Comment by apparent

In general, if a student can get into MIT/Stanford, he will also have been accepted to some less-competitive universities, and likely with decent scholarship. Would it be smarter to go to MIT at full price or Northeastern on a half scholarship?

The fact that people are still signing on the dotted line and paying for these expensive schools is a testament to the value they are perceived to convey. But as the polling shows, America is falling out of love with higher ed. Between this trend and the coming demographic trends, university admissions will get less competitive across the board in coming decades.