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If you believe education is an investment, then there should always be a cost benifit analysis. However, to equate low cost with state university is not accurate. The truth is that the most prestigious universities are also the ones that are most generous in giving out financial aid. Many working and middle class families can expect to pay not significantly more or in some cases less than for a state university. It’s the upper middle class families that are expected to pay the full bill but don’t feel like they can comfortably do so that have this dilemma. </p>
<p>It seems the article is talking about public vs. private universities instead of prestigious vs. less prestigious. The reality is that the less prestigious private colleges are NOT cheaper than the prestigious ones. </p>
<p>As for the public vs. private choice, isn’t it the same as the choice people have to make when they decide whether they should go to a boarding school when a cheaper public school option is available? Just like public universities there are good and bad public high schools. Why do you send your kids to a boarding school when you have a reasonably good free public high school?</p>
<p>Some do as it makes for good conversation at parties. :D</p>