I'm sure it's not the sole factor, but universities in many other parts of the world are partially subsidised by the government.

Greed. Come on were you really expecting a different response?

Nobody knows. Serious, there are a lot of factors people will point to in here. Some of them are real factors, but every time I dig in I discovered that they do not explain everything. Prices have gone up much faster than inflation for decades even after accounting for government subsidies.

Honestly? Because stupid people like you keep paying it. Sounds nasty, but you are paying it, and that's fucking stupid.

Student loans have dulled price-point as a major consideration for choosing a school. So they compete on other non-academic stuff that tends to raise the tuition like sports, amenities, and prestige.

Same reason the adjuster fixed a CEO.

Huge corruption and collusion between state and schools for the benefit of the owner class.

Capitalism.

Capitalism took root in the early American colonies through European mercantile practices, private land ownership, and the growth of family-owned farms and small businesses. By the 18th century, the transatlantic trade, including the slave-based plantation economy in the South and a diversified market economy in the North, fostered a system increasingly dependent on private profit. After independence, policies favoring property rights, limited government interference, and expanding markets reinforced a capitalist framework. By the mid-19th century, industrialization, the rise of factories, and expanding transportation networks fully cemented capitalism as the dominant American economic model. In my view, it thrived primarily because it aligned with the nation’s emphasis on individual opportunity and entrepreneurial initiative.

Without regulation, it allowed the most selfish people to rise to the top. Most Americans can't imagine that their leaders are so cruel. They think "everyone is just exaggerating when they say the wealthy elites don't care about us. no one is so callous!" The truth is so much worse than they imagine. Our elites are monsters. They're using tactics that would make Hitler blanch.

Education is one of the social practices they have privatized. The elites don't want us to be educated. They want us angry, stupid and powerless. So they've used propaganda and every tool at their disposal to turn our education system into a scam, a sad parody of an effective instruction method. It's expensive garbage, and that's exactly what the elites want.

Education is paywalled

Generally students will get financial aid and scholarships that cover much of the cost of tuition, especially if they're from a lower income family. I'm guessing that, as an international student from a wealthier family, your son didn't quality for much aid. Tuition is also generally lower for residents of the state, which he also wouldn't qualify as.

Even with all that it's still incredibly expensive and lots of people end up having to take out large loans or work jobs while in college to cover the cost.

Profits.

It used to still be a worthwhile investment though. These days... it can be, but it's not guaranteed. You also can learn most things online for free, so what is it even getting for you, really?

Connections.

But that only if you are willing to push for them, and so many kids are only there purely bc their parents send them, like an extended daycare or continuation of high school. I'm not saying it's not worthwhile, but it requires a VERY serious commitment, and so many people are not willing to live up to that.

See also the recent discussion in !AskUSA@discuss.online Is college in the USA worth the financial investment?

To ensure a large supply of low wage labor.

Profit and greed. That’s it.

They charge that much because they can, and what are you gonna do about it? Not go to college? Good luck getting a job flipping burgers without a bachelors degree.