<p>I am currently a senior deciding between my state flagship (Texas A&M University) and Wake Forest University. Thanks to either the G.I. Bill, Texas Tomorrow Fund, or Hazelwood Act, A&M would be free. They also gave me about 4,500 a year in merit scholarships. Wake Forest on the other hand has a COA of 60,000. They did offer me 25,100 in grants/merit aid. If I combined this with my G.I. Bill it would bring the cost down to about 16,000. I would probably take out federal loans as well. My question is basically the quintessential, should I pick Big State U or the LAC? Is WFU worth taking on some loans? Both schools have variations of my major/area of interest.</p>