As the price of higher education escalates and the number of Americans seeking a college degree steadily rises, Anne Matthews paints this portrait of the American campus. With each chapter dedicated to sections of the academic year, Matthews puts students, professors and administrators under the magnifying glass. She conducts her investigation in four-year universities across the country, from large state schools like the University of Texas to specialized colleges like Cal Tech. This work reveals the changing shape of the American university and should be of interest to prospective students, their parents, and anyone concerned about higher education.