In 2014-15 freshmen entering private, non-profit colleges paid half price.

Last fall the discount rate for incoming freshman hit the all-time high of 48%.
http://chronicle.com/article/Tuition-Discount-Rates-Rise/232579/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en
Nevertheless, enrollments are dipping this fall at many private universities.  In Philadelphia for example both Drexel and St. Joseph's universities reportedly have multi-million-dollar budgetary shortfalls due to declined enrollments.  Perhaps Pope Francis can give St. Joe's a special blessing that will help it to bounce back, when he is in Philly next month.

 https://www.google.com/search?q=pope+francis&espv=2&biw=1781&bih=1233&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIvduA3Y_ExwIViRk-Ch3ZEQ-6#imgrc=zJ_I-CD44oXHGM%3A

Last year, we saw the crap get kicked out of the private, for-profit sector.  The Department of Education disbanded and destroyed Corinthian Colleges.  The CEO and CFO of ITT were indicted by the Department of Justice.  The University of Phoenix reportedly laid off over a thousand during the course of the academic year.

By and large the private, non-profits came through the year relatively unscathed with only a couple of closures.  Is 2015-2016 the year when this sector takes its first big hit?  The sharp declination in the stock markets, if a sign of things to come, will dramatically curtail available endowment funds, usually the main if not only recourse for tuition-driven schools when enrollments sag.  Watch for a major correction in private higher education to parallel the major correction in the offing on Wall Street.