You certainly do a better job of using the language than I to describe Conservatism... = I am more of a ‘common sense’ Conservative... observing patterns people set.
Oberlin has been off on a tangent to remake the world according to cloud-borne fantasies, since the founding about 1833. But if you go there properly schooled in the flaws of the fantasy seekers' approach to issues, you will find that it has some benefits.
Because the current President is a militant seeker of "diversity," for the sake of creating an incongruous student body; and because some of those being recruited cannot afford that "high priced college education," I suspect that part of your relative's steep tuition bill, is going to subsidize some of those who are there primarily to add "diversity" to the social climate.
Of course the tuition even at colleges which were once very reasonably priced, has soared to absurd heights in recent years. Academics--especially the Leftist ones, who want to tear down everyone else--are over-paid in my opinion.