<p>There’s also the fact that many 2nd, 3rd, or 4th tier private schools will charge you the same $50k (or close to it) annually. Many of the elite schools have a possibility of full aid–although much of it can be in loans.</p>
<p>The question is whether any of these schools are worth two or three times as much as a public school.</p>
<p>I don’t see how you could make the case credibly for a non-elite private school, and you can barely make it for the elites. It is possible that going to HYP, etc. can get you a better job placement with a B.A., but there is no advantage in getting into a decent graduate program.</p>