With a kid now several years out of college, we feel like the BS $ were the best educational $ spent. But like @cheerfulmom , we really focused on culture and picking a place that would allow growth - academically, socially, emotionally, etc. Unlike the school you describe, it was a place where you were expected to be your best, but there was no “the best”. For me, that was really important. It is true that comparison is the thief of happiness!
DS’ classmates were really supportive, as evidenced by the fact that almost a decade out, they make the effort to stay in touch snd see each other.
It’s important in picking a school to understand what you want from the experience - and that can be tough to work out as the schools “sell” themselves, maybe making you re-think your priorities. If you get it right, these can be 4 transformative, amazing years.