I think moving towards smaller class sizes and direct interaction with the teacher is where the value is going, both in terms of imparting information and forming character. It will make education more expensive, but also incredibly engaging and valuable. Sufficient social pressure can help overcome the laziness of students. I say this as someone who benefited from exactly these things in college, and probably wouldn't have done well at a state school.
Discussion
I think class size is critical and then moving toward more and more recitation and away from lecture. Right now I am teaching 60 students in Environmental Science, it is far too many. Last term Chemistry with 20 students was pretty great. The discussions in a class of 20 were noticeably better.