The "average financial aid package" is a meaningless marketing statistic for two big reasons: First, a small number of students receive a large amount of aide and that drives the averages up. Second, the financial aid package includes student loans such as subsidized Stafford loans, unsubsidized Stafford loans, and Federal Plus loans.
Georgia, I believe, gives full ride scholarships for any of their residents who pull a B+ or better average in High School.
North Carolina and Florida give greatly discounted tuition packages to their top 20% of high school performers. Freepers from that area of the country can clue us in on the specifics, but I've had relatives in all of those states who tell me that "average financial aid packages" are actually close to what better performing students actually get.
College education would be more meaningful if only the top quarter or so of high school graduates attended. I'd say conservatively, that at least 80% of entry level jobs which require college degrees only do so because it is an easy way to winnow the pool of applicants.
At least 75% of graduating high school seniors would be better served by two year degrees, vocational schools, apprentice training and the like.
It is a damn shame that so many prime working years are wasted in classrooms. But that would mean severely fewer job openings for leftist academics and ******* studies majors.