@JBStillFlying - no, i’m not worried about the college backsliding - as I’ve said before, I’m worried about (institutionally) peers simply surging too strong.
Remember also, I went to Chicago when the student faculty ratio was even “better” (4:1, I think? Something absurd like that), and the college was even smaller/“cozier-LAC-like”, but I don’t think the college was better.
Institutionally, finances seem to be a big issue, and will impact all parts of the U.