My son is an OOS freshman. Once it is decided that you are not going to choose your own state schools your are faced with private schools or public schools in other states. In general, selective private schools give very little merit only aid, so that if you don’t qualify for need based aid you pretty much pay the same at Michigan or a selective private school (although Michigan OOS might be slightly less). If you qualify for need based aid, a private selective school will most likely be much cheaper for you because they attempt to meet need (although their view of your need may differ from yours). I guess that results in a place like Michigan having OOS students with wealthier parents, although other schools that do meet need, such as Wash U where my older son attends, probably have wealthier kids overall than Michigan has.