$15K per year is not nothing. Is American worth $60K more over four years? I guess it depends on if that fits in your budget and what his potential grad school plans are. With my D, she’s fully aware grad school is very, very likely with the type of undergrad she wants to pursue. Another thought would be to get the best, most cost-effective undergrad you can and then pivot to DC for grad schools. You know, an 18-year-old’s idea of what they want to do can certainly shift as well. He may love the idea of political science right now, but what if his interests shift? Illinois makes sense for lots of different majors. Would American? (I thought the public policy & law major in the ACES school looked fantastic and very marketable, btw. An interesting alternative to straight poli sci).
I realize I’m now playing devil’s advocate against my own argument for American. 