<p>here are hundreds of thousands of students every year who attend fairly expensive universities. I’d like to think that there is a good portion of them that manages to find a way to pay for school (Because there is no way that all of those students get all of their tuition/other expenses paid for through merit-based/need-based scholarships).</p>
<p>Most of the time, college costs are paid for by the family and the student. </p>
<p>You seem to be under the misapprehension that these students are going to college on funds from elsewhere. </p>
<p>Schools and the FA system believe that the primary responsibility to pay for college resides with the student and family…so that is what paying for most kids that you’re talking about.</p>
<p>The truth is that most of the people attending pricey schools are paying for most/all of it with family funds. </p>
<p>There are a handful of lowish income kids with super stats that get into the top schools that give super aid. But, they’re the exceptions, not the rule.</p>
<p>You’re not thinking about the **millions of kids who have to commute to their local CC or state school **because that’s all that they can afford. THOSE kids are the majority of kids. Those who go to **“sleep away” schools are the exceptions because that is a LUXURY. **</p>
<p>Look at it this way…there are millions of kids out there driving around in some pretty nice cars. Who do you think paid for those cars? The parents and the student. ** There isn’t a car fairy out there. There isn’t a tuition fairy out there.**</p>
<p>I would add that unless you’re at some kind of bible school, most colleges are gay-friendly. You may find that your own state school is as well.</p>