I should also write that in the US, education is constitutionally the realm of the states. There is no constitutional duties for education at the federal level. All states have state university systems, with large campuses and land often set aside by the state constitutions, along with subsidies at the state level. Having student loans at the federal level should be unconstitutional in the first place, but in practice also gives a green light for states to get as much federal money flowing into their states as they can, using the students as intermediaries.
Thanks Vince for your reply - it gives me some understanding of the workings of your system. Seems to me that students would have to be really wise about what courses they took and from which University under your system as a private University could package up any old crap and call it something like ....’Women’s Studies’ and charge through the nose for it.
Still at least a more free market education sector allows for more choice!
Cheers
Mel