There are 4 million 18 year olds, roughly, and each of them has different backgrounds, family circumstances, and priorities. Some of those young adults will chose to be educated in the most cost-effective way possible, whether that’s at a 4 year university that gives them a lot of financial aid or at their local community college for their general education credits and then the closest state school while they still live at home. Other students have more family money and more options and want to spend more for a school with smaller class sizes, a full 4 year out-of-state experience, maybe the cachet of a particular name brand and the opportunities that school gives them, nicer/ newer dorms, etc. Paying more for college doesn’t necessarily mean better teachers which I think might be the point you are trying to argue, but there are other intangibles that are of value to some people.