[naiveprogrammer]

In other words, you pay what you pay to attend Harvard, to a large extent, because of its network effects. And that is really the reason at the end of the day. This is especially true in areas where network is expected to be a big factor --think Economics, Law, Business.

And that's why you pay that much to go to Harvard, to gain access to their network.

[DiogenesKynikos]

That's writing off a lot of the educational benefits of a university. YouTube lectures don't recreate the college educational experience. You don't get the group sections with the TA, office hours, personal feedback on your assignments, a group of students studying the same thing who you can work with, undergrad research experience, personal tutoring from graduate students (which undergrads at some elite universities like Harvard and Oxbridge get through their dorms), etc.

Most people don't pay much to attend Harvard anyways. Only the rich pay anything near full tuition. It's probably cheaper for the average family than most state colleges.

[cvhashim]

It really does suck you have to pay upwards of thousands of dollars just to get some brand name on your education credentials. And thereby having those credentials do opportunities open up. Have you ever seen Suits? The premise of the show was about a young man who gets into a top law firm in New York by lying that he went to Harvard Law School.

[tmaly]

That is even more so for people doing an MBA. It is all networking.