And, perhaps more importantly, why does the government subsidize those degrees?
If someone is going to pay for a degree, they should do a return on investment (ROI) analysis. Do I need this degree to help get a job? Will it help me get a job that will have a high enough salary that will allow me to pay the loans off? Can I get this same degree at a cheaper university? If no, then perhaps I don't get it, or perhaps I get it in my free time, online, when I am not earning a living.
If the government is going to subsidize (in any form) a degree, there should be a societal ROI analysis...how many African-Studies graduates does the nation need? 1? 5? Zero? OK, then don't pay for any more than that. How many Electrical Engineering degrees does the nation need? 10,000? 20,000? OK, then don't pay for any more than that.
I think you pay for two things in a university: (1) an education/degree, and (2) spcial access to certain employers. Almost all universities provide an education. The Ivy Leagues and the top 20's provide access to certain employers that the others do not. If you are paying an Ivy League tuition for a non-top 20 school, maybe you are overpaying...if you are paying for any degree that won't help you pay your loans, then maybe you are overpaying...unless you are independently wealthy and can afford it, and you want to give a nice gift to your kid.
Notre Dame does provide both (1) and (2), which is nice. Even so, some degrees from Notre Dame are probably worth as much as a community college certification when you apply for a job. You have to be smart about your degree choices.