Harvard didn't have to compete with Harvard. It didn't have to compete with anyone, because it was the very first institution of higher learning, founded to tra

Harvard didn't have to compete with Harvard. It didn't have to compete with anyone, because it was the very first institution of higher learning, founded to train clergy. Now, with transportation across the country taking mere hours rather than months, a new college would have to compete with every college in the country. On top of that, you need to deal with accreditation and lots of other red tape to even get to the point where you could start attracting the talent that is being rejected, meaning you are competing with top state schools and next-tier private schools.