# SIO522: College Is Impossibly Expensive. But It's Not Because of Bogus Degrees.

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/serious-inquiries-only-495493/sio522-college-is-impossibly-expensive-but-it-s-not-because-of-bogus-degrees.md
Podcast: [Serious Inquiries Only](https://stenobird.com/podcast/serious-inquiries-only-495493)
Published: 2026-07-21T21:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://seriouspod.libsyn.com/sio522-college-is-impossibly-expensive-but-its-not-because-of-bogus-degrees
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/media.blubrry.com/atheisticallyspeaking/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/seriouspod/Episode_522_David_on_higher_ed_part_2.mp3?dest-id=456804
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Duration seconds: 2456

## Resource

Part 2! Thomas is joined again by David O'Brien , a higher education policy scholar with the California Community Colleges system, to finish dismantling The Daily's take on Trump's student loan crackdown. Reagan, Pell Grants, and decades of quiet state defunding all get their due, plus a theory on why tuition keeps climbing that has nothing to do with cosmetology degrees. Mentioned: The Daily college episode Gainful employment rules Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here ! Please support the show on Patreon! You get ad-free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/seriouspod

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