<p>People seem to be very insecure about their choices and feel the need to defend them to death, even if one can get a great education at either. Furthermore, one cannot put all LACs and all Unis in the same basket. Nobody in their right mind thinks UVA=University of Northern Maine, or that Williams=Buenavista</p>
<p>I always find the study about where professors send their children fascinating because as a professor and before as a grad student, I never met one who sent their kids to a LAC. Probably a biased sample (but a large one), but still. </p>
<p>Finally, I agree there is regional variation. In the midwest, universities (public and private) tend to be much more prestigious than LACs.</p>