Do your children expect you to pay for grad school?

[Anonymous]

Just curious how things go these days. DH and I both had ours paid via our employers, and our oldest is headed into a situation where his employer will pay as well. But in talking to friends, they're padding their 529s for this, and we're wondering if we should be saving for our younger child.

[Anonymous]

Expect no, but we plan to within reason.

[Anonymous]

My parents didn't pay for my grad school and I'm not planning on paying for my child's.

[Anonymous]

It all depends on your means OP. Parents with money pay. If you get it employer paid then great. But the hit to savings and student loans could be big. That is why wealthy parents pay.

Student loans are not a good thing to have unless there are no options.

[Anonymous]

I took several years between college and grad school to work and save up money. No expectations of my parents to pay. I continued to work during grad school and was just getting by. They did help me out when I was in a pinch once. I liked knowing that they'd be my safety net, and plan to do the same for my kids.

[Anonymous]

They certainly aren’t expecting it. If we have the ability to help, I would love to do that, but that will depend on a number of currently unknown factors.

[Anonymous]

We have a fixed bucket for college. If they want grad school paid for them, they have to pick a cheaper college for undergrad.

Older DC got merit aid to in state, and enough credits to skip a year, do dual degree, and a +1 masters. All paid from the 529. All together, the cost will be less than the standard 4 yr in state price tag.

Younger DC keeps talking about going oos into a field where they will probably need a graduate degree. We told them that they will have to take out loans for the grad degree or get employer to pay for it (good luck if you can find it) because we have enough for oos undergrad but not enough to also pay for graduate.

They seem very immature about college choices; they aren't thinking about ROI, and how difficult it would be to get a good paying job with just an undergrad in that field. All they seem to care about is "I just want to go out of state". We don't have the kind of money to just let our kids experience being out of state just because. They can do that after they graduate and get a job.

[Anonymous]

No. I will be retired. Living my ‘fixed income’ lifestyle.

I’m saving as much as possible in their 529s. If they get FA or choose an undergrad wisely, there will be something left over. Not all, but something for grad school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a fixed bucket for college. If they want grad school paid for them, they have to pick a cheaper college for undergrad.

Older DC got merit aid to in state, and enough credits to skip a year, do dual degree, and a +1 masters. All paid from the 529. All together, the cost will be less than the standard 4 yr in state price tag.

Younger DC keeps talking about going oos into a field where they will probably need a graduate degree. We told them that they will have to take out loans for the grad degree or get employer to pay for it (good luck if you can find it) because we have enough for oos undergrad but not enough to also pay for graduate.

They seem very immature about college choices; they aren't thinking about ROI, and how difficult it would be to get a good paying job with just an undergrad in that field. All they seem to care about is "I just want to go out of state". We don't have the kind of money to just let our kids experience being out of state just because. They can do that after they graduate and get a job.

Same. In-state undergrad- we can pay grad. $85-90k (privates they were accepted to)- we done; nothing post-grad.

I was a STEM major and my masters degree was free. I taught one microbiology lab and got full tuition-stipend at a VA public.

My Senior is not in stem so likely won’t have same benefits. Stem majors often have grad work covered

[Anonymous]

I told my kids we can't afford. But once things settle on the third kid's expenses and some other stuff, I will help them as much as I can.

My #2 is HS senior and planning to attend a much less expensive college than #1 and I'm setting aside part of the difference in a dedicated account for grad school (kid is already planning on grad school). So that kid will have at least part set aside for that purpose.

[Anonymous]

Why would children drive this decision?

I told my daughter for years that we will try to get her through college without debt (succeeded in that front 🎉), but grad school would be on her. So that was her expectation.

She set herself up to be a desirable candidate, and got into two fully funded programs. I am now about to retire.

Kids get expectations from their families, they don’t set expectations for their families. That is backwards.

[Anonymous]

Paying for graduate school is a luxury. It’s not something many parents plan to pay for, unless you have nothing else to with your money, got a large inheritance, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious how things go these days. DH and I both had ours paid via our employers, and our oldest is headed into a situation where his employer will pay as well. But in talking to friends, they're padding their 529s for this, and we're wondering if we should be saving for our younger child.

No.
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
This includes you parents paying for your schooling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious how things go these days. DH and I both had ours paid via our employers, and our oldest is headed into a situation where his employer will pay as well. But in talking to friends, they're padding their 529s for this, and we're wondering if we should be saving for our younger child.

They don't know this, but we plan to. We don't have the extra in a 529 though, just in case they don't go. We'll use some of our investment to pay.

[Anonymous]

Yes! We already paid for one, and will pay for the other if they choose to go.