I think the fact that you have 7 kids (if I am not mistaken from your post?), that changes my opinion quite a bit. One has to be realistic about what we can afford, so I completely understand your hesitation. There are so many good reasons to do OOS as many has stated. But at the end of the day, it shouldn’t be done at such high cost (punch intended). You have 5 other children to put through college! Unless your husband is making a ton of money, I can’t see spending more than 200-275K a year on 1 child.
We have 2 kids, our DD is a senior. DD loves to travel and meet new people. She has always known since a little girl that she wants to go far away for college. DH and I joked that whatever college she goes to, we have to “fly” to visit her. We live in the East coast now but Hubby and I graduated from UC Berkeley 22 years ago (PhD and BS respectively). So we have taken them to CA countless times and naturally she applied to a bunch of UCs, hoping to get into UCB or UCLA (She got into UMich which she also loves, and a few other safeties where we are). For the OOS we are looking at close to 275K to send her there. We put away $500/month for her 529 account, 17 years later and we are still a little shy of 275K. DD got the UCLA alumni scholarship invite, if awarded and it’s a big IF, she would have about 2-8K over 4 years, pocket change for what we to pay in the end. But at this point she is so very tired to all the essays she has to write (also writing 2 UMich Honors essay). I know I sound whiny but I do know that it’s a good problem to have.
I don’t know what’s the point of my second paragraph there, I guess I just wanted to share/vent, and that OOS can be so very expensive. I don’t even know how we would be doing it with 7 kids! Good luck to you and your family!