Probably the most important thing is steering your child to a major that will generate lifelong income, will lead to a satisfying and rewarding career, and provide a grounding in history and humanities (as minors).
Victor Hanson points out regularly that you get a far better education for far less money than the top reputation schools, especially the Ivies.
Our youngest went to college 15 years ago. One got a degree in political science, one in biology, and one in business. That led to careers in tourism, insurance, and automotive retail management.
I regret not making a stronger effort to push them toward STEM careers, especially the oldest.
The higher ranked schools are those with fathers with fat wallets. Likewise, the fatter the wallet the less chance Jr. will get in trouble with the cops at party schools.
Look for safety rankings first and foremost.
I tend to think the trades are the way to go for most young people.
In times past children were apprenticed out.
If I was rich and had a kid, I would not be sending the kid and $320,000 of my money to Harvard.
It can be helpful to study Spanish, management and business law at the college level as cheaply as possible.
I would limit myself to institutions that are identifiably conservative.
That takes the universe down from thousands to a mere handful.
Easy.
Bkmk
I refused to buy into the scam that I had any responsibility at all to pay for my adult children’s education. We loaned them money and expected payback.
Only one of the four did full four year college but that was for a specialized engineering degree.
Here’s an outcome. His school had an employment guarantee. A job in your field at competitive pay or they will cover the cost of a post graduate degree. I don’t they’ve ever had to pay out.
Btw. His loans were paid if ful within a year.
Research competency based degree programs.
The degree list is limited, but the programs are often less than two years, so much cheaper.
Any degree in business will help get her foot in the door.
Study “The Fountain Head “ and recognize that you need a reason to go to school. I went for an engineering degree but did not really see that I needed to learn more that just getting by. I concluded much later that I was not mature enough when I went to college.
He said it would be wise to find an affordable state school that had a decent (not exceptional) reputation in my field of study. For the same cost of a four-year degree at the top STEM school where I was accepted, I could get an undergraduate degree at a state school AND a master’s degree at a top school like MIT or Stanford.
My one piece of advice is this: The amount of money you and/or your child should be willing to spend on college should be proportional to the child’s passion for a specific field of study.