They usually weasel word the scope of their generosity, treat loans as gifts, etc.
The sticker price is always negotiable, but state schools are usually ahead.
Since I personally experienced it, I'm pretty sure it's not.
Then you should look at the actual university policies outlined on their website. At top of line elite schools (Stanford, Princeton level), if your family income <$65-75K, both tuition and housing are free, and <$125K tuition is free.
I know for a fact that state schools like UC Berkeley and UCLA aren't that generous with housing.
>> Just look at the make up of study body at the top 5 schools.
Students from wealthier backgrounds tend to have more access to academic and educational resources and are thus more qualified and more likely to be admitted.
Not a judgement suggesting that a less fortunate child would not succeed in a similar environment; many of them just don't have one.
The people with some means (aka the "middle class") can stretch their budget to afford state school.
Most states also have transfer programs that let you go from a 2yr at a CC into the equivalent 4yr at state school which takes a huge chunk out of the cost.
Now, awareness of this fact may be not widespread enough, skewing the applicant pool toward the outcome.you describe because of perceived cost, but it's much more likely that a student wouldn't be able to afford a public college than an elite private one.