The difference is that, a generation ago, people were more likely to be able to attend a stay-away college supporting themselves on a high school graduate’s paycheck and using the leftovers for the cheap in-state public tuition and books to attend college. Now, parental subsidy (continuing to live with parents) and more student loans are more likely to be required to do that, and also limits choice of college to a greater extent. Whatever cultural desires there are, most traditional college students continue live with parents and attend local colleges.
But then in some areas, even the local public colleges’ affordability for those continuing to live with parents and commuting is a stretch (loans or not).