<p>I am clearly understand the OPs question and fully understand your eagerness to get confidence on your decision from CCers. </p>
<p>The point is simple. The difference in cost of options is very clear. But the difference in expected benefits of two options are not deterministic even though expected benefits of better schools are, with probability, bigger than the other (at INDIVIDUAL case, I do not exclude the possibility that benefits of public school sometimes bigger than otherwise). </p>
<p>Problem here is that expected benefits from one chosen college also varies on other factors such as each students efforts during her study, her ability (academic and social), her major, and luck, etc. Thus, nobody can answer the question OP asks with confidence and certainty. </p>
<p>Actually I tried to seek the same answer two years ago when choosing the college of my D. I was in a worse situation than OPs because my D was a full-fee paying INTERNATIONAL student (no hope at all) and I was not rich to afford without larger amounts of debts than OP. I realized, at that time, only I could decide without certainty, and that the criteria of decision should be personal (for me, Asian values were important). I chose one college with my legs trembling but calmed downed with positive thinking and efforts, thereafter. </p>
<p>Anyway, others can say only with probability and general tendency, and decision is all yours. Sorry for that and thank you for reading.</p>
<p>One final final comment. Most of what is in this stream is opinion that reflects contextual perception. Every parent and prospective student should look at the facts circa some key questions. What is the distribution of the jobs of graduates 5, 10, 15 or even 20 years out, how “interesting” are those jobs and what are the incomes associated with those jobs? If that data is not readily available, there is data that is more easily available such as: 1) What percentage of graduates go on to graduate school? 2) What are the groups of schools they are most likely to attend? and 3) What are the starting salaries of graduates of those schools and what are they likely to be 5 years out? The factual answers to these questions might radically impact your views. </p>
<p>That said, as passsky81 points out above, while the expected benefits of a better education are clearly better, all outcomes are individual and affected by factors associated with that specific individual.</p>
<p>Thank you for adding to the post. Can you please explain,
“I chose one college with my legs trembling but calmed downed with positive thinking and efforts, thereafter.” Did you pick up the college with full fee?</p>
<p>Am,
You made excellent points.</p>
<p>My decision is based entirely on the sentimental values. She wants to go to duke, I will bet my retirement to it. The reason to come to forum was to have others opinions and assurance that I am talk the right decision.
Thank you again.</p>