Well then it must be the room, meals, and books that have quadrupled because prices are insane now. Where I went we had to live on campus our first year regardless of age or grade. I was a junior. When I graduated I only owed about $12,000 total which I paid off in about 5 years. Now, kids I know who go to the same school are owing about 80k after graduation. It’s coming from somewhere.
Something that made a HUGE difference for me was going to a local community college my freshman and sophomore years. They were completely paid for before transferring to the 4 year university.