It is a public college, which means that its primary mission is helping in-state students. There is pretty decent aide for MA students. But exactly why should the residents of MA subsidize students from Maine? Why should the college dip into its endowment for OOS students, unless they are so good that the college desperately wants them to attend?
The student got $10,000 from the college. That’s most of tuition+fees for a MA resident. Why should this student get more than a resident of MA would get?
The college charges $13,700 per student for in-state students. That doesn’t cover the cost of teaching. However, they get appropriations from the state to pay for these students. Again, why should the parents expect the state of Massachusetts to pay for their kids?
The parents are being disingenuous, and even a bit entitled, if they claim that they believed that a public college of a another state would or even should meet their full need.