Cash should be the last thing you worry about.
I would advise high school kids to think long term and decide why they are going to University in the first place. If you are there for your future, than choose a place based on academic reputation. If you are serious about cometing for a long time, choose a coach that believes in long term development and has a track record of athletes who have had post-collegiate success. The thing you will remember the most however is the group you trained with. If you think the environment isn't the best for you than choose a place more your style. Would you go run for West Virginia Tech and receive a second rate education gratis, never develop as an runner, but look like hero wearing your jacket to Scandals at Christmas.
Go to Ark as a walk-on 9:30 3000m runner, train harder than you thought possible and come back five years later, 15 lbs lighter with balls of steel running sub 15:00 (or maybe even 14:00) for 5k. Maybe even go to Med school somwehere b/c you did so well in a second rate academic setting.
Go to Stanford, pay the bucks, bust your ass to get a scholarship, leave with a stellar education and quick track because you are fried.
Go to Michigan. Get a strong education, leave with a little debt, train with olympians, have coach worry about your long-term development.
Or go to U of Manitoba teach in St. Vital and tell stories about how fast all your friends are.