Private colleges are always more expensive than public colleges.
For example, the cost of a private institution, less student aid, often is less than a public institution outside one's home state. Only the very rich can afford college. The federal government, states, and institutions all offer financial aid to help low-income students afford college. It actually hurts you to save for college because you get less financial aid. However, the formulas for determining the expected family contribution count income far more heavily than savings, so the difference is usually not substantial.