<p>Well, there is a big difference usually between the public school tuition and the private school. Unless merit aid or major scholarship money comes into play, you need rich parents to afford the private school without taking out huge loans. The public school is usually more affordable on the economic scale (parent wise). Private schools with huge merit aid and scholarships can still be very much more expensive than the public route.
Where do you stand? Hard to know until you apply. Some schools brag about their financial aid packages that never deliver–no aid or not enough to make the school compete economically with a state school. Or aid comes in the form of loans–not great either.
Best advice–apply to the best school that satisfies your requirements–major, financially safe, reputation. Then apply to the others and if the money fairy appears, decide if it’s better than your first choice.
As for income, that depends on so many factors. How many kids? Other financial needs?
Savings?</p>