Why do american parents pay for their children's (18+) college/university?

Why did you go to college in the US?

Because we have the best system, correct? Maybe these things are related.

Must be nice to be one of those American students whose parents can afford to do that. Some of us aren't well off, you know?

Because we try to set our children up for a promising future as much as possible. In my opinion, that includes covering the cost of both college and post-graduate/professional degrees. A college degree is essentially worthless these days. I do not want my children to have to pay interest on a student loan, ever.

The Pits wrote:

I don't get it...

By the time 'children' are at university they are grown up and should be acting like it. Where I am from (not US), ...

There are many reasons why the US is superior to your country. A better educated populace is one of them.

We try to do what's best for our kids. My son wants to go to med school, and he has the brains, drive, and passion to do so. It wouldn't benefit anyone for him to spend 20 hours per week waiting tables to pay tuition when he could be spending that time studying, volunteering, doing research, etc.

I don't think that a parent has a duty to pay for their kids' schooling by any means, but I do because I can. If my son is willing to volunteer at a hospital every week, work in a research lab for no pay, and spend his breaks doing charity work, all while maintaining a near perfect GPA, I'm okay with paying for school.

The Pits wrote:

I don't get it...

By the time 'children' are at university they are grown up and should be acting like it. Where I am from (not US), those that attend university fund it for themselves, including working a job, taking a loan or saving in advance, either way it teaches them the importance of money and commitment. I studied in the states and was amazed at how many kids pissed around and/or pulled out of tertiary education simply because they had no investment in it - it was all paid for by the bank of mum and dad.

The parents don't pay for rent and food for you as adults (18+) do they, so why university?

I guess because they don't live in an indulgent, cradle-to-the-grave welfare state, where their education would be funded by taxes on other people's parent.

But seriously, most don't. Most take out a loan or have the GI Bill or are on the scholly.

The Pits wrote:

I don't get it...

By the time 'children' are at university they are grown up and should be acting like it. Where I am from (not US), those that attend university fund it for themselves, including working a job, taking a loan or saving in advance, either way it teaches them the importance of money and commitment. I studied in the states and was amazed at how many kids pissed around and/or pulled out of tertiary education simply because they had no investment in it - it was all paid for by the bank of mum and dad.

The parents don't pay for rent and food for you as adults (18+) do they, so why university?

College is obscenely expensive in the US. If you could pay from it from a job (even a full time job, let alone a part time job which is all someone attending college full time has time to do), you wouldn't need it. Waiting tables, retail jobs, etc, which is all most people of that age can get, don't make a dent in the cost of college even if you pour every dime you make into it. And if you're being hung out to dry like that, you'll need to pay for rent and food first anyway. "Saving in advance" is a sick joke for the same reasons. That leaves taking massive loans which can't be discharged in bankruptcy. Lovely.

Because they are a bunch of pampered kids. I never went to college cos my family couldnt afford it.

Smarter than you are wrote:

The Pits wrote:

I don't get it...

By the time 'children' are at university they are grown up and should be acting like it. Where I am from (not US), ...

There are many reasons why the US is superior to your country. A better educated populace is one of them.

20% of the American population can´t point out their own country on a world map. "Better educated" my ass...

The Pits, how is it that you suppose students who've just been in junior high and then high school are supposed to be able to afford expensive colleges on their own? Any thoughts? No, I didn't think so.

A better question is, why is the cost of college so exorbitant that students can't possibly hope to pay for it themselves, as many once did? The answer is that the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT enables colleges to raise tuitions to an almost unlimited degree by guaranteeing student loans. If the government didn't make it possible for students to borrow money they don't have the creditworthiness to repay, colleges would be forced to keep costs down and offer education packages that students and their families can actually afford, which would eliminate the need for loans in the first place.

Support affordable college by opposing government-guaranteed student loans.

Salient Point wrote:

The Pits, how is it that you suppose students who've just been in junior high and then high school are supposed to be able to afford expensive colleges on their own? Any thoughts? No, I didn't think so.

Idiot. OP cited loans for one thing. I agree and think if the family can afford it then they should loan it to the student and have them pay it back that way they will be more likely to learn about saving and money etc. Clearly you didnt go to college and learn reading comprehension

rhys c wrote:

Salient Point wrote:

The Pits, how is it that you suppose students who've just been in junior high and then high school are supposed to be able to afford expensive colleges on their own? Any thoughts? No, I didn't think so.

Idiot. OP cited loans for one thing. I agree and think if the family can afford it then they should loan it to the student and have them pay it back that way they will be more likely to learn about saving and money etc. Clearly you didnt go to college and learn reading comprehension

yeah, let's start our kids out at 22 owing $100k in school loans before they even begin their 1st job - assuming they can find a decent job. Then they'll have to borrow $$ for a car, borrow $$ for a house, get a fat subsidy from the govt for their health ins &.....learn how to borrow lots of $$ & pay lots of interest, while living off the govt & mortgaging their future. Great idea...idiot

In the USA you are now considered a "kid" and treated like an adolescent until the age of 25.

I 100% agree with the OP. My parents aren't paying for my college and I do not receive any need based aid. It is a very manageable situation. 1. Go to state school. The exclusive private schools are a waste of money.2. Utilize academic scholarships. I am on a 1/3 scholarship and if I hadn't slacked off my 1st two years of high school I would be getting even more. If a person isn't getting a scholarships to a 4 year institution the fact is that college might not be worth it for that person. Go to community college for 2 years to see if a bachelors degree would be achievable. 3. Work all summer. Don't travel abroad for a learning experience. A full time job/ internship will teach you more.4. Loans, but certainly not $100,000 of loans. I will graduate with ~20k in debt.

Michael L. Robinson wrote:

yeah, let's start our kids out at 22 owing $100k in school loans before they even begin their 1st job - assuming they can find a decent job. Then they'll have to borrow $$ for a car, borrow $$ for a house, get a fat subsidy from the govt for their health ins &.....learn how to borrow lots of $$ & pay lots of interest, while living off the govt & mortgaging their future. Great idea...idiot

And you, why can't your kid find a job? Bad grades? English or marine biology major? What is wrong with buying a used car? Hail damaged cars often work perfectly but are ridiculously inexpensive.

Buy a house at 22?!?! Have you heard of renting with roommates?

I'm honestly surprised you didn't cite a country club membership and summer cabin with a boat as newly graduated unemployed college student expenses.

bloob wrote:

Must be nice to be one of those American students whose parents can afford to do that. Some of us aren't well off, you know?

This.

Parent's haven't given me a dime. I knew they never would be able to and I planned accordingly.

There is no way a part time, minimum wage, job is going to come close to covering the cost of attending a US university where you'll pay $20,000-$60,000 annually. So even with the job you'd need to take a loan. I did that. It was a pain for years afterward. I don't want my kids starting out life with a debt hanging over them. I do want them to be as educated as possible and I'd just as soon they can focus completely on their classes and not have 15-20 hours a week devoted to washing dishes or delivering pizza.

well.. wrote:

20% of the American population can´t point out their own country on a world map. "Better educated" my ass...

False! Your ignorance betrays you as un-American.

superWisdom wrote:

A better question is, why is the cost of college so exorbitant that students can't possibly hope to pay for it themselves, as many once did? The answer is that the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT enables colleges to raise tuitions to an almost unlimited degree by guaranteeing student loans. If the government didn't make it possible for students to borrow money they don't have the creditworthiness to repay, colleges would be forced to keep costs down and offer education packages that students and their families can actually afford, which would eliminate the need for loans in the first place.

Support affordable college by opposing government-guaranteed student loans.

If there were no guaranteed loans, students might default leaving colleges with less income. To me that sounds like a recipe for increasing tuition.