"Free" meaning coercion via the state to fund other people's pursuits. Perhaps we should look at why costs are rising? People need to seriously evaluate if it's really needed for them. I reject your notion that everyone, or even most people need a college degree. (I didn't, and I live quite comfortably thanks to tech with a 6 figure salary)

Part of the problem is exactly that we're subsidizing many people, forcing more scarcity and leading to higher prices. Using force to make someone else pay for my stuff isn't something I want to condone.