Another observation is that college towns are a fake/planned environment, and much is controlled in a very authoritative way. The population is very uniform and willingly gives up many freedoms.

One of my more tin-hattish ideas:

higher ed has drifted toward more of an “all inclusive resort” model over the last 50 years where students get to live in a “parallel” version of the city with their own police force, medical center, dining halls, entertainment venues, etc. this is an intentional move to let them live in a utopian setting that pacifies them to prevent widespread student activism like the 70s