I based the “only room and board” remark on the following sentences in the OPs statement , blossom.
" My family isn’t poor by any means, but I already have an older sister in college and a younger one that will follow behind me. While my parents could most likely pay to send me to our state schools (Virginia Tech or UVA)"
to me that does not sound like paying 15-20 K would be a real hardship.
I agree he should run the NPC’s at VT and UVA to see what his family WOULD have to come up with.