What college costs after aid

• No loans! Major colleges pledge aid without debt

For the most part, public schools such as the University of California system don't offer need-based financial aid to families with income above $80,000.

That said, alternatives such as loans and scholarships are often available to families in higher income brackets. What's more, the sticker prices for most public schools are actually less than what many students receiving financial aid pay to attend private schools.

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