I don't know how many here have a STEM degree.
I did University, working full time, paying for a house
and raising a family.
I did all the hard science stuff up front.
Small print said I had to do "foundation" studies
as a Junior or Senior.
Used to really confuse the professors.
Why are you a thirty+ year old Computer science major taking
an art or philosophy class as a Senior?
Never ever, ever allow a instructor to get political, even
in a Poly Sci class.
They work for you. Who is paying their salary?
The student is.

Colleges and universities used to have to compete for the top HS grads so they could receive pretty much guaranteed income for 4 years plus maybe donations and endowments from those alumni. Sports would generate more revenue for the school, too.
Now with student loans, the government has created a money machine for schools. Regardless of academic standing, they all qualify for loans unless the parents are very well off. Schools have new libraries, stadiums, classrooms, computers and networks, and student activity centers -- mostly paid from the huge number of students that can now pay tuition with borrowed funds.
Teachers are also in a different situation. They push their political biases and opinions on the students, and they don't worry about getting fired. Too many ways to sue for discrimination these days.
i was lucky to get that 4-year scholarship, but I still had to work to pay for housing, food, motorcycle loan payments, insurance, gas, and of course the occasional party. Things were a LOT cheaper back then, too.
My scholarship included a $100/month subsistence allowance during the Fall and Spring semesters. (Woo hoo!) That actually helped a lot when I was tied up and couldn't work the hours I needed.