It'd be great if the U.S. would invest in very affordable elite educational institutions, to the point that they are superior academically and research-wise to

It'd be great if the U.S. would invest in very affordable elite educational institutions, to the point that they are superior academically and research-wise to the private universities. They should be national (rather than state) universities, to draw attendees from across the country. In an ideal world, today's "elite" private universities would have reputations more like Amherst--fancy places where rich people send their kids, but not schools that the best and brightest aspire to attend. The U.S. pubic universities are arguably superior to the private ones already in aggregate, we just need a few flagship schools to take the crown of "very best".