Let me offer a brief anecdotal observation from someone who has been to college five times since 1974.
The first time around, college was difficult. Classes were tough. People “washed out.” The second time around, classes were somewhat difficult, and counseling was offered to those who couldn’t make it. The third time around, classes were easy, and no one really failed, so no one had to drop out unless they had financial problems. The fourth time around, classes were blindingly stupid, the professors were ideologues, and the only way you got less than an A was being a white male student.
In an interesting turn of events, I’m now earning a master’s degree online. The cost is one-fourth of the same courses at the University of Alaska - Fairbanks (number four on the list) and one-third the cost of the University of Oregon (number two on the list). The courses are moderately difficult, and since everything takes place online, there appears to be none of the skin color fetish I’ve witnessed at other colleges. The degree program is worth the $5,000 I’m paying.
Online college is a lot like homeschooling for elementary and secondary students. At the right institution, I’d recommend it.
Just my two cents.
“and the only way you got less than an A was being a white male student.”
...or an avowed conservative. Students oppose the doctrinaire leftist ideology at their own peril. In universities, diversity is great as long as its not diversity of political views.