<p>Just out of curiosity, what do you consider to be "middle income"?</p>
<p>~$100k+...in overpriced CA at least.</p>
<p>Financial aid doesn't account for overpriced/underpriced areas.
Unless you have a second sibling in college, $100k+ will get you no need-based financial aid.</p>
<p>My parents make over 100k and i get around half financial aid from penn, just to clarify. I am the only child (of 4) in college right now.</p>
<p>Same here. $100 is well within range of need-based financial aid even if you do not have siblings. Penn has improved their FA generosity greatly and now claims to be the 4th best in the Ivy league at giving FA, after HYP.</p>
<p>Aurelius, $100K is verly little, After taxes and other necessities (rent, mortgage, food, transportation), a family that earns $100 K will be left with $30,000. I am not surprised that families with $100K imcomes get some aid. But families with $150K probably won't get much in way of aid, and that the case with the OP. Let us fact is, UCSD will cosot $0. Penn will cost $200,000. Take that $200,000, invest in a moderately aggressive basket for 30 years, and that $200,000 will be worth close to $2 million, present worth. It makes very little sense.</p>