There's a reason that most of the services (food, gym, dorms, etc) at universities are run by students. There are also opportunities to help out with ongoing research and other things with professors if you look in the right places.
While it seems that US colleges definitely screw us over with ridiculous tuitions/expenses, they do try to do what they can to make a part time job possible. Not enough to pay tuition, but it's at least some spending money on the side.
Also, a lot of students, myself included, work in restaurants on nights/weekends and while I don't make nearly enough for tuition, I know several people who pay rent, bills, and tuition (at least student loans) all while pursuing engineering, nursing, and other degrees. It definitely takes longer, but it makes it possible. If it's a state university gaining residency is a huge help too if you aren't already a resident. Having a job on your resume all through college looks great too.
All in all--there are lots of ways to make money while in college. Restaurants are great because if you're in the right one you can make upwards of $200 per night straight cash, plus minimum wage for the time you're there. Learn how to sell bottles of wine like it's nobody's business and making bank; plus you're double majoring in marketing and whatever you're studying :). True, it's a ton of work, but it's totally possible.
On the note of CC vs. Universities, there's a reason universities are so much more expensive. It's almost like the difference between fast food and fine dining: you can get a burger for $2 or $15, but the $2 burger has been frozen for a week plus and looks like cardboard, whereas the $15 burger was bought locally from a trusted farmer, was treated humanely on a nice farm, and comes with fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, etc all from local farmers.
Sure they're both burgers, but the levels of quality are incomparable and you won't feel like shit after you eat the expensive one and you'll be able to know exactly where what you're eating came from and be confident in what you're told.
Sure it's the same degree, but the more expensive one is a whole lot higher quality, and to the people that matter, that matters.
