Elite Liberal Arts Schools see lower application numbers, pwned by Ivies, state schools

See, they're pwned because they're 1337.

Not much sense quoting much here, because it's a short article.

Here's my take: The Ivies tend to offer more financial aid, especially to students from poorer families (poorer compared to the stereotypical Ivy student, that is). Beyond that, there's an assumed, almost unquestioned, return on investment to getting an Ivy league undergrad degree. When you get to the elite, non-Ivies, you don't get the same reaction, especially from the parents who will be paying the bills.

The uptick in applications to good (and maybe not-so-good) state schools is obvious. Solid education, a fraction of the price.

What's obscured a bit by this article: two things. One: Yield. Just because applications may still be flooding in to elite (and not-so-elite) private schools, doesn't mean that accepted students will necessarily enroll once they get a look at the financial aid package. My guess is if you're a good but otherwise meh applicant whose parents have guaranteed funds for your college education, it's a good year to be on a waitlist. Two: This year is nothing. Wait 'til next year's application cycle, when the employment shakeout is truly in force. Not only will you see applications drop for the private schools, you'll see openings for sophomores and upperclassmen whose financial backing dried up.

Tuition raises have been outpacing inflation for years now, while bachelor's degrees have become ubiquitous. This may be the point when the higher education system takes a hard reboot. If it does, it's gonna be ugly.