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Learning does not take place in the classroom alone. You are not only spending 15 hours a week in classes, but you are living in the community 168 hours per week. You need to be in a place where you are comfortable, feel at home away from home, and where you can mature not just intellectualy, but socially, spiritually, and athletically. You can't just ignore these needs because a college has a great reputation.
Unless you're going to be an engineer, doctor, or lawyer, most people don't really care where you get your bachelor's degree, as long as the school is accredited. Your choice of a grad school is much more important to the average student than the undergrad school.
Go where you will be happy and be able to learn on all different levels.
By the way, a good reason to choose a state school over Stanford or another LAC--if you want to go into teaching, the state schools usually have higher-ranked education programs that lead directly into the credential and masters of education. (I'm biased--I'm a teacher.)
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