I read a book once, and it said the dumbest thing a parent can do is take out a second mortgage to pay for college, saying there was a zero percent return. Also in light that most (75%) college students drop out after 2 years, and somehow this "spring break" thing is a part of college cost, is it an obligation parents should except?
I asked this because it seems that it is always in the news about parents not being able to afford to pay for college for their kids
I'm 24, recently graduated from college; I don't think parents have an obligation to pay for their children's college. I do think they have an obligation to train them to survive in this world. If they aren't planning on paying for college, they should be upfront with that and encourage their children to achieve their goals by helping them fill out papers for financial aid, coming up with viable options for their child's future. In other words just because they aren't paying doesn't mean they should abandon their kids. On the other hand, if I decided to pay for my child's education there would be stimulations. I wouldn't pay for failed classes, books, and there would be an expectation of graduation…Maybe parents should say it's an interest free loan that you have to pay back and then on graduation say the loan has been paid. 
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Do parents have an obligation to pay for their childrens college education?
Posted at November 12th, 2008 by admin
Not at all. It is good to do what you can, but each family has its own dynamic. If one has a slug for a child, then, no I would not pay for that child's college. However, if one has a hardworking, self-disciplined child then, yes, I would pay.
If the parent cannot pay, there is financial aid and grants.
No, Spring Break is not part of what is expected for parents to pay.
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My parents paid for tuition and books. I worked to pay my own room and board. My husband's parents were farmers and had no money for his college. He joined ROTC and the government paid for his tuition and books. He got finacial aid and worked to pay for his room and board.
No, parents shouldn't be obligated to pay for an education. While it's nice to have someone pay for you, and an education is needed, the child is 18, an adult, and part of being an adult means taking on bills.
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Parents should do that for thier kids but thier not obligated to
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No.
Many parents cannot afford it (like mine). The kids can eventually pay for it themselves via jobs, grants, and loans. I did.
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I'm 24, recently graduated from college; I don't think parents have an obligation to pay for their children's college. I do think they have an obligation to train them to survive in this world. If they aren't planning on paying for college, they should be upfront with that and encourage their children to achieve their goals by helping them fill out papers for financial aid, coming up with viable options for their child's future. In other words just because they aren't paying doesn't mean they should abandon their kids. On the other hand, if I decided to pay for my child's education there would be stimulations. I wouldn't pay for failed classes, books, and there would be an expectation of graduation…Maybe parents should say it's an interest free loan that you have to pay back and then on graduation say the loan has been paid.
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