@SteelJustice the 197k AGI reflects your parental income AFTER relevant business expenses have been subtracted. So I’m not sure what expenses are chipping away at that amount aside from the personal expenses other folks have. It’s also possible that some of the expenses your dad deducted on his business return were added back in by the FA office. In any case, unless you’re getting a different amount from the NPC than what is in your FA offer, you don’t have much basis for an appeal. I’d get apps in to an in state and Alabama, as suggested above.
I suppose a loan might make sense if it’s something like the Princeton parent loans which have pretty good terms, but that’s a decision for you and your parents. Honestly, 36k a year is plenty of money for someone to get a great education.