St Andrews University said it would, however, offer "a wide-ranging package of new bursaries, scholarships and financial aid".

BBC: St Andrews University to charge ?36,000 maximum fees

With scholarships and financial aid, 40% of Strive students attend four-year colleges without having to come out of pocket for their tuition -- compared with 32% of low-income college students nationwide.

CNN: Pairing up to take the pain out of college search

The process takes the students through each step: selecting their target schools, filling out applications, writing essays, obtaining letters of recommendation, targeting scholarships and financial aid, reporting test scores and completing entrance exams.

CNN: Pairing up to take the pain out of college search

Operating under legitimate-sounding names like National Scholarship Foundation, College Financial Aid Services of America and Student Assistance Services--all of which have been shut down by the FTC--they guarantee college scholarships and increased financial aid.

FORBES: Seven Ways To Beat College Scholarship Scams

That doesn't take into account any financial aid, scholarships and grants that may be available to students, but it does put those schools out of reach for many families.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Meeting the ever-increasing cost of a four-year degree requires a mix of parental contributions, savings and financial aid, including scholarships and loans.

FORBES: Shopping For Financial Aid

One, their budget that they both support would slash funding by 20 percent, cutting 1 million students from getting scholarships, and cutting for 10 million students financial aid.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

The school's financial counselors have shifted to a case-by-case approach to financial aid and to increasing the amount of merit-based scholarships available, she says.

WSJ: Part-Time M.B.A. Programs Lend Students a Hand in Hard Times

Secondly, financial aid options to pay for this cost with a clear distinction between grants and scholarships, which obviously do not have to be repaid, and loans, which do.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing