“We’re already seeing an increase in competitiveness at the SUNYs because of the Excelsior.”
Well yes. Not everyone gets to go to uni tuition-free in Europe either. They still have to get in.
For R&B/living expenses, we could do what many European countries do: Provide loans. I’ve never heard of European countries providing grants for living expenses. I’m not sure if the various student loan schemes in continental Europe are sovereign-backed or forgivable, however.
Right now, the US does have the problem where a significant amount of Pell grants and Federally-backed loans go to near-worthless for-profit diploma mills. Honestly, it’s a scam of both taxpayers and gullible students.
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OK, so in the Netherlands, may apply for a government loan, but you have to be working 56 hours a month (presumably to make sure you can pay back the loan). The government also provides housing and health insurance grants to all low-income people (not just students).
In any case, in the case of the US, if colleges are tuition-free, would expecting people to have to work (PT jobs and saving up during a gap year) to pay for living expenses be considered too onerous? After all, folks who don’t go to college have to do the same.
Love this response… especially after reading thru a ton of replies, this grounded me again to understand what we as parents are hoping to achieve 
Having worked at colleges for many years and sent kids to a few there are very few schools that works make a difference in your list. I would go MSU. Much better than you think esp if in honors. Cheaper gives freedom later and can go to great school for grad school if you choose. I have seen kids from state school go to Ivies, etc. It’s what you make of it. I don’t see anything on top list that makes it worth that much more. But in the right field after college $40k not awful if really loves the campus. I would aim for where student sees friend material
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We don’t even want everyone at the state schools though or the classes go from 200 to 600 people. Not everyone does well in that setting. Some thrive at small school. Good to have choices. State school still much cheaper bc subsidized