My problem isn't even the family income decision, it's that the universities don't care how many children there are in a given family either.

My parents could've paid for my college education with some sacrifice (I paid for it, but they could have done so financially) if it were just me going to college. But I have two younger sisters, and there's no way they could cover all three of us.

The way the FAFSA program works is even worse. If a parent remarries, the step-parent’s income is also taken into account.

Additionally, any parent can simply refuse to hand over tax returns and the child is left having to pay 100 percent of the costs.

When a large portion of students get their tuition money from their family, then family background can't be irrelevant, because it's relevant by definition.

That system would be ripe for abuse. Just tell schools that your parents have disowned you and you need a full ride.

I wonder if people still get caught in the middle with that - their parents could not have disowned them and could still be in a relationship with them, they just don't think that college is worthwhile or something so they don't want to contribute. But then as you say, what stops all parents pretending they don't think college is worthwhile. Which is why it could be better to not look at the parents income at all.