This isn't necessarily a nefarious thing. For example, Harvard is famous for its goal of tuition never being a blocker for someone attending. Therefore an increase in the sticker price doesn't affect many people outside high income and net worth individuals and families. This just shifts a higher percentage of the costs to the people who can actually afford it which is generally good. If you want me to be concerned about the tuition costs of these elite private schools, at least tell me the median tuition paid and not the amount paid by the ultra affluent.