<p>@mitchklong - Color me cynical, but I believe the justification has more to do with maximizing revenue as opposed to offering opportunity. I would argue that public colleges are less concerned with the quality of their offering and focus instead on increasing tuition in creative ways that do not show up in the headlines.</p>
<p>Your response also only addresses half of the equation: you comment on what is gained but not on what is lost. It seems reasonable to assume that the “more students” you refer to are lower quality than those already enrolled. Thus, the colleges are sacrificing an enhanced environment for those who would most benefit in order to allow access to more students of a lesser ability. Our economy certainly needs more college-educated workers, but not at the expense of the development of our best and brightest.</p>