If he wants to encourage it, fine, but if the end result is another government program, subsidy, entitlement, or control, he can take the idea and shove it. Look forward to hearing more.
I’d be curious what’s going on in the private university world. Private universities tend to be pricey partly because they have the fame and they can command those premiums, and partly because tuition is so heavily subsidized. Would any private university want to become a Frugal U.?
To your point: If the government got out of the pell grant business and the student loan business and colleges were required to compete for the student’s tuition, costs would come down. There are many innovative ways to lower costs: E books, E classes, reduced wages for professors, allowing industry to utilize research facilities and students, etc.
Perry is doing this at a state level. He is giving an example of what local control can do. That is all, not advocating a nation wide program.