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@prettylizy: I think it depends on your profession. You could not be in DH or I's profession without a graduate/masters degree. Because of that, we plan on covering the cost of an undergraduate and graduate degree.

It does not have to be a traditional 4 year university, but I expect my son to have some post secondary education.

No, it's not a must. The more DH and I have worked in different areas (he's in industry, I am in health care), we have noticed that have a post secondary education is not a necessity. I want to teach them that if you are passionate about something, persue it, and take leadership of it. If you don't want to work for someone else, be your own boss.

I had a love/hate relationship with college. I'll support the kids in whatever they decide!

@prettylizy: If my LO wanted to be a plumber, I would still want her to go to college. Imo, the only way you can decide that you don't need something is to have it, but never have to use it!

Honestly, everyone in my family goes to college. All of our parents have at least bachelor's degrees, all of our siblings (most have continued past that), and we do as well. The same is true for most of my extended family. So it kind of feels like the expectation for our family culture. That said, if my kid wants to take a few years off, go to a trade school, or not go at all, I will support her (my husband would have a little bit of a harder time with it, I think).
I just think that it is kind of the standard in our family, for whatever reason. And yes, I'm aware of what an indicator of privilege that is!

My husband and I are both pursuing graduate degrees, and for the fields we're in, they're must-haves. But if our daughter wanted to pursue a career that did not require a four-year or longer degree--say, she wanted to be a plumber, electrician, cosmetologist, ultrasound technician, etc.--we would be more than happy to support her on that path. However, we would like her to get SOME sort of training and/or further education. It doesn't have to be college; something to learn a trade or skill would be equally commendable. In fact, I would rather my daughter do that path than go to college if she wasn't sure she'd ever want to be in a job that required it! However, if she was leaning towards a field that required a college or graduate-school education, again, we'd be more than happy to support her in it.

I also think it's incredibly shortsighted to just look at what's going on in our part of the world. The job marketplace is global and if kids from other parts of the world are enrolling in college, it is going to become more and more difficult to keep jobs in the US if we're not competitive.

And not for nothing, even as a plumber, you still should be versed in running a business, which involves things like invoicing, accounting, possibly HR, etc. I don't see the downside of having more education, but I certainly see the limitations of having less.

I fully acknowledge that my kids may not have the capacity to complete four year university... but study after study shows that the income gap is widening for HS grads vs college grads.

http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/on-numbers/scott-thomas/2012/12/grads-earn-85-more-than-those-without.html?page=all

Even if they have intellectual limits that prevent them from four year university, I will expect them to complete the maximum education possible for their abilities!

The hubs and I "expect" our kids to go to college, but if they decide to go another route, we will support them (just as long as they aren't bums living in their old bedrooms). Hubs and I are doing just fine with BS/BAs, so I don't think that a graduate degree is necessary.. and even if it was in our profession, I don't want my kids to have to do what I did.

I will certainly encourage a 4 year degree. With the way the world is moving, it seems like even if you shouldn't need a degree for a certain job, you DO. I think not having any degree severely limits your career choices and options. That being said if they had a well thought out plan that didn't include college (a trade like being a mechanic, plumber, or some sort of other profession that will always be needed and requires trade school) I'd be fine with that. Although I may suggest they consider a degree in addition to trade school because it may help them to rise through the ranks and/or run their own shop.

I agree with @looch: . I think some kind of schooling past high school is important. If she wants to be a plumber then I would encourage a trade school!

To be honest I don't think college prepares you for REAL LIFE even in your job. I have a degree in architecture but that degree did squat to prepare me for the reality of being an architect.

So, really it depends on what my child's "dream" is.

It is a must for me. No matter what my LO wants to do, I would encourage her to go to college as I think that the future is too unpredictable to not try to leave as many doors as possible open.

We have the plans to be able to pay for DS and LO's college educations, if they choose to go that route, but it's definitely negotiable. If they can support themselves without going that route, then that's great.

While I would prefer that they go for a 4-year college degree, it's not a must for me. I understand that there are other things that he can do for himself to make a living and enjoy it without a 4-year degree.

DH feels differently. He's pretty heavy on DS at least getting a BA or BS. Though, I think if it meant DS's happiness, he'd ultimately be fine with whatever he chooses.

@prettylizy: TBH, I really don't see LO going to a trade school. He comes from a family of very unhandy men.

@prettylizy: Have you seen the Cosby episodes where one of Bill Cosby's kids (his oldest daughter, Sondra, I think?) starts a plumbing company with the rest of her Princeton friends?

His future. His choice. Ofcoarse I want him to be successful and happy but I don't want to put extreme pressure or expectations on someone's life choices. I do hope he will go to college though!