I knew my parents didn’t have money to give us for college. They were typical working lower middle class. Certainly didn’t live beyond their needs. I had two older brothers who were still in college when I started. We must have fallen in some gap where we didn’t qualify. Never could figure that out.
My oldest brother moved out when he was 18 and qualified for aid after 2 years being independent. That’s when I got the idea to do the same (even though I didn’t move out). FWIW, my parents had no idea that I did that. I’m sure they would have given me hell.