Dealing with buying something (college) where I don't know what the actual cost will be year to year

Agree with the above. Is your FA need based only? If so, the only variability will come from changes in the parents’ and student’s income and assets.

Have you run the school’s net price calculator? Most highly selective school NPCs are accurate for most people so you can run some scenarios using your suppressed income strategy (remember this year will drive FA for your incoming first year’s junior year). NPCs may not be accurate in cases where parents are divorced, own real estate beyond a primary home, and/or own a business.