<p>SAT scores are definitely lower in the contract colleges. That doesn't settle the debate, but you have to remember that many of the majors in those colleges don't really require any special or different skills that can't be measured by SAT--unlike arch or hotel, which are endowed. For example, the ILR program doesn't really require skills that are very different from, say, a govt major in A&S. So the SAT difference is a valid argument. (Although there are some very "particular" majors in the state schools too--TXA comes to mind as something pretty unrelated to SAT scores.) In my experience, the main difference in AEM, ILR, PAM etc. with their counterparts in the endowed is that the state versions are much more applied to the business world whereas A&S is theoretical. Some would say this is a difference in preference; I would say applied subjects are almost certainly easier than theoretical ones.</p>