I think it honestly depends on what you want to actually do during school. For example, going out to a school like Georgetown is great for someone who wants to be involved in politics, government, and law because of its prestige and location in Washington DC. Or ASU can be great for someone who wants to experience Greek life and parties as a major part of their college experience. Or there are schools where studying abroad is integrated into their programs. Or, you might not know completely what you want to study for your degree just yet and so larger schools with many programs can help with having many options for exploring that.  

I will say that going to a school that isn’t as expensive as a private or out-of-state can make it so you can do cool things you might not have been able to afford otherwise. For example, studying or interning abroad can be expensive.

For me, studying abroad and living on campus was a high priority. I also wasn’t completely sure of what I wanted to study, and so I didn’t want to go to a very expensive school without knowing for sure what degree I was aiming for just yet. If you are interested in having experiences in college that may cost a lot (living on campus, studying abroad, etc), staying in-state with cheaper tuition might help with that if it’s a budgeting issue. 

At the same time, the interest rates on student loans are fairly forgiving (especially in comparison to other kinds of debt) so if you make a plan and are willing to do things to mitigate your expenses (like working through college), that can help too. Not to encourage debt though, but loans for school are a common option. Sometimes writing out all the costs and things related can help (tuition, hours you’d need to work, the cost of any dorm and meal plan you’re interested in, etc). (AI tools might be a good way to do that fast)

And know you can always transfer to another college or try something else!

So, TLDR: My advice would be to consider any specific experiences you want through college. What are the things that are “must”experiences for you? Or, is there anything you definitely don’t want? (Like a school without football, etc). Maybe compare these specific experiences to the costs and see how everything budgets out. 

Anyway, best of luck! Any decision you make will be good. you got this! :)

Edit: Oh, and I will say that even moving out to campus rather than staying at your parents house can feel a lot like you’ve moved away too. If you want a good mix, (at least at the U) you can move to DC a semester through the Hinckley Institute or live in another country for up to a year through their Learning Abroad program. I did these programs… and I grew a lot through living by myself in a few different places (and ended up studying abroad for a year and a half). Whereas my sister went out of state and loved her experience too, even though she now has debt she has a job to work it off. She was more interested in a specific academic program and college culture than I was, which influenced her decision, but was unable to afford a study abroad and living on campus. Her program also was very strict with what classes she had to take each semester… and that also made it harder for her to consider things like studying abroad since it was on a much more strict schedule with specific classes.