My answer to restoring meritocracyy?

1. Govt pays for university - they'll get more money back in taxes than they will end up spending
2. End quotas including preference for legacy applicants - these were actually put into place to try to exclude Jews from the Ivys - so hardly started with the noblest of intents
3. Instead make university admission merit.based
4. For students from disadvantaged backgrounds have a one year 'ramp up' class where the deficit between their high school education and a real entry to university level can be made up - those that don't demonstrate the work ethic or smarts to make the grade get cut - this will maintain academic standards at universities and stop the actual university calibre students from being slowed down which in turn ought to halt the current degree inflation.

Become what you are