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Without need or merit breaks, the in-state tuition at UIUC really is the tuition.

Those breaks are massive. The average UIUC student pays 13,500 per year and receives 15,000 in "aid". That is less than half the sticker price.

https://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/illinois/university-o...

Edit, you're right, this includes loans, but grants make up the majority of that figure. It's not entirely clear to me how each number is weighted:

"Grant and scholarship aid does not need to be paid back. 36% of students received Federal Student Loans averaging $4,863 and 9% of undergrads took out private student loans averaging $6,819."

Hold on: 60% of students get aid, and that "aid", scarequotes yours, includes things like Pell grants. Pell grants aren't an accounting scheme! That's real money.

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