Bava Basra discusses a case of butchers who agreed on a cartel – each works on certain days – amd slashed skins of the one who refused. Conclusion is, I believe, that if there is a Talmid Chacham, you should go and ask him to establish just rules al’pi Torah. If there is not such a chacham, a group is entitled to create their own rules and enforce them.
Given, that there were not many yeshivot at the time, sounds like people naturally agreeing to certain rules is a right thing to do.
There is also halakhic idea of testing laws with reality: midrabanans have a year to be accepted by people, and might be rescinded if not; Same Bava Basra describing history of Jewish education during 2nd Temple: fathers (not every father could teach), then Kohanim in Yerushalaim (not every father could drive), then regional schools for teenagers (too late, they would not listen, younger ones would not go that far by themsleves), and finally local competing, underpaid teachers for young kids. So, we search until we find what works. So, enjoy US system while it works…