Those breaks are massive. The average UIUC student pays 13,500 per year and receives 15,000 in "aid". That is less than half the sticker price. https://www.col

Those breaks are massive. The average UIUC student pays 13,500 per year and receives 15,000 in "aid". That is less than half the sticker price. https://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/illinois/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign/price/ https://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/illinois/university-o... Edit, you're right, this includes loans, but grants make up the majority of that figure. It's not entirely clear to me how each number is weighted: "Grant and scholarship aid does not need to be paid back. 36% of students received Federal Student Loans averaging $4,863 and 9% of undergrads took out private student loans averaging $6,819."