College tuition can hit $90,000 a year at private schools, but most students never pay that price. So why does college seem so expensive, and who actually foots the bill? Host Sony Kassam sits down with economist Dr. Sandy Baum to untangle the mystery. From the GI Bill to the Higher Education Act of 1965, we explore how college access expanded, costs rose, and financial aid became central to the system.  Guest: Dr. Sandy Baum, economist and senior fellow at the Urban Institute Join the knowledge collective: https://www.join1440.com More Content: Student debt: https://join1440.com/t/student-debt Endowments: https://join1440.com/t/endowments Check out 1440's video deep-dives: https://youtube.com/@1440originals Credits: A production of Rhyme Media for 1440 Media Host: Sony Kassam Producer: Nicolo Majnoni Editor: Dan Bobkoff Fact-Checker: Meher Qazilbash Sound Designer: Jay Cowit Executive Producers (1440): Sony Kassam and Drew Steigerwald Executive Producer (Rhyme): Dan Bobkoff About 1440: 1440 is a community for the knowledge-obsessed that helps curious people stay informed and inspired on a daily basis. We live in an age of limitless information but limited understanding. Algorithms decide what we see. Misinformation spreads faster than truth. And the tools meant to expand knowledge now distort it. Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/1440daily https://www.facebook.com/1440Daily/ https://www.tiktok.com/@1440daily