You should try to speak directly with people who have specific knowledge of the programs. @eandesmom is right ASD spectrum kids are like snowflakes - I was in a playgroup with 4 aspie kids (and it wasn’t an aspie playgroup, just in our neighborhood). 1 is at Notre Dame with no supports, but she was very mild, her little brother is in a day program and will go to CC next year, another is very social and will be going to a college without a specific program, and you would never know he was spectrum, maybe nerdy and then my kid. You need to know why a program works for someone’s kid to guesstimate whether it will work or not.
Put it out there with your friends and maybe the school that you are looking for personal experience. I belong to a yahoo group autism support and reached out when I was looking. I spoke to a woman whose kid went to RIT and though it was working somewhat, her kid was not willing to go, didn’t like to identify as Aspie. That isn’t my kid, my kid is wiling to use supports because he’s not sure he can do it alone. And if he needs nagging he will not be resistant to it. My friend who lives near UCONN is a teacher and her para actually had a kid who went to UCONN in the program and she had great things to say about it, and through her son’s participation knew the Director well enough to introduce us and I met with her while I was there. As I’ve said before, I just got a good feeling about the level of care available, but that their goal is to phase it out as the kid becomes more confident/capable. Will it work for my kid? Not sure, but I also feel good about the overall community. People I’ve never met from across the country are willing to look out for my kid if I need it. People willing to give general advice. You may find that in the places near you.
Lastly, there is a lot of time between now and when your son will be going. If you had asked me a year ago if my son was going, 85% sure I would have said he’s going to CC (not that there is anything wrong with that). Even 6 months ago, I came home from Husky for a Day saying there’s no way, but now he knows where his cell phone is (and uses it) and where his wallet is, and showers mostly every day. Make no decisions, but keep your options open. And you don’t have to be the one who helps him - do you have friends near other schools that might be able to help?