My parents told me growing up that I'd have to pay for it myself, but by the time I was graduating from high school they decided college was too expensive for s

My parents told me growing up that I'd have to pay for it myself, but by the time I was graduating from high school they decided college was too expensive for someone to pay their way through on their own. So they helped out. So given the above experience, I think it'd be good to do some math and see if there isn't a middle ground. I think there's a lot to be said for students contributing something to their own education, but I don't think that means it's realistic for them to pay for all of it. (Assuming college makes sense for someone to begin with.)