I say it's government's fault

1. Encourage everyone to get in college ("Yeah, nobody should be stripped the opportunity of college education."  "College education is THE BEST investment one may have in the life")

2. Make it super easy for everyone to get a government-sponsored student loan

3. Colleges gradually realize a fact that when the tuition is raised year after year the market (student families) seems to be very acceptive.  Why?  Because of the easy money from the government to illusionized parents--it's no better than the subprime lending

4. Then what we got?  Bloated colleges, disillusioned students/families...

The market force should set in--let hundreds of colleges sink, counsel more HS graduates to vocational schools ("No, Kevin.  A college doens't seem to be a right path for you--become a plumber or mechanic.").  Learn from German!