I am not a “prestige” type of person. That said, if you can really go to an Ivy for $25k, I would take it over the state schools (but I have 529s and 2 incomes and $25k/year is in our do-able range). What I don’t think is worth it is what my friend did - turned down a full ride at the Rutgers Honors college to go full pay at U Penn. They had no savings for college, but a paid off house that they will be refinancing to pay for school. In my mind, in my 50’s, I don’t think I would have done that. Rutgers is no Ivy, but has a great rep in the sciences and for free, I don’t know that I’d be mortgaging my house again for prestige.