Are you looking at the cost of US universities after any merit money you might qualify for? I don’t know many students paying sticker price at US schools. The cost of traveling to Europe adds a nice sum onto your total - do you plan on coming home? As a parent of a freshman, my biggest worry is what if you don’t like it? My son’s best friend is in Boston and is miserable. A weekend home every couple of months does wonders to bring up spirits. It’s a big leap - the college transition coupled with being so far from home and a completely different culture.
My daughter dreams of studying in England or Ireland as well. We’re looking for schools that offer study abroad options (Gettysburg offers a semester at Oxford).