Elitist for wealth or elitist for academics?
For so many kids like my D - great stats, middle class family, minuscule chance at elite colleges that offer the best financial aid packages, but the net cost of the “next level down” private schools is to expensive, public honors colleges fill a void.
She MAY get a great aid package from a private school, but she has four public colleges with honors we KNOW she can afford. From this perspective, honors colleges level elitism because if you have the academics, your family’s lack of wealth will not keep you from a learning environment that matches your ability.