@Mom2aphysicsgeek "Maybe a better question rather than one with an obvious yes for the answer is “are the elites the only path to a highly challenging and successful educational outcome?”
Clearly you can get a great education at a less selective school, especially with a little effort and initiative.
Plus, the whole selective vs. non-selective is a false choice. It is much more of a continuum than a dichotomy. For most people, Penn State or Michigan State are selective schools. Only on cc: are they not very selective.