Why American College Is So Expensive

Believe it or not, college in the U.S. used to be either ultra-cheap or even free to any student who wanted to attend. That may seem like a distant dream to students today, entering lives of debt servitude in order to pay off their student loans. But it’s true: the end of free college was the result of an intentional strategy by elites in the 1970s and ‘80s to destroy any idea of college as a public good, to be enjoyed and shared by all. And tens of millions of people today are paying the price. Luke Herrine, PhD candidate at Yale Law School, explains. We need your help to grow - we’re hiring a full-time animator soon. Give a one-time donation: Join us on Patreon: Get Institute Merch: ​ Twitter: ​ Instagram: Facebook: Citations are provided in the video. 0:00 A Story 1:23 How America Destroyed Free College 4:30 The Student Debt Crisis 5:46 How To Erase All Student Debt