FAFSA. That's one of the calculations that goes into Expected Family Contribution. There is an expectation that parent's contribute some % of income (20%?), 5% of assets, and that the student basically contributes 90% of any income or assets to their name before a single dollar of aid, usually federal loans, will be offered.

For all of you younger folks just starting your families, expect to pay full price for college if you are anywhere near the top 25% of earners (most of this site presumably). Any scholarship money is a bonus but aid probably isn't going to be forthcoming.

The subtext of this MIT announcement is that any family making more than $200,000 will be paying full price to subsidize the poorer students.