Sure, but UIUC total sticker price is $32K-ish. And approximately 36% of students pay that full cost if only 64% receive any financial aid based on: https://nc

Sure, but UIUC total sticker price is $32K-ish. And approximately 36% of students pay that full cost if only 64% receive any financial aid based on: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/q=illinois&s=all&pg=2&id=145637#expenses https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/q=illinois&s=all&pg=2&i... Something I have found interesting (as the first of my two kids rolls over into the college age group next year) is that most "brand name", well-known private schools clearly expect our family to pay the full $80K+ total sticker price. While I share the same feelings of not being particularly wealthy as OP, it is clear that some colleges disagree with my personal wealth assessment . . .