Thanks Karen for mentioning the Blog and article. It means a lot!

Finally, somebody else gets it!  And here I thought I was the only selfish, uncaring parent in the world.  Twenty years ago when I graduated high school, my parents had a handshake and a cake for me - no prepaid college tuition, credit card or even first car.  Full-time work and full-time college is a level of exhaustion I never want to experience again, but I wouldn't take anything for the sense of accomplishment I got when I graduated.  As a single parent I will never be able to foot the bill for my daughter's higher education.  But by encouraging her to follow her passions and interests and being a good financial role model, I believe I will have served her better as a parent than by simply providing a free ticket to college.

Funny, my parents paid for college except books and spending money for me and my two sisters. We went on to have successful careers and received our masters degrees through company programs. We pull down 6 figure salaries as well. I think the answer is in the style of parenting not in the money spent. My kids are straight A students that are receiving great scholarships but I will be proud to make up the difference for all the hard work they do focusing on their grades. My daughter is already interning and getting the real world experience as well. There are many great students that we do not hear about because they are studying not partying. So it is best not to lump them into one big spoiled brat category.

Hey, I put myself through college, but I think tuition then was a grand a year. I graduated with a couple thousand dollars of college debt. The cost is 10 or 20 times that now, minimum. I don't want my daughter starting college with debt she can never hope to cover.

There is no "one" answer to this.  It should be based on the child and the financial circumstances of the parents.  Although I believe a child should "own" at least some of their college education, I see nothing wrong with parents helping them get a good start in life.

I agree with Steve L - we're not all spoiled brats!  The statement that "every kid they know who went to college "on the parent express" left school unprepared for life -- and sometimes didn't even graduate" either signifies that RacerX is exaggerating or that he needed to expand his social circle in college.  My mother ALWAYS made it clear that she would put me through college, and that college would be my full time job.  Despite knowing that I had a free ride, I still covered most of tuition through scholarships, graduated with honors, and started senior year with a job offer in my pocket.  Three years later, I'm debt-free (no college loans!) except for a mortgage.  Many of my friends also went through college on the "parent express" and hit the ground running after graduation.  Do whatever you want with your own children, but please don't insinuate that kids are being ruined just because their parents support them through college.

great advice, your kids can pay their own way and struggle their way through 30-40K per year tuition, mine will be having fun in their free time and networking with others on the same plan, setting up for lucrative careers following school.  thanks.

Parents have an obligation as parents when they have children to fund their children's education.  Yes, that means education AFTER high school.  Why an article would tell parents that are ABLE to pay for college for their kids not to is shocking.  I am currently at a university studying finance and am over 10,000 in debt...after two years-- and by the end I will be over 25,000 in the hole.  

This is ridiculous... College course work is stressful enough without juggling serious financial decisions. I am not supporting parents funding educations of screw off kids that are making D's and F's in their classes... obviously the line is drawn somewhere, however, I can assure you... when I have kids, their education (as far as they wish to go) will be funded 100% by me... not thousands of dollars in loans when they get out making just over 35,000/ year.

Beer money, personal expenses and luxuries are different--- in high school I successfully saved thousands of dollars in spending money for college--never asking my single parent mom for a dime after sophomore year of high school....

Parents in this country need to support their children and make a life for them damn it!! And if you are worried about not being able to pay for your kids to go to college, maybe you should think twice about even having kids if you can not provide them with an opportunity for success in life.  

If it was not for government loans, I would not be where I am today.  My parent's filed bankruptcy several years ago, outside lending is a joke in my situation with no co-signer.  

At minimum---co-sign loans for your college bound kids.

I agree with Sharon--costs of college are HIGH these days, and you don't want your kid starting their first job with $50,000 in debt.  They'll never be able to afford a house payment with that. But it's not great to just pay for everything, either.  Say if they make it through the first year on their own, you can foot half of it after that or something.

a-men.  I formed an investment club with my kids and 7 other families (started when my kids in grade 6 & 8).  I contributed several $K over time and the kids participated in the investment work.  The funds are for their college and they get any left over after a 4 yr degree.  Each child earned a parital in-state scholarship.  Between 2 years at JC and then going to a more expensive school, they will use scholarship, all investments and will need to work.  One may also may need a small loan.  They could have attended a local state school and lived at home and had $ left over.  They went to an out of area or private schools.  They made the trade off and will need to make up the difference (work and / or loan).  It is a hard life for them, but they have learned to work for what they want and manage money.