Choosing between private and public colleges, or deciding whether to stay in-state or venture out, is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during the college application process. The right choice depends on your unique academic goals, financial situation, learning style, and personal preferences. Throughout the college admissions lifecycle, understanding these distinctions helps you build a strategic college list that balances ambition with practical considerations.

What Are the Main Differences Between Private and Public Colleges?

Private and public colleges differ fundamentally in their funding, cost structure, and student experience. Public universities receive state funding, which subsidizes tuition for in-state residents, often making them significantly more affordable for local students. Private colleges rely primarily on tuition revenue, endowments, and donations, resulting in higher sticker prices but often more generous institutional aid.

Beyond cost, these institution types typically differ in class sizes, student-to-faculty ratios, and campus resources. Private colleges often offer more personalized attention, while public universities may provide broader program offerings and larger research facilities.

According to the Great College Advice Family Handbook, rather than seeking a perfect college fit, students should focus on compatibility and preferences. The reality is that most students can satisfy most of their selection criteria, but very seldom can they maximize every single factor. This means evaluating each institution against your personal priorities—not simply choosing based on public versus private status alone.

Is It Better to Attend an In-State Public University or Go Out-of-State?

The in-state versus out-of-state decision often comes down to value versus fit. In-state public universities offer substantial tuition savings, sometimes $15,000-$30,000 annually compared to out-of-state rates at the same institution. For many families, this makes state flagship schools an obvious choice.

However, out-of-state options shouldn’t be dismissed automatically. Some students need specific academic programs unavailable locally, or they may benefit from geographic diversity and independence. Certain out-of-state public and private colleges offer merit scholarships that can make them cost-competitive with in-state options.

Great College Advice emphasizes that every family should run Net Price Calculators for schools they’re seriously considering, especially before applying Early Decision. The actual cost after aid often differs dramatically from published tuition rates. An out-of-state private college offering substantial merit aid might actually cost less than your state school at full price.

How Do I Compare Financial Aid Packages Between Private and Public Colleges?

Understanding financial aid terminology is essential for making apples-to-apples comparisons. Start with these key concepts:

Cost of Attendance (COA) represents the full cost for one school year, including tuition, fees, room, board, books, travel, and personal expenses. This varies significantly between institutions and individual circumstances.

Student Aid Index (SAI), formerly called Expected Family Contribution (EFC), is calculated from your FAFSA information and represents what the federal government estimates your family can contribute.

Net Price Calculators (NPCs) are required tools on every college’s website that estimate your actual costs based on your financial circumstances. While NPCs provide only estimates, and may not fully account for merit aid, going through this process for each school gives you a directional sense of affordability.

When comparing packages, distinguish between grants and scholarships (gift aid that doesn’t require repayment), loans (borrowed money you’ll repay with interest), and work-study (campus employment opportunities). A package heavy on loans is very different from one primarily composed of grants.

Jamie Berger, veteran college admissions expert at Great College Advice, notes that professional guidance often helps families identify schools where they’re most likely to receive favorable financial aid: “If we help you find some hidden gems, some off-the-beaten-path, more in your target and likely area that you hadn’t thought of—then it’s well worth it.”

Can I Get Merit Scholarships at Private Colleges That Make Them Affordable?

Absolutely, and this is often where strategic college list building pays off. Merit aid is typically more available at institutions slightly below your academic profile, where colleges want to attract high-achieving students to strengthen their incoming class.

Financial criteria should be the starting point for all families. Even families who could pay full tuition often seek schools offering significant discounts. As one Great College Advice client explained, “Just because I can buy a Mercedes doesn’t mean that I will buy one.”

Jamie Berger emphasizes the potential return on investment from professional college counseling: “The sticker price for us might seem large, but it might save you $20,000 a year by getting more merit aid at a college. You can’t guarantee it, but it often does.”

To maximize merit aid potential, build a balanced college list including reach schools (where admission is uncertain), target schools (where you’re a competitive applicant), and likely schools (where admission is probable and merit aid is possible). Great College Advice’s College List service identifies 20+ institutions divided into these categories, matching your academic, social, and personal needs.

What Criteria Should I Use to Choose Between Different Types of Colleges?

Great College Advice recommends developing criteria across multiple dimensions rather than fixating on any single factor:

Financial Factors: What can your family realistically afford? Are you seeking need-based aid, merit scholarships, or planning to pay full price? Be honest about budget constraints from the beginning.

Academic Factors: Does the school have strong programs in your areas of interest? What’s the average class size? What research opportunities exist for undergraduates? How accessible are professors?

Location: How far from home are you comfortable being? Do you prefer urban, suburban, or rural settings? What career opportunities exist in the region?

Campus Culture and Size: Do you want a large university with extensive resources and anonymity, or a smaller college with close-knit community? What social and extracurricular opportunities matter to you?

We recommend several research tools: The Fiske Guide to Colleges, Colleges That Change Lives, Niche.com, College Navigator, and College Scorecard. Create a guiding list of criteria before diving into these sources—knowing what you’re looking for prevents information overwhelm.

Should I Attend a Large Public University or a Smaller Private College?

School size dramatically shapes your college experience, affecting everything from class dynamics to social opportunities. Consider these trade-offs:

Large Public Universities typically offer more majors and minors, extensive research facilities, Division I athletics, diverse student populations, and broader networking opportunities. However, introductory courses may have hundreds of students, advising may be less personalized, and students must advocate for themselves to stand out.

Smaller Private Colleges often provide smaller class sizes, closer relationships with faculty, tight-knit communities, and more individualized attention. Trade-offs may include fewer major options, less anonymity, and potentially less diverse student populations.

Campus visits are essential for understanding which environment suits you. Spending adequate time on each campus, ideally attending classes, eating in dining halls, and talking with current students. Schedule no more than two visits per day to avoid campuses blending together in memory.

How Important Is Demonstrated Interest When Applying to Private vs. Public Colleges?

Demonstrated interest, showing colleges you’re genuinely interested in attending, has become increasingly important in admissions. Colleges track engagement to predict “yield” (the percentage of admitted students who enroll), and showing sincere interest can tip borderline decisions in your favor.

Private colleges often weigh demonstrated interest heavily. They track campus visits, information session attendance, email communications, interviews, and engagement with admissions representatives.

Public universities vary significantly. Many state flagships don’t track demonstrated interest due to application volume, while others pay close attention.

Ivy League and other elite institutions like MIT and Stanford typically don’t consider demonstrated interest because they already have extremely high yields.

Show genuine engagement through registered campus visits, attending local information sessions, thoughtful email correspondence, and interviews when offered. However, avoid crossing into going overboard—there’s a fine line between showing genuine interest and pestering admissions staff.

Importantly, demonstrating interest matters even at likely schools. As Great College Advice notes, showing interest can make the difference between admission and rejection, even at schools where your statistics exceed typical admits.

Making Your Final Decision

Ultimately, choosing between private and public or in-state and out-of-state isn’t about finding the objectively “best” option—it’s about finding the best fit for your specific circumstances. College selection involves compromise, and success comes from satisfying your most important criteria rather than maximizing every possible factor.

Start early, develop clear criteria, research thoroughly, visit campuses when possible, and compare actual costs through Net Price Calculators. With strategic planning and honest self-assessment, you’ll find colleges where you can thrive academically, socially, and financially.

For comprehensive guidance through every stage of the college application process, contact Great College Advice to work with an expert counselor who can help you build a strategic college list tailored to your unique goals and circumstances.

The post Public vs. Private College: Which Costs Less? first appeared on Great College Advice.

A college education will probably be the first or second most expensive purchase that an individual will ever make over the course of his or her entire lifetime. Yet, most people will select an institution and either completely ignore the cost. Not be aware of what the true cost of that school will be. Then, once they get accepted and have their heart set on one school or another. They find that the cost of education is far more than they expected.

While it is true that a college education has gotten incredibly expensive for almost anyone. A huge contributing factor to skyrocketing student debt is that students are choosing to attend schools that they simply cannot afford. Students are compelled to take on significant loans to pay for these high cost educational choices. And then find themselves in very challenging financial situations upon graduation.

Instead of taking the “fire, ready, aim” approach to choosing a college, families should be much more measured with their tactics, if they want to avoid being overwhelmed by college costs.

Here’s how to assess the cost of college:

Step 1: Know your budget

Before you even consider applying to college, take stock of your family’s financial situation. Ask yourself, how much do I have available to spend for a college education, and how much am I willing to spend and sacrifice? Consider the future. What if something happens and you have a lot less money coming in once the student has started college (e.g., you lose your job, an expensive health issue crops up, etc.)? Will you still be able to fund college? Are there other family members who will also need to tap into the family’s finances in the future?

Step 2: To assess the cost of college: Cast a broad net, initially

Identify a number of schools that fit the student’s interests and academics. Don’t just choose one or two; find several. Even if the student thinks he or she knows the exact college where he or she wants to go, expand the search. First, there’s no guarantee that the student will get admitted to that school. Second, there’s no guarantee that the school will fit your budget. By finding many schools that could be a good match for the student, you will increase your chances of putting together a list of schools that you can afford.

Step 3: Explore the fully loaded cost of each school

You cannot assume that the price of college will be “about the same” irrespective of where you attend. From one college to the next costs will vary tremendously. Where do you find information on school costs? What is meant by “fully loaded” costs? Schools will generally provide tuition information on their websites. Many schools will include what is called an estimated Cost Of Attendance (COA), too.

The COA represents an approximation of your fully loaded cost, and will usually include:

• Tuition
• Room and Board
• School Fees
• Books and School Supplies
• Travel
• Personal Expenses

Visit each school’s website that your child is interested in, and if the school provides an estimated COA. Use it as a starting point to calculate your costs. You need to figure out what your actual outlay is likely to be based on your own individual circumstances. Schools use an average number to figure costs like travel and personal expenses, but you should try to be more exact. 

For example, if the student will be bringing a car to campus, the school will not put car-related expenses into their COA calculation. But you should put it into yours. In short, project how the student will be living while attending college and tally up all the costs associated with that lifestyle.

Step 4: Investigate the financial aid generosity of each school

Not all schools are created equal when it comes to their financial aid generosity. Some will meet full financial needs while others won’t. Some schools will be very generous with merit aid for those who don’t meet the criteria for need-based aid. And others will only provide merit aid to a select few.

To figure out just how generous a school is with their aid, a good source is the College Data website: www.collegedata.com. You can search by school name and in the Money Matters section. The site reveals what percentage of financial need was met as well as how much the college provided in need-based and merit aid and how many students for the previous year.

By looking at this information for each of the schools of interest, you can get a good sense of how open-handed with money that school is and whether or not you might have a shot at getting some aid.

Step 5: Assess your likelihood of receiving financial aid to reduce the cost of college

You know your budget. Also, you know what your finances look like. You know what the cost of college is. You know whether the schools on your list are generous. But, you still don’t know what each college on your list is actually going to cost you.  Will you qualify for financial aid and bring down the COA?

While you can’t get a definitive answer about your costs before you apply and actually get admitted to a school. You can get a reasonable approximation of how much a college education will cost you at a given school.

Colleges are now required to make online Net Price Calculators (NPC) available to the public. NPCs allow prospective students to input some basic financial information about themselves and then the NPC calculates approximately how much financial aid they are eligible for and how much it will consequently cost them to attend that school – the “net price”.

Net Price Calculators can generally be found at a college’s website, and The College Board also provides an NPC for a multitude of schools at www.CollegeBoard.org.

Beware that the NPCs provide only an estimate of your likely cost, and sometimes a very loose one at that. Because the information captured isn’t as thorough as on an actual financial aid application, and because the NPCs don’t take into account either special circumstances or your potential eligibility for merit aid (which is based on student performance rather than financial strength). The output of the NPC should not be what you expect to receive.

Still, by going through the Net Price Calculator process for each school on your list, you’ll get a directional sense of what the school will cost you.
The bottom line is that if finances are an issue when you are first considering where to apply consider budget, school cost, and financial aid in the calculation. By doing so, you just may save yourself a little heartache and a whole lot of money.

Andrea Aronson
College Admissions Consultant, Westfield, NJ

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Here is a list of some of the most important things to remember while you study in the United States so that you don’t find yourself faced with a violation of the F-1 regulations:

• Make sure that your data is always current in the SEVIS system. What is SEVIS? SEVIS stands for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, a database maintained by the U.S. government that holds information on all international students in the United States, including their addresses, school programs, work authorizations, and other data. While the school’s Designated Student Officer (DSO) is responsible for entering information into the SEVIS system. To keep your record in order, you are responsible for getting that information to the DSO.
• Always have a current paper copy of your I-20.  An I-20 is a SEVIS-generated document issued by your school which contains your personal, financial and academic information, and is signed by you and the DSO.
• Do NOT engage in employment off-campus without proper authorization. F-1 Visa students are not allowed to work, except in very limited circumstances. (We’ll explore this topic in more detail in a future blog post.)
• Maintain a full course load; “full-time” means 12 credit hours for undergraduates and 9 credit hours for graduates during the entire fall and spring semesters.
• Keep your school and USCIS informed of any address changes. International students must report any change of address within 10 days. Since some students move frequently, it is easy to forget this rule, but it is very important. There is no reason to risk an interruption or premature conclusion to your studies in the U.S. because you forgot to tell USCIS you moved into a new apartment.

Before going overseas, always make sure you are allowed to travel and that you have proper documentation to return to the U.S. Remember to check with your DSO about travel regulations, particularly during the summer. You must carry an original I-20 with a recent travel signature, and a passport valid for at least 6 months. The F-1 visa in your passport must be valid. If not, you will need to make an appointment to apply for a new F-1 Visa if you are still eligible.

When travelling, you should also carry the following:

The post Maintaining Your F-1 Visa in the US first appeared on Great College Advice.

Are you ready to make your commitment? How are you spending these last few days leading up to May 1 deciding?

– Flipping a coin?
– Trying that t-shirt with the college name on the front on one more time?
– Getting feedback from the people you trust?
– Reading the fine print on the financial aid forms once again?
– Chatting online with current students to get your final questions answered?
– Writing pro and con lists?
Everyone makes their final decision in a different way. My advice? It echoes that of our NACAC 2011 keynote speaker, Jonah Lehrer. Go with your gut.
Go with what your instinct tells you. You’ve visited the campuses, spent the time researching, read all of the brochures, gone on the website hundreds of times and now the time has come to take the next step. Listen to what your gut is telling you and ask yourself, “Will I be happy here?” Is the answer yes? Then sign your name on the dotted line and start getting excited for this new adventure you are about to embark on!

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These are just a few highlights. There are lots more out there to explore!

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Video Recap:

After a visit to the University of Northern Colorado, I had a chance to connect with one of my graduate school friends who now works in residence life. She shared a few tips about filling out the housing application.

1) Be honest on the housing application. Students, please please please – fill it out yourself! Whether you are messy or clean, a late riser or an early-to-bed kind of person, or a smoker/nonsmoker. You want to let the housing office know so they can match you with a roommate who will complement your style.

2) Look for living and learning communities. Living and learning communities are great ways to connect with students who share a common interest. There are often extra perks such as taking classes right in your residence hall, access to special field trips, guest lectures, proximity to your classes, etc.

3) You are going to be sharing space. Be ready to learn how to compromise! Sharing your room can be a challenging experience. If it is your first time doing so. Set up a contract with your roommate and certain guidelines you want to follow to be respectful of one another.

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Here are some of the questions we encounter most often from international students.

Q. What is the “presumption of immigrant intent” that I keep hearing about?

A. This means that the United States government, and therefore the embassy or consular staff, assumes that every visa applicant wants to stay in the U.S. permanently. Even if you are applying for a temporary visa, you must prove that you intend to return home after your authorized period of stay concludes. See our previous blog about the type of proof you will need to show this intent.

Q. How long will it take for me to obtain my visa?

A. There are various factors that affect the waiting process, such as an applicant’s country of origin, age, name, marital status or field of study. For example, applicants who study or have worked in sensitive areas may be subject to extended security checks. Some of these fields include munitions; nuclear technology; rocket systems; chemical, biotechnology and biomedical engineering; advanced computer/ microelectronic technology; information security; sensor technology; etc. To allow time to overcome any unforeseen problems that might arise, students are encouraged to apply for their visas several weeks before they plan to travel, or more, depending on the country.

Q. Can I bring my wife and child with me to the U.S. while I am on a student visa?

A. Yes, you may bring dependents. They will need visa interviews as well and should receive F-2 visas. You should make sure you have proof of your relationship to your spouse and/or children such as marriage and birth certificates, family registers, etc. It is best for families to apply for their visas at the same time. However, if your spouse and children must apply later, they should bring a copy of your passport and visa, along with all other required documents. F-2 visa holders are not allowed to work in the U.S.

Q. What if my application for a visa is denied? What can I do?

A. Consular officials have a great deal of discretion to approve or deny a visa. Their decisions are not normally subject to review or appeal. However, it may be possible to ask the chief of the consulate to reconsider the decision, or to ask for an advisory opinion at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. on a legal issue. If your visa application is denied, you may want to consult an attorney for assistance in describing all the facts of the case, any additional evidence, and to try to obtain a different decision.

Q. Do I have to have an interview if I apply to change my status in the U.S. from visitor (B-2) to student (F-1)?

A. No, you do not. If you request a “change of status” from one category to another while remaining in the U.S., you send your request to USCIS, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, on Form I-539. There is no interview for this process. However, you will need to maintain valid nonimmigrant (temporary) status in order to effect this change. This means that you cannot apply to change status after your authorized stay expires. Also, in some cases, USCIS will not approve a change to student status unless you informed the consulate at your B-2 interview that you were thinking about eventually studying in the U.S.

Let us know if you have any more questions that we haven’t addressed here!
Andrea Aronson
College Admissions Specialist
Westfield, NJ

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