most student can get a loan

but only qualified student can get "student loan" (interest free during school years). student loan is part of financial aid package.

if they have an investment property fully paid, their child probably will not qualify for FA.

a non-FA loan bear much higher interest. some time the parent will do cash-out refi on their primary house to get lower interest rate money to pay for kid's education instead of getting a non-FA loan.