Schools

1. For public schools, your in-state schools will always be cheaper than out of state schools and will usually prioritize their in-state applicants, regardless of what state you live in. Private schools are going to be more expensive, whether it's in state or out of state.

2. The term "best colleges" will be different depending on what you look at and what major you want to apply for. You could look at rankings, but rankings don't tell you the quality of education you're going to get. Different colleges and universities are more known in different academic areas, you'll have too look that up by yourself depending on the major you choose.