I agree with the research vs. teaching comment. Though, it seems like (and as a Sun Devil, I hate to say this) the kids of my friends who were super smart and won those free ride 4 year scholarships all went to U of A...
I don't know. I liked ASU and feel that I got a very good education. So did my husband.
As far as the AZ can't support more schools, they certainly have expanded the ones that are there. I mean ASU has like 4 campuses now. Maybe if those were entirely different schools, it would be different. You know, more competition.
But, it's a lot better than here.We have so many private schools that most kids won't even consider the state ones. They are woefully underfunded and in deplorable physical condition. My son went to U Mass Amherst (the flagship) and got a great education. But, it's really seen as second class. Then everyone ends up with thousands of dollars of debt to pay for those private schools.