This paragraph in the original post makes zero sense:

"I've got a son that attends BYU and he's been totally on his own for the past 3, almost 4 years. He hasn't lived at home and we don't provide any financial aid other than letting him use one of our cars and pay the insurance. He paid his way to school through working, scholarships and financial aid. I haven't claimed him as a dependent on my personal tax return for the past 4 years. He is the epitomy of the poor struggling college student."

So he has 50k that he can use for college along with a car and insurance?  Is he just choosing to pocket that 50k and not dig into it at all?