There is a strong argument for public education as a public good. We largely agree that K-12 education is a public good that should be paid for by the general public. Most western countries support college education as a public good. The US used to support college education as a public good with cheap in-state tuition and even cheaper community college. We have moved away from that replacing tax dollars with loans.
Do you really feel the current US system of public support of education with free K-12 and unaffordable college is ideal? Should we impose large tuition at public high school as well, leading to loans or dropouts? Why stop there? Why not gut public education entirely?