On average, students at the "flagship" universities of state college systems have higher family incomes than students at private colleges, according to a new analysis of federal data.

• The families of undergraduates attending public colleges earned a median annual income of $51,231 -- compared to $46,863 at private colleges in the 1995-96 school year.

• For the 1992-93 school year, the figures were $49,658 at flagship public universities -- versus $47,735 for those at private schools.

• Unlike private colleges, state universities essentially subsidize student costs regardless of family income by offering low tuition for in-state students.

• As the gap between tuition rates at private and public colleges has grown, more affluent families have shopped around for what they see as the best value.

Source: Kenneth J. Cooper, "The Well-to-Do at the Public U.," Washington Post, November 25, 1999.