Getting your children involved in saving for college

The planning required to send a child to college may seem overwhelming, but parents do not have to do all the work. Getting children involved in college planning may be an excellent way to teach responsibility to young people — a lesson that could reap benefits well beyond their college years.
It's good to introduce children to college planning when they are in the sixth, seventh, or eighth grade, depending on a child's maturity level and interests. Parents can initiate discussions about the importance of a college education and steps that children can take that will establish a foundation for college preparatory work in high school.
High school students can become more involved by earning money that will be used for college expenses, researching potential colleges and sources of financial aid, maintaining good grades, and taking college preparatory courses.
Most articles about college planning focus on advice for parents or other adults who expect to pay the cost for a younger person's education. But what about the beneficiary who plans to attend college? Children can earn money, learn about sources of financial aid, research potential colleges, and take other steps that may relieve their parents of some of the responsibility of college planning.

Starting early

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the best time to introduce children to college planning is when they are in the sixth, seventh, or eighth grade. You may want to initiate discussions about college and explain the importance of developing good study habits and getting involved in extracurricular activities — to instill the idea that your family supports higher education.
You may also want to encourage your children to begin thinking about the career they would like to pursue, which is likely to influence their choice of college, as well as to establish a savings account that could be earmarked for education expenses. In addition, you can teach basic lessons about compounding, investing, and other money management issues.
When students are in the latter part of middle school, they can also start planning to make the most of high school experiences with an eye toward college. Remind your budding scholar that success in high school depends on skills and attitudes that are developed in middle school or earlier. You can help your child plan for college by assisting him or her with developing a realistic budget. The chart below details enrollment-weighted averages and is intended to illustrate the annual costs that a student is likely to pay in various situations.Footnote 1

Budgeting Basics
  Tuition & Fees Books & Supplies Room & Board Trans-
portation		 Other Expenses Total ExpensesFootnote 2
Two-Year Public
Commuter $3,990 $1,470 $9,970 $1,930 $2,500 $19,860
Four-Year Public
In-State $11,260 $1,250 $12,770 $1,290 $2,270 $28,840
Out-of-State $29,150 $1,250 $12,770 $1,290 $2,270 $46,730
Four-Year Private
Resident $41,540 $1,250 $14,650 $1,100 $1,880 $60,420
Young people can assume varying levels of responsibility for college planning depending on their age and interests. Consider the following if you are looking to get a middle or high school student involved.

6th to 8th grades

  • Continue good study habits
  • Enhance computer and Internet skills
  • Participate in arts activities or sports
  • Start saving money

9th to 10th grades

  • Enroll in college-preparatory classes
  • Establish high academic standards
  • Research careers that match personal aptitudes
  • Learn about college costs
  • Identify prospective colleges
  • Research financial aid and scholarships
  • Set aside money from babysitting, yard work, or other odd jobs for college expenses

11th to 12th grades

  • Get a part-time job and continue saving for college
  • Visit colleges of potential interest
  • Take the Scholastic Aptitude Test
  • Enroll in Advanced Placement classes, if available
  • Apply to colleges and for financial aid

Footnote 1 Source: The College Board, Trends in College Pricing, 2023.

Footnote 2 Based on estimated average student expenses. Average total expenses include room and board costs for commuter students, which are average estimated living expenses for students living off-campus but not with parents.

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