As with any good, its price rises when demand for it increases relative to supply of it. College education is heavily subsidized by governments. State governments grant direct subsidies to college and universities. Here are statistics on California subsidies to higher education, which were $14.5 billion last year:
http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/2014-15/pdf/BudgetSummary/HigherEducation.pdf
Another subsidy is through federal government Pell grants to students, which were $44 billion in 2012:
http://americanactionforum.org/sites/default/files/PrimerOnPellGrants.pdf
Then there are student loan guarantees by governments:
http://www.collegescholarships.org/loans/guaranteed.htm
Governments restrict the production and supply of higher education by chartering institutions of higher education as not-for-profit organizations.
Check out the work of Richard Vedder at the Center for College Affordability:
http://centerforcollegeaffordability.org/
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