My son didn't have extra money. He and his wife gave up a lot, and the money they set aside was $5 here or $10 there. And, the kids all worked for extra money. My neighbor kid has the cash to buy his first car. He is only 14 years old, but is looking ahead. I imagine he will get to college the same way. They used to be dirt poor, but slowly worked their way out of it, sometimes working several jobs.
My sons just turned 21. They have had odd jobs for years. This year, each deposited $2,000 in a Roth IRA for their retirement - and they are full-time college students.
Any time government subsidizes what can and should be done by a free market (free as in unshackled), the system becomes distorted and bloated. What astonishes me is how willing people can take on huge debt because they "can't afford" it. What is life's penalty for having a $50,000 or $100,000 student loan debt?
Let the higher learning institutions compete for students and watch what happens to tuition. Remove the smothering regulations from employers and watch what part-time jobs emerge for college students. Let the free markets expand to create opportunity for the graduate. And de-bloat the government machine. at every turn, every opportunity.
