Money magazine: These Are the 727 Best Colleges in America

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5. If your child has an excellent academic record

High test scores, extracurriculars, etc, then some of the Ivy League schools do make sense for poor families. These schools are all needs based, and you might find them less expensive than even your own state universities.

Point taken on costs though. In general stay with the state schools. Also take everything you can online and at the local community college before paying big dollar room and board and higher tuition at the university.

My oldest was able to finish her first two years of college by doing the above described (she did take one Chemistry course at our local university) before going off to Iowa State. She finished her BS Mechanical Engineering in two years on campus.

Also look at colleges that don't appear on this list that are specific to certain occupations. For example hospital affiliated nursing colleges can be a great option. That is what my other daughter did, and, while the tuition was high, she was able to live at home.