This article from the Wall Street Journal points out that AU does not cap the consideration of home equity when making financial aid decisions–the more home equity you have, the more you are expected to contribute to cover AU’s cost of attendance. According to the article, George Washington University, for example, doesn’t count home equity at all. Other schools, like Bucknell, consider it, but limit its impact.
https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/how-home-equity-affects-college-aid/