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<p>Most public universities have predominantly in-state students who, even if paying list price, are explicitly heavily subsidized for tuition. Even the lower cost frosh level courses may not pay for themselves with in-state tuition (and if there are state or campus based financial aid grants or scholarships, the revenue is less). Note that some popular frosh-level courses like chemistry do have labs.</p>
<p>In addition, the public universities’ missions are typically to educate as many capable state residents as possible; the fewer the courses students need to graduate, the more space the campus has for additional students.</p>
<p>Note that some states encourage students to take the frosh and sophomore level courses at even lower cost community colleges and then transfer into the universities as juniors.</p>