<p>“Is Duke worth 30k more than Rice?”</p>
<p>No. (That’s an easy one.)</p>
<p>But I think you should focus on the Rice v. Brandeis question. Yes, you might mildly prefer Rice.</p>
<p>But you will be paying, what is it, $100k for that mild preference?</p>
<p>So try a little thought experiment: supposing you had that $100k in your pocket in addition to a Brandeis degree? What might you do with it, educationally, or in future plans? Pay for two full years of law school? Take a low-paying job at a political polling firm, and have $100k in your pocket to set up your own business? Pay for an MBA? Take 5 trips around the world, blogging as you go?</p>
<p>Educationally speaking, is Rice better than Brandeis plus $100k? I’d seriously doubt it.</p>