The biggest thing that would help rein in costs would be the elimination of all the &quot;free money,&quot; i.e. loans, that students can get to pay those costs.  If students <i>can&#x27;t</i> pay those costs, they <i>won&#x27;t.</i>  Universities will either then reduce their costs, or go bankrupt and be replaced by institutions that <i>will.</i><p>This could be accomplished with a couple of changes to current policy.  First, remove the restriction that makes student loans nondischargeable in bankruptcy.  Second, get the Federal government <i>out</i> of the business of providing student loans.  With these changes, private institutions will only lend money for education if they have a reasonable expectation that the money will be <i>paid back.</i>  That&#x27;ll dry up the &quot;free money&quot; spigots.<p>Back in the 1960&#x27;s, it was possible for a student to pay for his education by flipping pizzas at night and over the summer, without having to take out loans.  That&#x27;s the standard we should be shooting for.