The FAFSA forms typically use income and not assets and savings to figure out how much a family can contribute, although quite a number of private schools also ask for additional information through the CSS Profile that also looks at assets including savings.

I think you're mistaken. If you have assets, they figure you can use them to put your kid through college.

At least when my son was applying for aid, they sure used my assets against me and him and now he has college debt.