We asked readers of our weekly e-newsletter, Minnesota Parent This Week, if they plan to help pay for their kids’ college educations. Here’s what you had to say.
No. We will not help pay for his tuition because we want him to use the resources available to him for grants and scholarships before he starts college. We will help him out with any of the things he needs for college.
— David Smith, Richfield
My children had to finance their own way through college. This prevented their goofing off and partying and they took their responsibility seriously.
— Cheri Hart, West St. Paul
I plan on helping my daughter with money for miscellaneous things, but she will have take a loan for tuition and books.
— Shannon Walker, Eden Prairie
If we can, we will. Most likely there won’t be enough to go around.
— Susan Kunert, St. Paul
Minimally. They say to prioritize your own retirement savings first. We contribute to 529 plans for them, which will probably only be enough to cover a modest amount of the total cost. In our experience, the students that paid for their own college generally got through faster and with a clearer sense of direction because the experience was self-funded. It’s very motivating.
— Nicole Celichowski, St. Paul
Yes, we plan on saving enough to send them to a public in-state school. If they go somewhere more expensive, they will have to supplement. Since a college degree is basically required for professional employment, I feel it’s part of my duty as a parent to contribute.
— Christine Twait, Woodbury
Absolutely! Whatever it takes to get them through!
— Jed Bergstrom, Buffalo
Yes. I think not having debt after college is a wonderful thing. Kids can concentrate on school and — after graduation — on life rather than paying off school loans for years. I expect them to “earn” it and I have started saving with 50 percent of their chore money as well. They are only 7 and 9 but by the time they get to college, that chore money will add up! In the end, they will have done it mostly by themselves.
— Wendy Everett, Eagan
Yes. We will expect her to work summers and have a part-time job through the school year, but we plan on picking up the rest of the bill. We want her to value her education and not take it for granted but at the same time we don’t want her to carry a huge debt right out of the gate.
— Kris Tillery, St. Paul
YES!!!! I am in my early 30s and still struggling to pay off student loan debt. I want my children to be able to begin their adult lives without that financial burden.
— Heather Gordon, Robbinsdale
Yes. A young person cannot start working a “real job” until 16. They start college at 18. That only gives them two years to save many thousands of dollars for their education. Any help I can give I will.
— Timothy Kauphusman, Rochester
