<p>They base your ability to pay on your parents savings and income, and your savings and income. If you and your parents truly have nothing, it is possible to get a package that pays for everything. However part of the package would be loans and work-study. </p>
<p>There is no guarantee that colleges will give you a package that completely fulfills your need. Different colleges can also offer packages that have different ratios of grants to loans. In general, I think the system works pretty well for the poor. The problems seem to relate more to families that have money but not alot of money.</p>