Opinion: The College Cost Fog Machine: We Need a New Transparency Compact

The article highlights persistent confusion around college costs due to opaque financial aid systems, citing a 1998 congressional report warning of a 'veil of obscurity' in higher education. It notes that financial aid offers often mix grants, loans, and work-study in unclear ways, eroding public trust. A 2022 Government Accountability Office report found most colleges fail to meet basic standards for clear cost communication.