I spent a few years in the Hungarian higher-education system (post 2006, when we switched to the Bologna system). We had a lot of freedom to choose classes, and

I spent a few years in the Hungarian higher-education system (post 2006, when we switched to the Bologna system). We had a lot of freedom to choose classes, and it's possible to switch your major. (At least it was not unheard of, not many people wanted to anyway; and it is not hard to simply submit your application the next time there's admissions.) There's (very little) sports and (a lot of) campus life. (Maybe US "campus life" is paid in a large part by the institution? But even if it is a few kegs and random DJs are not expensive.) 3 years is just bachelors. But it's possible to do extra classes so the masters then only takes +1 year. I know that Germany has vocational schools besides the gymnasiums, but I haven't known about the different types of gymnasiums. (In Hungary in almost all high-scools students can choose to prepare for the GCSE and pick specialization courses for the last 2 years, and with that it's possible to apply for any higher ed institution all around Europe. Of course if someone wants to get a scholarship then an in-country institution has the best chance for that. I have a friend who did a music high-school, probably picked math instead of music as specialization, and then right after that went to do a CS degree at a university.) Anyway, I think the basic supply-demand argument (student loans) explains the fundamental difference between the costs, and then feedback loops explain the rest. (Sports and other non-teaching activities. Though, as far as I know, academic sports is profitable in the US.) > They will keep telling everyone college is the best option for them, This reminds me of the many posts/tweets where folks say "look at how much more graduates make, so go get a degree", which is of course partially the correct strategy, but also obviously it's not magic, the degree is more of a symptom. That said it seems to me that the US labor market is more credentialist, more places blindly ask for a degree. > and restrictions on personal choice I don't really know what do you have in mind, but there's a big healthy private sector in Europe for healthcare too :) > Bottom line, having the government "pay for education" so no one needs to pay out of pocket requires a massive restructuring of how education is delivered. Definitely. I think one very important aspect is the big income/wealth inequality in the US, which somehow makes a lot more people feel like "sharing" with others will make them worse off.