There are many reasons, but mainly that we are letting people take loans for significantly over what tuition is. When you write a check to an 18-year old for $

There are many reasons, but mainly that we are letting people take loans for significantly over what tuition is. When you write a check to an 18-year old for $5-10K every 3-4 months above and beyond what tuition costs...they aren't always the best at spending it wisely. Certainly government ownership and distribution of student loans that changed in 2009 was also a driver of the huge increase in loans, people going to college and thus rising costs.