As a recent graduate (January 2010), and as someone who works with high schoolers, here are my thoughts.
You have, on one
hand, the big, well known schools such as the ones you have listed. Add to that conservatories such as
Point Park, CCM,
etc, and you have a rather decent list to choose from when sending in applications and making visits. However, there is a chance that NONE of those will fit you as a person.
There is a myriad of schools across the country that have excellent design programs with teaching staff that design and work around the country at various levels of theater. These schools aren't necessarily any worse, or better, than the well known ones. Before jumping into a decision, be sure to start researching some of these schools. Find out who is designing what and where. See where they are teaching, some of the schools may surprise you, and then do some research on the programs those schools may have.
Start visiting NOW if you haven't already. Like I said, choosing a school is also about it and the program
fitting you as a person. You may get on a campus you think you'll love, meet a few of the people that represent the overall feel of the school, and realize you could never stay there. You may find one you love, get there, and find it doesn't actually fit you. That happened to me.
Ultimately, I left the first college I attended. I transferred to Temple University in Philadelphia, where I was closer to my family and could find professional work while still in school. Due to the openness of the liberal arts program there, I was able to take classes I wouldn't have been able to in most BFA programs and I have gained additional knowledge and skills that I feel are helpful to me as a
lighting designer and technician. These classes include: Hip Hop Theater,
Intro to Dance as Art, 3D Design and Adventure Climbing. Also, I was free to schedule myself into a graduate
level lighting design course.
BA versus BFA I won't speak to one or the other being better. For me, though, the BA program at Temple was a better fit than a BFA program would have been. It is an important consideration in which program you choose.