My DD was accepted to both Purdue (with Honor College, but NO scholarship $) and Iowa State (with no Honors but scholarship $). Iowa State will be significantly cheaper, but is the program and opportunities as good? I am struggling with this. Purdue is her clear #1, but almost twice as expensive as ISU. We are OOS at both. I can’t find a lot of information on things like internships/co-ops at ISU for her field. I want her to have a great education. She has been waitlisted at her two in-state choices, so she needs to commit somewhere.
She can compare the course catalogues to see if there are any academic differences, and sch can contact the career centers to ask about job and internship placement.
For half price, I’d choose ISU.
What are the benefits of Purdue’s Honors College ?
And what are the two in-state options for which you are waitlisted ?
Priority registration, separate dorm, honors classes, mentor ship. In state we have Cal Poly and UC Davis.
Okay. You have four right choices. No wrong choice. Seriously.
What is her major?
biochemistry
Can she still apply to honors at Iowa State?
She misses the test requirements by a hair 
Honors programs are great, especially at large public universities, and can provide a lot of really great opportunities. However, the general education program at many flagship publics is also great, and there are lots of ways to get similar experiences and opportunities (not all, but at least part) that the honors program offers. Any student can get mentorship if they want it - it’ll be less formalized and require more work on the student’s part, but they can see out professors with like-minded interests and set that kind of relationship up. At some universities, honors classes actually aren’t limited to honors students; some schools have both kinds and some schools give priority registration to honors students but open the classes to all students after that.
It also appears that she could apply to the honors college at Iowa State as a sophomore or junior, if she’s got at least a 3.5 there.
It kind of depends on what the financial gap is between the schools. You only said she had money at Iowa State, not how much. If we’re talking a small amount per year - like maybe like $5,000 or less difference - then maybe it’s worth it for her to go to Purdue and be in the honors college. But if we’re talking a larger difference - like half tuition or more - then I don’t think paying the extra is worth it.
If it’s by a hair, she should email the dean of the honors college, explain what she’s excited about learning wise, what honors seminars she’s interested in taking, etc, + stats, APs, awards (resume), and ask whether she might be considered for admission.