When considering the costs of higher education, keep in mind that educational costs should be separated from the costs of living.

Students (and their parents) are increasingly demanding luxurious accommodations and student facilities that increase the cost of living on or near campuses. Universities are compelled to build or renovate dorms to meet this demand, or lose potential students to other universities with more modern facilities.

The result is gentrification of university and college campuses. In the end, students end up paying higher costs of living in order to attend classes, even if the costs of education itself remain stable.

If you are unaware of the new norm in dorms, check out the latest gut-rehab dorms at Northern Illinois University.

For news coverage of the dorm building and renovation campaign at NIU, see the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun Times, and the Daily Herald.