SJSU or SCU

I’m stuck choosing between SJSU (basically free) and SCU (~$30k/year), and I can’t tell if SCU is actually worth the debt.

My long-term goal is to go somewhere else for a master’s, which means I need strong research experience, good recommendations, and solid opportunities during undergrad. I know SCU has smaller class sizes, more personalized attention, and maybe better access to research/professors, but is that really worth taking on significant debt?

SJSU seems like the practical choice financially, especially since I’d be saving a lot and could still work hard to find research, internships, and build my profile. But I keep wondering if I’d be missing out on opportunities, connections, or support that could make a real difference later.

For anyone who’s been in a similar spot:
Did going to a more expensive private school actually give you a meaningful advantage for grad school? Or is it more about what you do wherever you go?

Trying to figure out if this is an investment or just unnecessary debt.