Parents wait for the day their child goes off to college with anticipation or dread. Dread that their baby has grown up and excited for their child to start his or her own life. Now that the child has made it to college, who should pay for college? Is it the child’s responsibility to pay for college or is it the parent’s job to make sure the funds are available for the child to go to college?
Parents may want to pay for their child’s education, including college, but is it practical and is it their responsibility? The parent may feel it is their responsibility. The decision to go to college and how to pay for it should be the student’s responsibility. The student may ask their parents for help, but the parents should not feel responsible for the debt.
The student is responsible for paying for college. He or she is “purchasing” a service. It is no different than someone buying a car. The person that is going to own the car is the one that is responsible for paying for it. The student that wants a college education and ultimately, a college degree for their profession is the person that should pay for college.
Parents want to give their children everything they can. Sometimes parents are not in a financial situation to pay for college. The student should be responsible financially for his or her education and only ask for the parents help if necessary.
If the student is held accountable for the debt of his or her education the student is more likely to do better in school and choose their major responsibly. If the student has to pay for his or her education, he or she will be less likely to change their majors multiple times. The student will also appreciate the education more than if it were handed to them.
A student that finances his or her own education is likely to do better in school. The fact that the student is paying for their own education shows motivation and self worth to employers. The student will also feel self-worth and pride.
If the parents pay for their child’s college education, should the child pay the parent their wages once they start working? College is a choice. It benefits the student. The parent does not get any benefit from sending the child to college. The child is an adult by the time he or she goes to college. The child will choose the classes to take in college and even whether or not to go to college. It will be the beginning of the “child’s” adult life.
