<p>"Anyone who says he or she, or his or her son or daughter, cannot attend an Ivy because a state school alternative is cheaper is either misinformed, or prevaricating"
Not true...IMO
There are plenty middle/upper income folks who do not qualify for financial aid and don't have the ability to plop down 200k for an Ivy. In these cases, state schools are about half or one third the price. Imagine a UNC (instate) vs Cornell scenario for example. Each situation is very different - it doesn't help to make broad generalizations.</p>