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.

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.

The post Filling Out Your Housing Application first appeared on Great College Advice.

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

The post International Student Visa: FAQs first appeared on Great College Advice.

If you’ve identified a college that may be of interest to you, make a special point to visit that school. While on campus, why not make a little time to visit with the coach? Meeting with a coach is a great opportunity to ask questions about the school and the athletic program that you are interested in.

Not only will it give you more insight into the program and help you decide if you like the coach. But it’s also an excellent chance to market yourself. Be sure to contact the coach in advance of your visit to schedule an actual appointment. You don’t want to show up on campus hoping to speak to a coach and have no one there to see you!

Before you go, it’s also good idea to do a little bit of research about the college so that you can highlight to the coach the particular reasons why the school appeals to you. Spend some time on the school’s website. Read up on the school in one of the guidebooks to colleges. Check out YouTube to see if the school has a virtual tour, or go to one of the websites that offers virtual campus tours such as ecampustours.com  or Youniversitytv.com.

For your appointment, be sure to take:

• A copy of your transcript, so the coach can see what kind of student you are
• A copy of your athletic resume

When you go, there’s no harm in having a parent be there with you. It may even be beneficial since your parents will ask questions that you won’t. Be nice to your parents, however! The coach will be observing you, and you want to leave the best possible impression. Coaches don’t want disrespectful players on their team.

Because you have initiated the contact with the coach, and you are paying for everything having to do with your visit (i.e. transportation, food, lodging). You are considered to be conducting an “unofficial visit”. “Official visits” are those where the athlete is invited by the coach to spend time with the college’s team and the athlete’s expenses are paid for by the school. (Note that “official visits” can’t happen until after a student’s junior year in high school.) There is no such thing as an “official visit” in NCAA Division III sports, since those schools will not pay to recruit athletes.

If you are on an early “unofficial visit”, and you don’t really know where you stand with respect to the team and the recruiting process at that school, frame your questions as exploratory (e.g., “Playing my sport in college is very important to me, so I’m interested in understanding your approach to the team and the student experience on the team and at the school.”)

If you are further along in the recruitment process, and you appear to be clearly on the coach’s radar for recruitment. Then you can be more direct and specific with your questions. Either way, don’t be afraid to ask questions of the coach when you meet. You need to have as clear an understanding as possible about where you stand as an athlete with that school. And, if you attend, what your experience will be like when you get there.

For a great list of possible questions to ask the coach, see my colleague Mark’s blog post here.

Andrea Aronson
College Admissions Counselor
Westfield, NJ

The post Athletic Recruiting: Plan an Unofficial Visit first appeared on Great College Advice.

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