> Only a handful of public universities even make the top 100. And even public schools are hardly "free", often costing >$10K/year just for tuition. I just fin

> Only a handful of public universities even make the top 100. And even public schools are hardly "free", often costing >$10K/year just for tuition. I just finished my PhD at a state school this year. I've gone to state schools through my entire education. In the past decade, every school I've attended has had a professor win a Nobel Prize. I've also averaged less than a thousand dollars a semester in tuition. I'm also not from California. My state has repeatedly ranked in the bottom 10 on SAT scores. I'm not doubting that going Ivy cost a fortune and was a huge hassle to acquire aid. I'm also not suggesting that you didn't get a fantastic network of connections through your Ivy classmates. Buying a network is expensive. However, if you're looking to get an education, those can still be had for a reasonable price.