I will guess that Rider has a better reputation in NJ and Philadelphia/NY than Lynchburg, and vice versa. So it depends on what/where after college. And I’m not a “no debt ever” advocate- sometimes stretching financially is worth it, sometimes not.
I wouldn’t advocate taking on huge loans for a second tier private engineering degree if you can get into your state flagship. Most of the time your state flagship is going to have a stronger program, better resources, more companies recruiting on campus, etc.
Where it gets dicey is for smaller departments- go into debt for a strong Classics department vs. a weak one? More debt for a well regarded program in urban planning vs. cobbling together your own major at a college that doesn’t offer a program in urban planning but has enough other classes to make it work?
I think that’s a case by case situation.