<p>^Don’t forget, top schools are called top for a reason. The majority of private schools and OOS schools will charge sticker price for most applicants, and give nice tuition benefits to other applicants.</p>
<p>Now, the good thing is some metrics to get nice scholarships are easier to earn than others. For instance, I heard USC (University of Southern California) gives a nice discount to National Merit Semifinalists; virtually any in-state school will knock tuition off significantly for students with a good SAT score (2100+, usually) and/or great grades.</p>
<p>Affordable tuition is plausible, but many students don’t look hard enough and end up resorting themselves to their in-state school (not that it’s a bad thing if they wanted to go there, but many students don’t fully search for every option, in my experience).</p>