[pieceofthepuzzle]

If University tuition costs continue to increase, and the monolithic political posturing of their liberal arts faculty continues unabated, university education will be challenged very strongly by electronic / Internet curricula. It will happen, and when it becomes clear, just as with home schooling, that those educated in this manner actually score higher on objective measures than those educated in high tuition universities, the paradigm will shift.

[RobbyS]

If there were some way objectively to measure outcomes, probably many less know schools provide better instruction than the Ivies etc. The students at the Ivies probably have more natural talent and they certainly profit by mingling with other talented, well-connected kids. But the best students at many other colleges certainly can compete with most Ivy School graduates. Still, the old school tie means a lot.

[Liberty Wins]

. . . university education will be challenged very strongly by electronic / Internet curricula.

Good point. In the best of all capitalist worlds, people will purchase the superior product. Remember that in Adam Smith's time the students paid their professors directly, with no administrative middleman in between.