I agreed to be responsible for the cost of an in-state public college. I wasn’t being cheap, I had no idea how I could possibly do more (we wouldn’t have received much need based aid and kids weren’t interested in the private colleges where they could have gotten merit aid). One out of state public gave enough aid that my kid could have gone with what I was willing to pay plus maximum federal loans. I didn’t feel like any of us had a choice that included more expensive schools. All kids went to in-state public schools and do appreciate not having loans.