should people pay more for a better school?

It is a huge gift to graduate without a lot of debt. You will be able to consider jobs based on what you’ll learn and what you like rather than on money alone, for example.

If a more expensive school gives you a different educational experience, you need to decide if it’s worth the difference in price. Sometimes it is, often it’s not.

I would guess - but don’t know - that your portfolio would be what most interested potential employers rather than the name of the school or connections. Is that right? If so, how would the experience at each school impact that?