I think Purdue, Iowa, and Indiana are fine schools, on par with RU, but the experience of going to school in farmland is different to the point that they are not peers and not right for the same kids.
Not one kid from my son's (Westchester county) high school went to RU from last year's class. I'm told over 100 kids applied to Michigan and very few got in. Clearly there is a disconnect and some poor guidance from the, um, Guidance Department. Hard to believe that some of those kids would not have been a great fit for RU. I think these parents hear "Jersey" and stick up their noses in ignorance of the facts.
A winning football team is low on the list of what makes for a great college experience. A close friend's daughter chose Texas, Austin, which is a great school, but not for her. She is a quiet studious kid, a little heavy. Her mom had a blast, but the daughter did not get past the first round of sorority pledging despite being a legacy and having strong letters of recommendation. It's only September but she wants to come home. I sincerely think RU would have been a better choice for her.