Private vs. Public

Many people are surprised when I tell them my son goes to a Private University. My family is certainly not wealthy, but most of you would be surprised at how often a Private school is a better deal than the Public option. Private schools tend to have more scholarships and grants available to help students afford the tuition. The Private college or university will usually be able to work with your family more closely, and look at many alternatives in order to manage the costs. The other nice thing about a Private school is that the tuition is the same whether or not you live in state. For a student that really wants to experience a different state, this can be helpful.
Now, don't get me wrong, the Public University can still be a good deal. The costs are generally lower, so if you are planning to pay most/all of your student's tuition, then definitely take a look.
The best advice I can give is to not count a school out due to the perception of it being expensive. Let your student look at both types of colleges. After your student applies, and then receives the Financial Aid Award, is the the time to compare costs. The bottom line is your out of pocket costs, after loans, grants, scholarships,etc.
You may be surprised at what you see!