The problem with this analysis is that most of this financial aid is based off of FAFSA. If you happen to fall into a common circumstance, it probably works for you, but there are many exceptions where FAFSA doesn't work out.
How does one define "rich." Sure, if your parents own a jet airplane, you are probably rich, but there is much room between having a banker father and a janitor father.
In my opinion, FAFSA doesn't adequately take into account household debt or siblings' tuition costs.
This sounds more like sour grapes and less like analysis. The article doesn't even mention the FAFSA, but it does say that at UCB, "as tuitions have risen this past year, those from the poorest families saw their financial aid packages rise almost dollar for dollar". Do you have any data on how the FAFSA actually accounts for household debt or sibling tuition costs?
But as institutions of higher education move to better price discrimination, they usually also move to the more data-rich and nuanced financial aid form administered by CSS PROFILE. Household debt and siblings' tuition costs can be taken into account by that model.
How does one define "rich." Sure, if your parents own a jet airplane, you are probably rich, but there is much room between having a banker father and a janitor father.
In my opinion, FAFSA doesn't adequately take into account household debt or siblings' tuition costs.