<p>Surprised there hasn't been more discussion of the CSU system, which is comparatively one of the best, and the whole UC system is very, very well-respected. Then there's the community college system that makes the whole public system more accessible/cheap/efficient. Then there are the top private universities and all the great religious colleges here. And you can't forget the top-notch LACs, either. I'd say California is the most well-rounded.</p>
<p>But remember that California is a helluva lot bigger than Massachusetts. (Hell, MA could easily fit into the county I live in.) As a result, there's a greater need for a viable public system, which was set up long ago.</p>
<p>Yeah kyle, people always seem to ignore or dismiss the CSU system, but for what it is (a second-tier system grown out of the state normal schools) it's far and away one of the best in the country. Sure, there are a few duds (CSU Stanislaus, anyone?) but SD State, SF State, Sonoma State, CSU-Long Beach, etc. are all top-notch universities.</p>
<p>I'd definitely say that overall CA has a very small edge over MA only becaus the UC system absolutely obliterates the UMass schools. However, I would look at the size of each state's population and geographical area. If you take that into account MA definitely has the edge in so much as there are nearly the same amount of great caliber schools for such a smaller area both population wise and geographically.</p>
<p>I think the one thing is most overlooked on this thread is climate.</p>
<p>In terms of climate, California blows all of the NE states, and almost everyone else, away.</p>
<p>I'm going out today in jeans and a t-shirt. I don't expect it to get cold enough for a sweater/blazer until 5 or later. That's enough of a reason to choose CA over any other place.</p>
<p>Massachusetts. One hears that Stanford is “the Harvard of the West.” You never hear that Harvard is the “Stanford of the East.” That goes for all of the top eastern v. western schools. Except for Berkeley, all of the west coast schools are seen as where reasonably smart Californians can go if they’re not quite hardy enough for Eastern winters and the intellectual competition they would face in an Amherst or Harvard.</p>
<p>It’s not as well known of a school but the air in Maryland is extremely different than in most states. There is a LOT of pride here and anyone who goes to UMD will always drop whatever they are doing to argue with you if you speak negatively about the school.
It’s a great climate.</p>
<p>california is the best for school, sports, life, weather, and EVERYTHING no other state can match us. and endicott for saying california people arent hardy enough for east weather, its actually the other way around, evrybody over on the east coast is completely jealous of our weather. have fun in january shovleing snow while were laying on the beach</p>
<p>and for everybody giving the “california is so big and so many people” excuse, there is a reason we have so many people cuz its better than everywhere else. and were so big cuz we were smart and got land back in the 1850’s its not our fault you made Massachusetts the size of a samll village. our state can eat yours</p>
<p>California is the worst state in the nation, what do you all have like 20% unemployment? Eek! That sounds like a place where you’d find janitors with Stanford degrees.</p>
<p>The best state for higher ed is probably subjective. For OOS applicants, probably North Carolina. There really aren’t that many more advantages to living in NC when it comes to getting accepted to NC schools and getting financial aid.</p>
<p>The best states to be an in-state applicant in would probably be any of the growing number of states that offer completely free higher ed systematically. I’ve heard Michigan does this for all applicants that make less than like $100,000 or so (not sure what the threshold is) – which to me sounds like the best deal. I know that Oklahoma offers completely free higher ed to families that make less than $75,000. Texas offers completely free higher ed to students that rank in the Top 10% of their class.</p>
<p>I think PA is definately in the top three with the best schools being UPenn, Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and a slew of other schools. Massachusetts takes the cake though… in my opinion. Harvard, MIT, Wellesley, Tufts, BC, Brandeis, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Amherst, Williams… the list never seems to end.</p>