^^no question, loans should be minimized, but to me, your concern is still unfounded. 1) The kid hasn’t been accepted yet. 2) you have no way of knowing how much money they will offer, if any. What if they offer a full ride? Will your ‘concerns’ then dissipate?
My point is that we as parents have a right and duty to set a budget for college affordability. Just let your kid know that you cannot afford sticker, and taking out private loans is not an option; there is nothing to ‘consider’. Then see how it plays out in March.