American Notes

For more than two decades the eight universities that make up the Ivy League, along with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have got together and matched one another's financial-aid offers to students. It was an attempt, they say, to avoid bidding wars for the most desirable prospects. But Attorney General Dick Thornburgh charged the schools with price fixing, a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

"This collegiate cartel ((has)) denied ((students)) the right to compare prices and discounts among schools," he said, "just as they would in shopping for any other service."

The schools protested that they had done nothing wrong. Last week, however, the Ivies -- but not M.I.T. -- signed a consent agreement ending their arrangement. They also canceled an annual "overlap meeting," at which they discussed financial aid for students who had been accepted by two or more schools in the group. Whatever its effect on future aid offers, last week's action was unlikely to hold down private-college tuition bills, which increased by an average of about 10% each year during the 1980s.