The commoditization of college education, marked by soaring tuition fees and rising living costs, has turned universities into survival zones for financially marginalized students. For many, the dream of higher education now comes with a price tag so steep that it demands decades of repayment, often through burdensome student loans that are only manageable with high-paying jobs or extreme lifestyle sacrifices. College is still marketed as the great equalizer, promising equal opportunity for both privileged and underprivileged students. But behind that promise lies a harsh reality: while wealthier students can focus solely on their studies and enrichment, underprivileged peers juggle part-time jobs, long commutes, and even family responsibilities, cumulatively leading to poor mental health in college. Meanwhile, classrooms are overcrowded, shrinking the space for meaningful interaction, and professors themselves are overwhelmed with responsibilities. Is this really what higher education was meant to become?
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Rising Costs and Financial Stress
T
he unbearable financial burden that tuition and living costs associated with it impose on students has shifted the real worth of university education. In the last two decades, the cost of learning in both public and private colleges has risen dramatically. In particular, annual tuition costs at public and private 4-year colleges currently average $9,750 and $35,248, respectively. This translates to about $50,000 and $140,000 in federal loans for public and private education, respectively (Education Data Initiative, 2025). On top of that, students still need to meet their living costs, which cumulatively demonstrate why academic excellence becomes secondary.
The prevailing situation explains why many students are taking part-time work to sustain their life at the university. Furthermore, it is practically impossible for many students to rely on their parents or scholarships. Even then, students are strained, and investing in coursework materials is a far-fetched idea.
Student Mental Health in College: A Crisis on Campus
The effects of the financial pressure are transcending to other aspects of well-being. The mental health of students in college is in danger. More students are experiencing higher levels of anxiety, depression, and performance pressure on campus.
Students are dealing with competing obligations, such as studying and balancing work, while simultaneously preparing for the job market. This leads them into an endless loop of anxiety. Amidst this, university counseling centers are understaffed to manage student challenges, leading to longer waiting times. Notably, several students shun help, fearing it may show they are weak. In reality, the idealized picture of college education being a collaborative learning environment contradicts the reality encountered by learners. For those navigating online learning spaces, mastering how to participate in online discussions effectively can help ease academic pressure. Here’s a guide that breaks it down.
Hustle Over Learning
The intense college environment has conditioned students into chasing early success over real learning. Students are increasingly looking for breakthroughs while still on campus. Additionally, the culture of branding oneself for success through perfect résumés or LinkedIn profiles has fueled the perception that résumés are more important than essays. Due to this culture, more students would rather develop impressive professional profiles for possible opportunities instead of focusing on in-depth learning.
It seems more like students have invented another curriculum of how to survive through college with minimal effort. Students employ several underhand tactics, such as creating and exchanging group answers or choosing easy electives or instructors due to lack of strictness, demonstrating their preference for comfort instead of enrichment. Universities have also turned into conveyor belts of mass-producing university graduates instead of educated people.
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The Commodification of Education
This problem emanates from a systemic flaw of the higher education sector due to the commodification of university education. More universities have turned into profit-driven entities. This has occasioned rebranding exercises, and their mission has turned into customer satisfaction rather than education. Cases of universities constructing luxury dormitories and obsession over rankings clearly illustrate this situation.
Lecture rooms are packed with students, while non-tenured lecturers handle increased workload and lower compensation. Simultaneously, tenured lecturers are overburdened with multiple responsibilities. They are under intense pressure to publish, teach, and manage administrative responsibilities (Hammoudi Halat et al., 2023). Universities concurrently view students as customers, expecting them to pay more than they get in return. This transactional approach not only reshapes the college experience but also influences major life decisions, especially how student debt drives career choices after graduation. Clearly, university education is shifting from a transformative journey to a high-cost, high-pressure investment.
Student Mental Health in College and Who Actually Gets to Learn
The present approach indeed overwhelms all students; however, its effects are more severe on financially marginalized than rich students. In particular, students from privileged backgrounds can pursue enriching internships, attend prestigious universities, or conduct research with ease, which improves their career prospects. On the other hand, underprivileged students confront various challenges, including needing to take part-time work, take long commutes, and assume family responsibilities. Notably, depression among commuting college students is reportedly at 58.6% (Pinto et al., 2024). In the end, the differences between these students groups lead to completely different outcomes.
The prevailing situation systematically groups learners in two classes, consisting of those who indeed maximize their opportunities and those who survive through university. In this way, many experience college as an endurance test, where completion in itself is a form of victory. Indeed, the division clearly challenges the truth behind the belief that education is an equalizer when some have a rich experience while others barely survive.
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The Future of College: Student Mental Health in College Must Be Central to Reform
Education needs a complete overhaul to transform it into an enriching experience for students across the wealth spectrum. This requires several strategies.
One approach is to make learning affordable. This entails making tuition costs affordable, exploring the best debt relief measures, and making grants or scholarships accessible to more people. The current approach that mortgages the lives of students is harmful.
Additionally, increasing investments in mental health is useful. In recognition of the pressures of university life, making additional investments through extra staff, more funds, and expanding reach is necessary. A culture of addressing student wellness is helpful in combating mental health pressures on campus.
Thirdly, university education should revert to its former purpose of offering quality education and coaching. Universities can offer more enriching experiences through smaller classes, coupled with support for professors and a focus on true learning instead of career readiness.
Finally, colleges need to change their definition of success. Traditionally, colleges have measured success through GPA and job placement, which is a faulty approach. Universities need to expand the metrics of success to include well-being, extracurricular performance, creativity, and individual growth.
Conclusion
It is time for universities to re-evaluate their core purpose, especially in light of the visible consequences of commoditizing education. Institutions are increasingly producing graduates with credentials, yet many lack well-rounded skills, critical thinking abilities, and practical experience necessary for success in the real world.
Universities can still make change despite the harms that commoditization of learning has caused. A truly transformative learning experience, one that shapes both minds and lives, is attainable. Ultimately, the goal should be to make higher education enriching and accessible to students across the entire economic spectrum.
References
Education Data Initiative. (2025, March 8). Average cost of college [Report]. Education Data Initiative. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college
Hammoudi Halat, D., Soltani, A., Dalli, R., Alsarraj, L., & Malki, A. (2023). Understanding and fostering mental health and well-being among university faculty: A narrative review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(13), 4425. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12134425
Pinto, A. M., Bazzoli, A., & Mercedes, J. (2024). Mental health and lifestyle health behaviors among commuter college students. Cogent Mental Health, 3(1), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/28324765.2024.2436432
🎓 Higher Education Should Empower – Not Exhaust
The promise of college as a gateway to opportunity is being quietly redefined by inequality, financial strain, and academic overload. For many students, higher education has become less about intellectual growth and more about endurance. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
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