Being a Midwesterner, I take exception to this: But the undeniable fact is that many of the best schools in the country are in the northeast. There are many "best schools" in the Midwest. There are many "best schools" in the South, and there are many "best schools" in the West.
Certainly, at one time (like in the infancy of our country) your statement was true. However, I don't believe that you can say that anymore. Many of the top schools are small and are considered "regional" schools. It could be that we just didn't know about them.
When my daughter was deciding between two very excellent D3 colleges, the coaches of one school suggested to us more than once to tell admissions what the other school offered her. We did, they offered her more money, and yes, there she went. It happens.