I am doing a topsy turvy 3 tiered Alice in Wonderland cake for a final project in my Advanced baking class.  I need a source of affordable fondant. 2 of the layers will be dummies so the taste doesn't matter but it still needs to be easy to work with and of course look nice. one of the tiers will be edible so the taste will matter.  I need to find a source that a broke middle age college student can afford. Help!!!

You could make marshmallow fondant. It's cheap and easy.

Agree with srichmond, marshmallow fondant is inexpensive and easy to make and it tastes better than any commercial brand.  It is easy to work with as well.  Here is the recipe I use all the time.

https://sugargeekshow.com/recipe/fondant-recipe/