenders to lend out money to people who are not qualified for the loan. It doesn't make sense to keep loaning out tens of thousands of dollars to 18 year old kids that have no income [yet] and no real plan to make any money for the next 4 years.
Can you imagine if someone submitted a business proposal asking for a $100,000 investment or loan and the proposal was "think I'll take some classes and then figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life"? We need to end the insanity and turn the spigot off. Then the institutions will be forced to lower their prices and manage their budgets again. Maybe one day we'll get back to the point where a young person can pay for in-state tuition with a part-time job, like it was about 25 years ago.
Can you imagine if someone submitted a business proposal asking for a $100,000 investment or loan and the proposal was "think I'll take some classes and then figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life"? We need to end the insanity and turn the spigot off. Then the institutions will be forced to lower their prices and manage their budgets again. Maybe one day we'll get back to the point where a young person can pay for in-state tuition with a part-time job, like it was about 25 years ago.