@retiredfarmer – I was basing my prices on those estimated through the website College Navigator. I was assuming that this person wasn’t making that much money as OP is young and starting out. That puts this person in the lower rungs of income.
It’s a valid point that a school gives funding for a research project. While $5K is larger than most, it’s not unique. And I’m not sure that it counters the higher average net price after FA.