OP, I think your original question is totally understandable. I, too, was skeptical about the scholarship offer because it did all sound “too good to be true.” It wasn’t. Too tired to go into all the details, but I will refer you to our son’s experience in choosing UA, which I wrote about at length here once the decision was made:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/17182029/#Comment_17182029
Also, if you have the time, do watch the video referred to up-thread. (I’ve linked directly to the video below.) And keep in mind that UA Chancellor Dr. Witt was educated at Bates College, Dartmouth, and Penn State. So, in addition to being a brilliant administrator, I believe he has some legitimate bona fides that will impress a lot of out-of-state families, particularly those in the Northeast, who may be considering UA for their children:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrV8g7kxJps
http://uasystem.ua.edu/profile/office-of-the-chancellor/
My son has only completed a year at UA, but he has had a very good experience so far, which includes a great co-op opportunity I’m not sure any of his other college choices could have matched so early in his education. With the money we saved on one year of education, we also could afford to buy him a very car to get him to his co-op. 