College expense ~ $70K/yr

Real number -- on going now!  How much I pay every year

Tuition + fee ~ $50K

Travel + book+ food+ rent ~ 20K/yr

The kid is on the frugal side coming from a middle-class family.

So be prepared, calculate how many house you need to get the net of $70K/yr per child

Most of us in TT can't get financial aid.  National Merit Finalist only get you $2.5K.  LVY league schools do not offer merit base schorlarship.  Children can go to less competitive schools if you trully try to get free tuition.  But ......