<p>People with incomes like OP’s family do get squeezed. The very needy, with family incomes under 40K or so, will likely end up with an EFC near zero, and some great financial aid packages. Those in the 60K to 90K range will generally still get some financial aid, depending on their reportable assets. And the very well off, making over 200K or so, usually have the means to pay full college costs for their kids. But the people stuck in between-- making 100K to 200K or so before taxes, do get pinched because they won’t get need-based aid, but often don’t have the resources to pay the full cost of college.</p>