The school I'm at costs ~ $55k per year in the end, and the grants I get bring it down to about $30ish, and my parents make not much more than $100k (by working a full time and a part time job each)
The public schools I applied to that weren't rolling-admission 5th year of highschool types ended up costing the same in the end, because they didn't give need-based aid, and their merit scholarships were not large for people who don't play sports.
Need based aid isn't really targeted towards people who's parents who make more than 100k (more than the national average).
Merit scholarships are easy to achieve, given that you are exceptional. But if you are middle class and not especially proficient, I do agree that you have one of the hardest college experiences in america.
The public schools I applied to that weren't rolling-admission 5th year of highschool types ended up costing the same in the end, because they didn't give need-based aid, and their merit scholarships were not large for people who don't play sports.