re the state school arguments
(1) you're kind of pulling a bait and switch. you're emphasizing expense -- but that is to daddy, not me. there is no cost-benefit analysis for junior because junior is not writing the check, or taking on any debt. it's a fake "worth it" argument. it's can daddy afford the check.
(2) at which point, it's a different calculus skewing towards high tier state schools. the state schools in general will be cheaper, but some smarter than others. duh, favor them. this is not a deep thought exercise.
(3) and personally i'd be angry if i had a 1500+ and was at UT and not harvard because daddy spent it all on hos corvette and lake boat and a bigger house than we needed. y'all can spin that as some kid saying "the school is good enough, and i just want a job," but how true is that attitude of any 1500+ varsity runner you ever met? it's more the attitude of an 1100 SAT jock who isn't even in contention for these schools.
(4) as a poor kid, daddy isn't paying my bills. i paid what aid didn't pay. your argument lacks universality.
(5) if i am paying my own way and i require aid, the calculus is different. i can't afford most state schools -- and none worth a crap -- even working 40 hours all summer. so i am borrowing everywhere. and that borrowing maxes out most places. and then each school offers me their institutional aid. which varies.
and, duh, i favor the ones who make me a better offer. my experience, top rated private. state was more expensive, as they cover less of your need. they don't have endless grants and scholarships to cover the gaps.
(6) when i read a thread talking about "value," i kind of assume we're talking the cost-benefit of the aid recipient self-payer, or the kid who mixes light family cost with aid. you have to repay the loans. what are the right tradeoffs on those loans. my sense, better schools might either give you free tuition or offer better aid. period. and then also more income when you leave.
(7) i don't see "what does daddy pay" as the same sort of value discussion, other than you're throwing in school quality as a tiebreaker or co-variable atop school sticker cost. you're trying to find a cheap place and ruling better, more expensive ones out on purpose. this is not maximizing other than daddy's bank account.
(8) last, the real argument here is more like is it worth it to pay for some expensive third rate private. salve regina has d3 sports, a pretty campus, but is a mediocre school, and costs $50k. financial aid is meh there, like 70-something percent of need met. an average grad doesn't make 6 figures in 6 years, they make $55k.
now, that's a different cost-benefit.