@Momtofourkids UMass Amherst is an interesting comparison when it comes to IS/OOS financial support. UMass is notoriously stingy with aid to in-state students, and Massachusetts based parents complain about their tax dollars going to OOS students rather than their own children. It’s usually an easy business decision for a university with a large enough endowment. Even with offered aid, most OOS students pay more that IS students so there is a net financial gain.
Out of state tuition/fees, room and board at UMass(2019-20) is $50,769. At JMU those same costs total to $39,842 for out of state students. That’s an $11,000 difference. The challenge you will face when every school’s cards are on the table is determining the potential value of “fit.” Which school does your son feel most excited about? Which school will best set him up to finish all four years? After that it’s math. If the best “fit” is $4,000 cheaper then it’s a no-brainer. Should the best fit be $3,000 more expensive…you’ll need to put pencil to paper on that decision.
Good luck with the decisions ahead.