One of the HUGE differences between UA and ASU is Barrett. Barrett is in the top 10 Honors Colleges in the country. Look up their graduates’ accomplishments - it’s amazing and especially striking when compared to ASU as a whole, especially for frosh/soph years.
http://publicuniversityhonors.com/new-top-programs-by-category/
http://publicuniversityhonors.com/2012/05/26/asus-barrett-honors-college-best-value-added-impact-in-the-nation/
UA is a better university, ASU has a better Honors College, so that if you’re admitted to Barrett the equation changes. I wouldn’t really attend ASU without Barrett.
BTW, you don’t need to major in business to work for a business. Right now, data science, applied math, computer science are all more likely to lead to strong job opportunities than a “general” business major. If you choose business, pick finance, take a lot of quantitative courses, and add a “traditional” minor. If you pick international business, complete this with a foreign language minor (preferably major) and a couple classes that deal with one cultural area of the world, as to not be a “jack of all trades, master of none” which plagues some international business majors.
My son will attend school at least 8 hours away ( great OOS scholarships ) and he feels like he can handle that. He’s responsible like you and I have encouraged him to do what he is wants to do as long as it’s not breaking our bank. 4 years will go by in a blink of an eye.