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I was on partial scholarship- which didn't cover summer semesters- so they paid for the 3 summer semesters I attended.

I said they paid for some (a minority)? Because I had a pretty substantial academic scholarships to a public institution. The deal growing up was always that they would pay for me to go to college at any state school of my choice (or the equivalent amount at a private school where I would have to cover the rest). I think this arrangement worked out very well - very generous, yet not agreeing to pay for everything no matter what the amount! Scholarships were viewed as a benefit to them and a way for me to help them, so I received no additional personal financial benefits (even though my parents got off the hook with having to pay full state tuition for me). I still thought this was fair. I am very grateful for what they did for me, because as a result, I have no student loans.

Interestingly enough, my DH's parents paid for some of his school and all of his sister's school (far more expensive for his sister). This was because my DH played a sport and then quit in college. I considered this a form of attempted manipulation.

ETA: I went to public schools all the way through high school.

My parents sent all three of us to Catholic elementary schools and high schools, which they paid for, and then they partially paid for college. My scholarship covered most of the rest; I paid for some books and for my study abroad program. I also lived at home, so had I lived on campus, I would have had to pay room and board.

ETA: I really am still amazed that they were able to do that...my dad NEVER thought we were going to private school, so paying for that sucked up college savings. And it's not like my parents make mega bucks...my mom's a hair dresser. My dad is just one of the best savers I've ever met.

I went to public schools all the way through high school. Then, my parents paid for all of undergrad, and gave me a little help with gradschool though my savings, a fellowship, and working as a TA paid for most of it. I am incredibly grateful and hope to pay for undergrad for my child(ren).

They paid almost all of undergrad and all of grad. =\

Taxpayers paid for my college education though Pell and Cal Grants plus university grants plus scholarship. We were poor. I also did take out a small student loan. I worked part time throughout college and that paid for living expenses. After I graduated my parents gave me $500. Student loans were paid off within a year of graduation. Husband's divorced parents didn't lift a finger to help him with tuition but luckily maternal grandpa paid for all five years but he worked part time for living expenses. We will pay for all three kids college but not grad school.

@mrs. wagon: Wow, I am surprised by the results! My parents did not pay for private high school, college, or law school. They did pay for incidentals like plane tickets home, so I chose "they paid for a minority."

They covered undergrad, I'm paying grad. Just a few more years and I'll be free

Wow, I'm surprised how many people's parents paid for their college education! My parents paid some, no idea how much, and I had lots of scholarships, but I still finished with $17K in loans from a public university, and I thought that was great! My parents wouldn't have contributed to grad school at all, but fortunately I got a free ride, plus living expenses, so it was a moot point.

I had such a low interest rate on my loans (just over 2%), and paying it off each month helped build up my credit rating so I never looked at it as a burden. Also, my required monthly payments were so low the first ten years (I think the first two years it was like $34/month!) that it hardly seemed an inconvenience!

I have no intention of paying in full for my LO's university education. I certainly intend on helping out where we can and will save to make a generous contribution to their tuition, but I think part of becoming a mature adult is taking on adult responsibilities and becoming more financially independent.

My parents paid for six years of private school before college (after realizing that our public school was terrible and I was learning absolutely nothing).

They also saved up enough money to fully cover my education at a public in-state college. I went out-of-state and won scholarships to cover the rest of the cost difference.

my parents paid my school fees for high school (private independent), and they paid any admin fees/books/travel for university. my uni fees are still sitting there (HECS - thanks Aussie govt.) gaining interest slowly until I make enough money to pay for them. I'm sure I'll get around to paying for them when my home loan is low enough that I can tack it on without really noticing.

My parents paid for 4 years at a state school for college. They made it clear they could not afford to send me to my top choice school bc it was way too expensive. I was too chicken to go at it alone - a huge regret of mine even though I loved my college experience. Also I am very thankful to my parents for everything they did for me to send me to college on their dime. They didn't pay for any of law school - I took out those loans

They didn't pay anything. My dad was a disabled vet so I had community college paid for as long as I lived at home. But once I moved out and started working full time I made too much money so I was on my own. I took out student loans once I transferred to a university.

I went to public school K-12 then my mom paid for my college (room & board, tuition & books) and I paid for grad school w/ employer tuition assistance.

Technically, my parents didn't give me anything for my education.

I occasionally got spending money here and there when I visited home and some fun money when I studied abroad, but it was technically money they funneled to me from my maternal grandfather, who is well off. My parents themselves have been poor forever. They did pay my car insurance for a few months my senior year of college and helped me go through the process of shopping for and buying my first car. I went to a private college mostly on scholarships and worked 3 different jobs for my living expenses and came out with a little bit of loans that have since been paid off.

I went to a public law school on significant scholarships and worked as a research assistant and TA. My parents didn't pay for any of it, but did help me furnish my student apartment. My maternal grandfather also helped with living expenses, which brought down my student loans a lot. We're almost done paying those off.

DH got zero help from his folks and went to a military academy for free for undergrad. He went on to law school on his own dime, although he did get some money from the GI bill and scholarships. He has significant student loans because he went to a private law school on the East Coast part-time for 4 years. We're still paying those off, but hope to be done in the next 1-2 years.

Parents paid for undergrad. Work is paying for grad.

DH's parents paid for undergrad and grad. They even offered to pay for my grad.

They paid for my years in private school and my homeschooling curriculum for the rest of k-12 and paid for all of my private school undergrad degree.

They paid for room and board, but tuition & books was up to me. I didn't qualify for any subsidized loans or grants because of their salaries, and that made me upset because I still to this day believe they could have helped me but didn't. My junior & senior year of high school, they bought an RV, an SUV, and doubled the size of their house... yet there was no money to help me with tuition. Wonder why. Hmmmm. Also, going to college was a non-negotiable in the family, and they didn't bat an eye at the fact that I'd have to take out loans. They told me "debt is the way of life, you can't avoid it."

I was upset about this during college whenever I had to fill out the FAFSA or take out a new, private loan. I worked 2-3 jobs to pay for about $15K of college and earned about $25K in academic scholarships, but still took out about $55K in loans (stupid me, choosing a private school).

Sometimes it makes me sad because I feel buried in loans but now I understand that they are trapped by their own financial decisions and habits, which then makes me sadder for them than myself. They have a ton of debt and make poor decisions (my dad just recently took out money out of his 401K to put a down payment on a new SUV.) Honestly, I'm scared about what will happen 10 years down the line when they try to retire.

I have learned SO MUCH about money management and budgeting bc of my loans. Even though DH & I only take home about $48K a year together, we've paid off $45K in loans in that past 4 years, saved $13K for a down payment for a house, and saved over $20K in an emergency fund over the past 5 years (though most of it has been spent over time, on emergencies). So, most of the time, I have mixed feelings about my loans.

I went straight into the workforce from highschool and only started distance learning at around 25 and my parents have probably paid half of my course fees.

Public K-12, worked my way through community college the first 2 years while I lived on my own and paid my own way. I got some scholarships and continued to work through the last 3 years for my bachelors. I never had to take a loan which was awesome. I'm working on a second bachelors now and again, paying for it myself.