Administrative bloat does seem to be directly connected with the unbridled tuition increases of the past few decades. Much of the knowledge is already availabl

Administrative bloat does seem to be directly connected with the unbridled tuition increases of the past few decades. Much of the knowledge is already available for free - via MOOCs, open courseware, youtube, public libraries, etc.; yet the completion rate for MOOCs is low, probably due in part to students lacking the time, motivation, or background required to complete a course. Some courses are more flexible and self-paced, but there may still be issues in terms of overall time required, etc.. And without some (often externally applied) structure it can be difficult to complete a course of study. Unfortunately for people with jobs, employers do not typically encourage coursework (or any other study) as it is assumed it will reduce job effort and commitment. Be that as it may, I think there is a lot to be said for self-paced, programmed instruction. Some subjects (biology, chemistry...) do require specialized laboratory facilities/equipment/supplies, but many do not.