It’s not just intellectual comfort... colleges have invested in other comforts and luxuries like extremely fancy dorms, dining halls that rival restaurants, etc

It’s not just intellectual comfort... colleges have invested in other comforts and luxuries like extremely fancy dorms, dining halls that rival restaurants, etc. After all, each student provides more revenue than ever before, so higher CACs are justifiable. It’s a luxury good for a luxury market, and just like your local Rolls Royce dealership will not provoke you into a debate about racism your local four year private college would similarly prefer not to.