[Volpe]

Anecdotal data point: My brother taught pure math in both Australia, and the U.S (in ivy league institutions). His view is that the quality of students in Australia (largely classless given the govt subsidies education so much) is leagues above the undergrads at top ivy leagues (who are there because of $$$).

[maaku]

Yes, but take a step “down” to the elite but not aristocratic schools (berkeley, NYU, georgia tech, etc.), and you'll find the quality of the students go up.