Do you think parents should pay for their kid's college education?

Question

Should parents:
1. Pay the whole thing
2. Make the kids pay half
3. pay some
4. Not pay for anything

We have 3 kids in college. We pay for their undergrad degree 100% (We pay for ALL their expenses during college but not their fun money - they must get a job for that)
Our oldest is now in grad school and he pays for that himself.
**We have 1 more to put through in a couple years!

Answer 1

I think that if a parent has the means to pay for either all or some of their child's education that there is nothing wrong with it. My parents did the same for me and my sister.
The way my parents looked at it was that they didn't want us to start off life in debt.
If a parent can't do that for their child there is no shame in it either. In today's world it is more than likely that they won't.
Helping your child in what ever way possible is the best way to parent.

Answer 2

Every situation is different - not everybody has the means to do so. I feel that if the child is attending college just to please the parents then the parents should pay.
My parents could not pay for college. I got finacial aid and had to borrow. It took a while to pay it back but I did it. Now we have two children. Our daughter was adopted from state custody and they will cover all tuition to any state or community college in our state. We have a 529 plan for our son which we hope will cover his tuition. We will do what we can but it would not hurt him to borrow some and learn early what the real world is like.
Did you know that they found that college students who have to pay their own way usually do better in school than the students whose parents pay for it? They want to make the most of what they are paying for.

Answer 3

I think that this is a personal decision for those involved. If the student is a responsible person, then okay, I would help them. If necessary, I would foot the entire bill. However, if there are grants and loans that can soften the blow to me, I would be a fool not to seek this avenue. Still, my suggestion to the student would be a part time job in or near the school. This teaches responsibility. Sometimes I feel that people who are given a part or all of something that they need, just don't understand how to appreciate it. If they have to put some effort into it, then they readily see how tough it was for mom and pop or even other relatives who put themselves on the line. You are on the right track. Remember this, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31. You are terrific parents. Peace and God Bless.

Answer 4

If you can afford it at least help. My mom could afford to pay off both mine and my sister's student loans but instead she just buys crap- and I mean crap- she is a dollar store shopper. making sure her house is so full of junk that she can't even sit is more important then helping her daughters out when she is more then capable of it. She wouldn't even continue just paying what she did when she sent me to a private Christan school (her choice I wanted to go to public schools). As you can probably tell just from reading this- I am not too happy with her about it.

I think it is GREAT that you have put your kids through college, I hope I can do the same some day. If not all at least half.

Answer 5

I have VERY strong feelings on this subject. My boyfriend and I both went different community colleges. We lived together as well so we also had household expenses. Both my boyfriend and I had to have three jobs to put OURSELVES through school WHILE we were attending school full time (this was only 3 years ago). I believe 100% that children are not learning how to cope with the world because they have their mommy and daddies pay for EVERYTHING for them. When they get out of college will you continue to support them? Will you pay their mortgages and car payments for them for the rest of your life? I should hope not.

Thus, I believe that as they enter college you have the perfect opportunity to help push them into adulthood. If you personally do not believe that they should pay for the whole thing (again, I am bias because I we got 3 jobs each to do so, so it CAN be done) then that is your decision. But YES they should at very minimum pay for part of it. Maybe they pay for their tuition and you pay for their books. That way you are contributing but you are forcing them to pay the majority.

Also, depending on your relationship with them and how manipulative they are, they could come back to you with "Well I can't go to school this semester if you don't pay for it" your answer should be "Then you'll take a semester off and save up money for next semester" They may also ask, "Well, why did you pay for Janie's but you won't pay for mine" Let me remind you that once your children are no longer minors you have absolutely no obligation to them.

You need to remember that you are at the point where you are shaping the adult that they will become. Ask youself what you would do if there was something you wanted. What would you do or have to do to get it. I am sure you wouldn't expect someone to hand it to you. Then go with that.

Answer 6

the school my husband and that i went to presently expenses $40 5,000 a 12 months. My little ones at the instant are not likely to be waiting to have adequate money that, for sure. i can't think of of any little ones who ought to. Neither ought to my father and mom, of path ... they paid what they might, I have been given some gives you, I worked a activity with the aid of college, and that i became into left with stunning student loans. Had it no longer been for his or her help, nevertheless, i could no longer have accomplished it in any respect. colleges evaluate the father and mom components whilst determining how lots help to grant, so it relatively is no longer as though the youngster can purely say they desire loans or gives you to make up the adaptation if the father and mom do no longer chip in. of path i'd help my little ones a similar way.

Answer 7

It depends on the funds available to the parents. I think that when possible you should pay for as much as you can. The good thing about it is that you did not put one kid through college and not the other and that you make them get jobs so that they can support their own fun. That also teaches responsibility, I think that you have a really good balance going. Would you like to adopt. :)

Answer 8

I think that if they can afford it the parents should pay the whole tuition but should still make their kids get jobs during high school to teach them responsibility and the value of money. My parents paid for my tuition and rent but I had to pay for books, food and other expenses, including fun.

Answer 9

I think parents should pay it all. It gives the kids more freedom to concentrate on their studies and once they graduate they do not have a huge bill hanging over their head. I had to bust my tail to get scholarships to pay for most of my schooling and what that didn't cover I had to earn on my own. It was hard a lot of times. I want better than that for my children.

Answer 10

I think it is nice to help, but it is a good learning experience for the kids to pay for at least some. I just got a 2 year degree, my parents gave me $500 a semester as long as I kept my GPA above 3.5. They also paid for my books. I was very appreciative.