In my opinion, No, parents are absolutely not under any obligation to pay all or a portion of college education. My family was unable to help and made no preparations for my higher education. Knowing that I was on my own made me value every class so much more….I only missed class twice in college, both times because I was sick. I figured that I was paying for this education, so I didn’t want to miss any of it. I got scholarships, worked a part-time job, and in general, just made it happen. I see too many kids who are treating college like a 4 year, all expense paid vacation. They graduate emotionally and financially immature, and they’re underprepared for the adult world and incapable of being resourceful. For the sake of raising competent, capable adults, I wish more parents either would choose not to pay or to only pay a portion of the college experience (say for the first 2 years, or $20,000/yr. contribution).
Grew up in a large family, one of 7 and knew that I had to make it on my own. I have had a pretty much full time job since I was 16. Bought my first car, making payments to my father. Got married much too early and had a son at 20. Divorced after 6 years. Went to a local tech school for a couple of years in electronics but never put that to use. Working for Celenese Fiber at the time was promoted to supervisor and dropped out of school. Saw an opportunity in Atlanta a few years later and moved there at 26. Started North GA college at night and worked my way up to plant manager and eventally VP Mfg. Retired 4 years ago with a heathy portfolio, no pension but no real worries about income either. Never finished that degree although I checked on it recently and can go back to a Georgia institution for free and I have enough credits for an associates. We all are not meant for college.
My short answer is Nope but let me explain.Our 3 kids went on to college with the knowledge and skill set and study habits to excell that was honed into them mainly by my wife through grades 1-12. You see, we tried to set them up for success by providing them the best elementary, middle and high school public education classes and teachers that we could fight for. Over those 12 impressionable years in each of their lives we made sure each of them was challenged in each and every class. We may have been the only parents who scheduled parent / teacher meetings to discuss grades that needed to be changed from an “A” to a “C”. On this occasion one of my sons 6th grade english lit papers received an “A” for a paper that was barely a “C”. The teaching team as we met were floored when we handed the paper back to the and had red lined all of the writing mistakes, spelling mistakes and poor penmanship. We had demanded tougher grading for him. I can still remember the deer in the headlights look when we demanded his lit paper grade be changed from an “A to a “C”. My wife was on a first name basis with our public school board members which I’m sure they all enjoyed their one on one meetings with her over the years. So, we provided the basic skill set for them to educate themselves through college and thrive. Two of our three kids received sports scholarships to play baseball and soccer to help pay for college. We supplemented the remainder for beer and fun food I’m sure so that they would graduate college debt free. In addition, two of the three received the hope scholarship. Here in Georgia the State lottery pays for academics, and books as long as the student maintains a “B” average through their 4 years. Our tough love approach was, if you lose the hope scholarship because you didn’t study, the additional costs are on you. Both kept the hope through 4 years of achedemia. Today One kid is an attorney, one is a Biomedical Engineer, and one is a RN. It all started at kindergarten. That was our parental obligation started.
Our family subscribes to the idea that college / vocational training costs beyond HS should be considered as a “hand up” – not a hand-out. A parental “safety net”, if you will, but not a hammock to lay in for 4 years while our child attends State U. Things that come free we tend to take for granted and place little emotional importance in during the tough times that are bound to occur during one’s post-HS education journey.
Each of our kids had a contract of sorts with my wife and I. It was reviewed each year during HS. We agreed to a 70/30 plan if they attended a quality state-subsidized public university or community college, with any merit or scholarship money they earned being used to offset their 30% cost obligation. The would work summer jobs during HS and while in college to pay the rest. The same approach was used for private colleges, but it was a 60/40 split. The private school tuition being generally higher would mean that our child would need take on some college loan debt.
My older son went the state school route, while his younger sister went to a private college (indeed – she is graduating this very day). Her private college tuition was greatly reduced by her negotiating some added scholarship money after a stellar first year on campus. She graduates debt free (like her brother at State U) as a result of her hard work and her ability to negotiate. I’m confident that this would not have been the result had we indicated early on that we’d be willing pay her full cost of college. Necessity is the mother of invention!
Admittedly, I’m not sure our approach was the best one – but the early results for both kids seem favorable.
This is an interesting question with many facets. It is not solely a parents’ obligation to pay for their children’s higher education. Parents need to make sure that they are taking care of saving for their retirement first before sacrificing for their children’s college education. I have a friend who is working into his 70s because of that. Higher education is somewhat overrated. First, it could be done in less time than 4 years. Second, easy loans have permitted the schools to jack up their costs ridiculously. Third, many parents give their children carte blanche on what school they want to go to. A 17 or 18 year old is incapable of making a $300,000 decision. They need guidance like they do at every stage of life. I am helping my daughter in law work through her college debt and she is not making enough money on her own to do it. Let that sink in. Unless you’re making investment banker money, you need to educate your child and set boundaries. This is one of the most teachable moments as your child becomes an adult.
And the scary thing that I have not seen anyone mention is that many (way too many in my thinking) chosen fields of employment have raised the bar and are requiring Masters or doctorate level preparation for entry. (Teachers Masters plus 60, doctorate for OT, PT, Audiology, pharmacy……and so on)
Absolutely. I made the decision to bring my kids into the world. At that moment I unknowingly made the decision to aid and abet their success in every way I could, be that a college education, a trade school, or other developmental arena to advance their career plan. That said, my assistance – financial or otherwise – is dependent on their responsibility and willingness to work toward their goal. If their grades suffer or they show clear signs of floundering in school, I seriously reconsider the nature and amount of my support. We would have to have that “serious talk.” The key to making them responsible, contributing citizens is our partnership. This has proven true for both my adult kids, now very successful in their chosen fields of endeavor. I understand life is not always this simple, but the partnership approach has worked in our family for several decades.
I don’t think it’s an obligation. I think parents have to be self-sufficient first. If they are, if children have proved to be a candidate for college, I’d say a 2-year state college is a Worthey cause for parents help in financing.
Parents have an obligation to help their children become self-supporting adults. That may include helping seek a part-time job as a teenager to develop responsibility, encouraging them to assess their aptitudes and preferences honestly so they can decide what career preparation is appropriate, filling out financial aid forms, or helping pay for college. Some well-paid trades are not best learned in college. Parents should try to set aside funds to help their children get started in self-supporting adult life, but college may not be the best path for a child. Parents should not jeopardize their own financial security to fully fund college, because that results in financial stress for their children later.
I would say so. I can’t imagine anyone reading these pages not having the financial wherewithal to do so and in today’s world college is essential for almost everyone.
I disagree on both points. As to the latter, I have found many jobs that are rewarding, pay enough, and “require” a college degree. I was a Paramedic until I retired; very rewarding job. It gave me a pension (non-COLA, dammit) and a great education in healthcare that I use as I get older. Before that, I was a carpenter. No pension, moderate income, but a great education in home-building—which I used to build our home on my off-days as a Paramedic. Then I became an RN. That required nursing school (grrrr) but not a BS. It was more rewarding financially but less so personally. Many self-employed people have no degree. Ask them if they would do it differently.
Will – Totally agree with you. College education is not at all essential to every job. Over the last 40 years, it’s become a filter to hire or not hire. As a country, we have done a poor job of preparing people for the jobs that need to be filled. My plumber is retiring and he says that no one is apprenticing for these jobs. That is happening in many areas like that. Next time, you get a clog, try calling an investment banker to clear it.
No doubt there is a wide range of opinion on this. I’ve heard people say once the kids graduate from high school they are done, kids are on their own.
Based on my experience growing up with never a mention of college and later getting a degree at night after nine years while we raised four children, I do see it as part of the parents responsibility to the extent financially possible which also means not at the expense of their own retirement security.
However, that doesn’t mean a blank check to any school for however long it takes. And I also think parents should be actively involved in the application for aid process which is complicated and probably beyond the skills of most 18 year olds.
Same here, Dick – 9 years of part-time community college / night school – self-funded while raising a family and running a business. My parents had 12 children, so funding education for all of us beyond HS was handled with ad hoc “supplements” from them when one of us would would came up a bit short on cost for books, etc (and they provided free room, board and laundry service if we went to a local college).
Not sure I embraced their approach at the time, but it did make me more resilient and self-determined. Added bonus: the culture of attending night school was different – most of my classmates WANTED to be there and had a mission to get it done. The “cohort effect” of being surrounded by motivated adult learners was a great influence in keeping me moving forward to eventually completing my degree.
In my opinion, No, parents are absolutely not under any obligation to pay all or a portion of college education. My family was unable to help and made no preparations for my higher education. Knowing that I was on my own made me value every class so much more….I only missed class twice in college, both times because I was sick. I figured that I was paying for this education, so I didn’t want to miss any of it. I got scholarships, worked a part-time job, and in general, just made it happen. I see too many kids who are treating college like a 4 year, all expense paid vacation. They graduate emotionally and financially immature, and they’re underprepared for the adult world and incapable of being resourceful. For the sake of raising competent, capable adults, I wish more parents either would choose not to pay or to only pay a portion of the college experience (say for the first 2 years, or $20,000/yr. contribution).
Grew up in a large family, one of 7 and knew that I had to make it on my own. I have had a pretty much full time job since I was 16. Bought my first car, making payments to my father. Got married much too early and had a son at 20. Divorced after 6 years. Went to a local tech school for a couple of years in electronics but never put that to use. Working for Celenese Fiber at the time was promoted to supervisor and dropped out of school. Saw an opportunity in Atlanta a few years later and moved there at 26. Started North GA college at night and worked my way up to plant manager and eventally VP Mfg. Retired 4 years ago with a heathy portfolio, no pension but no real worries about income either. Never finished that degree although I checked on it recently and can go back to a Georgia institution for free and I have enough credits for an associates. We all are not meant for college.
My short answer is Nope but let me explain.Our 3 kids went on to college with the knowledge and skill set and study habits to excell that was honed into them mainly by my wife through grades 1-12. You see, we tried to set them up for success by providing them the best elementary, middle and high school public education classes and teachers that we could fight for. Over those 12 impressionable years in each of their lives we made sure each of them was challenged in each and every class. We may have been the only parents who scheduled parent / teacher meetings to discuss grades that needed to be changed from an “A” to a “C”. On this occasion one of my sons 6th grade english lit papers received an “A” for a paper that was barely a “C”. The teaching team as we met were floored when we handed the paper back to the and had red lined all of the writing mistakes, spelling mistakes and poor penmanship. We had demanded tougher grading for him. I can still remember the deer in the headlights look when we demanded his lit paper grade be changed from an “A to a “C”. My wife was on a first name basis with our public school board members which I’m sure they all enjoyed their one on one meetings with her over the years. So, we provided the basic skill set for them to educate themselves through college and thrive. Two of our three kids received sports scholarships to play baseball and soccer to help pay for college. We supplemented the remainder for beer and fun food I’m sure so that they would graduate college debt free. In addition, two of the three received the hope scholarship. Here in Georgia the State lottery pays for academics, and books as long as the student maintains a “B” average through their 4 years. Our tough love approach was, if you lose the hope scholarship because you didn’t study, the additional costs are on you. Both kept the hope through 4 years of achedemia. Today One kid is an attorney, one is a Biomedical Engineer, and one is a RN. It all started at kindergarten. That was our parental obligation started.
Our family subscribes to the idea that college / vocational training costs beyond HS should be considered as a “hand up” – not a hand-out. A parental “safety net”, if you will, but not a hammock to lay in for 4 years while our child attends State U. Things that come free we tend to take for granted and place little emotional importance in during the tough times that are bound to occur during one’s post-HS education journey.
Each of our kids had a contract of sorts with my wife and I. It was reviewed each year during HS. We agreed to a 70/30 plan if they attended a quality state-subsidized public university or community college, with any merit or scholarship money they earned being used to offset their 30% cost obligation. The would work summer jobs during HS and while in college to pay the rest. The same approach was used for private colleges, but it was a 60/40 split. The private school tuition being generally higher would mean that our child would need take on some college loan debt.
My older son went the state school route, while his younger sister went to a private college (indeed – she is graduating this very day). Her private college tuition was greatly reduced by her negotiating some added scholarship money after a stellar first year on campus. She graduates debt free (like her brother at State U) as a result of her hard work and her ability to negotiate. I’m confident that this would not have been the result had we indicated early on that we’d be willing pay her full cost of college. Necessity is the mother of invention!
Admittedly, I’m not sure our approach was the best one – but the early results for both kids seem favorable.
This is an interesting question with many facets. It is not solely a parents’ obligation to pay for their children’s higher education. Parents need to make sure that they are taking care of saving for their retirement first before sacrificing for their children’s college education. I have a friend who is working into his 70s because of that. Higher education is somewhat overrated. First, it could be done in less time than 4 years. Second, easy loans have permitted the schools to jack up their costs ridiculously. Third, many parents give their children carte blanche on what school they want to go to. A 17 or 18 year old is incapable of making a $300,000 decision. They need guidance like they do at every stage of life. I am helping my daughter in law work through her college debt and she is not making enough money on her own to do it. Let that sink in. Unless you’re making investment banker money, you need to educate your child and set boundaries. This is one of the most teachable moments as your child becomes an adult.
And the scary thing that I have not seen anyone mention is that many (way too many in my thinking) chosen fields of employment have raised the bar and are requiring Masters or doctorate level preparation for entry. (Teachers Masters plus 60, doctorate for OT, PT, Audiology, pharmacy……and so on)
Absolutely. I made the decision to bring my kids into the world. At that moment I unknowingly made the decision to aid and abet their success in every way I could, be that a college education, a trade school, or other developmental arena to advance their career plan.
That said, my assistance – financial or otherwise – is dependent on their responsibility and willingness to work toward their goal. If their grades suffer or they show clear signs of floundering in school, I seriously reconsider the nature and amount of my support. We would have to have that “serious talk.”
The key to making them responsible, contributing citizens is our partnership. This has proven true for both my adult kids, now very successful in their chosen fields of endeavor. I understand life is not always this simple, but the partnership approach has worked in our family for several decades.
I don’t think it’s an obligation. I think parents have to be self-sufficient first. If they are, if children have proved to be a candidate for college, I’d say a 2-year state college is a Worthey cause for parents help in financing.
Parents have an obligation to help their children become self-supporting adults. That may include helping seek a part-time job as a teenager to develop responsibility, encouraging them to assess their aptitudes and preferences honestly so they can decide what career preparation is appropriate, filling out financial aid forms, or helping pay for college. Some well-paid trades are not best learned in college. Parents should try to set aside funds to help their children get started in self-supporting adult life, but college may not be the best path for a child. Parents should not jeopardize their own financial security to fully fund college, because that results in financial stress for their children later.
I would say so. I can’t imagine anyone reading these pages not having the financial wherewithal to do so and in today’s world college is essential for almost everyone.
I disagree on both points. As to the latter, I have found many jobs that are rewarding, pay enough, and “require” a college degree. I was a Paramedic until I retired; very rewarding job. It gave me a pension (non-COLA, dammit) and a great education in healthcare that I use as I get older. Before that, I was a carpenter. No pension, moderate income, but a great education in home-building—which I used to build our home on my off-days as a Paramedic. Then I became an RN. That required nursing school (grrrr) but not a BS. It was more rewarding financially but less so personally.
Many self-employed people have no degree. Ask them if they would do it differently.
Will – Totally agree with you. College education is not at all essential to every job. Over the last 40 years, it’s become a filter to hire or not hire. As a country, we have done a poor job of preparing people for the jobs that need to be filled. My plumber is retiring and he says that no one is apprenticing for these jobs. That is happening in many areas like that. Next time, you get a clog, try calling an investment banker to clear it.
No doubt there is a wide range of opinion on this. I’ve heard people say once the kids graduate from high school they are done, kids are on their own.
Based on my experience growing up with never a mention of college and later getting a degree at night after nine years while we raised four children, I do see it as part of the parents responsibility to the extent financially possible which also means not at the expense of their own retirement security.
However, that doesn’t mean a blank check to any school for however long it takes. And I also think parents should be actively involved in the application for aid process which is complicated and probably beyond the skills of most 18 year olds.
Same here, Dick – 9 years of part-time community college / night school – self-funded while raising a family and running a business. My parents had 12 children, so funding education for all of us beyond HS was handled with ad hoc “supplements” from them when one of us would would came up a bit short on cost for books, etc (and they provided free room, board and laundry service if we went to a local college).
Not sure I embraced their approach at the time, but it did make me more resilient and self-determined. Added bonus: the culture of attending night school was different – most of my classmates WANTED to be there and had a mission to get it done. The “cohort effect” of being surrounded by motivated adult learners was a great influence in keeping me moving forward to eventually completing my degree.