My mother is glad for the grants that gave her the opportunity to go to college back in the 70's when she would have not have been able to without. She had parents who resented her for wanting to better herself with a college education. She even had to borrow the $15 for the college application because her mother refused to give it to her. Why on earth didn't she want to work for Ford Motor Company like the rest of the family (or else marry someone who did and stay at home)?
There are plenty of kids who have parents who for whatever reason DON'T teach their kids to be self-sufficient in the way you suggest, and they are likely to have kids who need the assistance the most. Why should they suffer because their parents are pieces of $h!t that want to perpetuate the cycle of poverty?
Unless they're completely paying as they go, I don't think anyone but the privileged come out of college completely debt-free. Based on my parents' income, I didn't qualify for any sort of assistance whatsoever. I was lucky enough to have parents that pushed the agenda of going to college (and going back to college when a medical situation made me drop out). They paid the majority of my way but required me to have a financial stake in my education by getting a small loan. I know I was lucky.
However, by requiring someone without parents like mine to assume the entire cost of a college education either because their parents aren't able or because they just don't care/value college. . . it is possible to get a 4 year degree in 4 years, although it's quite difficult to do so if you're working enough to support yourself and pay for your education, thus delaying the time until this person is able to enter the career that degree allows them to get and becoming a contributing member of society . . . . WHICH IS THE ENTIRE GOAL!