Teaching aside, what about the social benefits of starting out with a freshman cohort? My wife transferred from an out-of-state school to a school close to home, following a death in the family. She never made many friends at the new school, on account of having been housed on a freshman floor as a junior.
She probably has as many friends from her original college, which she attended for just one year — the crucial freshman year.
I'm not saying it's worth tens of thousands of dollars to network with other students, but if this is where lifelong friendships then it's worth considering the specifics.
Also, many students qualify for significant need/merit financial aid. For me, attending the #1 rated liberal arts college was only modestly more expensive than attending a UC, with in-state tuition. And need-based scholarships have only gotten more generous in the last couple decades, since I went to school. IIRC all the top schools cover your full costs if your family income is below $125k or so.
She probably has as many friends from her original college, which she attended for just one year — the crucial freshman year.
I'm not saying it's worth tens of thousands of dollars to network with other students, but if this is where lifelong friendships then it's worth considering the specifics.
Also, many students qualify for significant need/merit financial aid. For me, attending the #1 rated liberal arts college was only modestly more expensive than attending a UC, with in-state tuition. And need-based scholarships have only gotten more generous in the last couple decades, since I went to school. IIRC all the top schools cover your full costs if your family income is below $125k or so.