Public Colleges

There's data out there showing that, on average, private college graduates don't graduate with that much more debt than public college graduates. But the rosy numbers don't tell the whole story, and what they leave out is costing students and their families tens of thousands of dollars.

Just because the aid is there to help pay for a private college doesn't mean it's worth paying more for. And the feeble arguments for shelling out for private schools are far from convincing.

Many college-bound high school students have their eye on attending expensive private colleges, and with their beautiful campuses, air conditioned dorms and strong brand names, it's easy to understand why. But recent action in the stock market and credit markets threatens those plans. The...