<p>Obviously, the best prices will be at your own state’s public colleges and universities. Unfortunately, many state universities have had to raise all tuitions radically, and out-of-state rates can approach those of private colleges. Many state schools are also extremely stingy with financial aid for out-of-state students. You should investigate each one individually. Our guide at Montclair State, here in NJ, said that they cannot compete financially with many private colleges when it comes to the packages they can offer students nationwide. The NYC colleges are the most expensive, followed by the Boston and California schools (in my limited experience). Smaller liberal arts colleges (e.g. Sarah Lawrence) also tend to be pricey There are lots of good schools with exciting opportunities out there. I would advise you to cast as wide a net as possible. A good academic record will certainly help you, but it is not a universal requirement: my son received a generous talent scholarship from UArts, despite a pretty dismal transcript (he had respectable test scores, with one outstanding Critical Reading SAT). If your grades are good, you might qualify for the Pforzheimer Honors program at Pace (unless BFA candidates are ineligible - worth checking on), which provides a very lavish aid package.</p>