@MurphyBrown Regarding OOS publics, I agree that are exceptions. Some, like Alabama, are doing a great job of attracting solid students with great fin aid. But a student top-flight enough to be admitted at Bowdoin can get great merit aid from less elite but still solid private colleges (say schools ranked 50 to 100) that make them competitive with non-elite publics. What I see often on CC is the appeal of UCB, UCLA, Mich, UVA, UNC, which are very difficult for out-of-staters to gain admission into. Seems like these five get the love, but what about UT, Wisconsin, UIUC, OSU, etc? (Disclosure: I am a UNC alum. D2013 is a Senior at NCSU. Her classes are still huge. Her friends are the same she had in high school.)
Every student and every family’s financial situation is different. States have different priorities toward higher ed. North Carolina, for example, not a super progressive state, funds its colleges relatively well. Other states do not. UVA, for example, gets less than 6% of its operating budget from the state. So families should understand that the lower tuition they pay means less funding for instruction and other operating expenses. Plus, the publics have much lower endowment money per student. Then on top of that, OOS students are charged a premium.
But again, large publics have extensive networks. Planning to work and live in South Carolina? Then Clemson or the other USC will serve you well. And many students love the big-time sports of the SEC or ACC. I just recommend that students like the OP consider all the options.