There's nothing inevitable about 'eduflation' and student debt

It might have been my imagination (or perhaps wishful thinking), but in the midst of this year's back-to-school media coverage, the issue of student debt seemed a little more prominent than usual.

At least two surveys identified high levels of debt ($28K on average), and the stress -- more than that of finding a job or getting good grades -- this is causing students. The federal government estimates the cost of a university degree (including accommodation, tuition, food and other expenses) to be $60K for a four-year degree, while a separate survey put that figure at closer to $80K.