The oldest graduated from the Naval Academy (free) and Columbia U and sent money home. The next oldest (girl) had a scholarship to The Redlands and sent money home. One went to UC Berkeley (tuition very low at that time) and one to UCLA (same deal) and the others went to Fresno State (low tuition). But, there were still books and room and board to pay for. They all worked.
Still, in the depths of the Depression there was not a lot of money to go around, and a lot of kids never had a chance at college at all. I think that it was remarkable that my grandmother 9a college graduate, herself) had theforesight to provide for her children.
Certainly true for my fam for 160 years to date.