I’ll be honest - that’s scary when people say that. May be true but it scares me. Maybe show them Cornell will be $400k and ask if ok. Of course they meet need.
U Mich will be high $30s per year for tuition, room and board. Not books etc. The last two years is higher and I may be wrong, but I believe engineering gets a surcharge but not much.
Many parents say what you say and kids find out later they can’t afford or would have to take crazy loans. Given the major, outcomes likely won’t be different, mostly determined by location placed. So loans should be an absolute no no I hope they can afford anything but many don’t realize what college costs. Or make financial statements with no ability to fulfill them
Here’s a sample, for civil:
Rose Hulman - $74.5k
UMICH - $73.8
UConn - $72.8k - Rio far - just a data point
OSU - $72.7k
UMN - $69.9.
I’d suggest you all formalize a max number, one that won’t strain the family. If it is $400k, then congrats.
Good luck