Who Pays for College After Divorce? Practical Tips for Divorced Parents

[Alexander Pierce]

Hey forum fam! I'm about to start at State University next fall and dealing with a complicated situation. My parents split up 3 years ago and now they're arguing about who pays what for my education. Do divorced parents have to pay for college at all legally? Or am I on my own here? My savings won't cover much and I'm kinda freaking out about loans. Anyone been through this before?

 

[CrimsonRose]

As a divorced mom with kids approaching college age, I can share some advice from my own experience. When it comes to divorced parents paying for college, the best approach is communication and compromise, if that's possible. My ex and I decided to split the costs proportionally based on our incomes. This way, it’s fair and doesn’t put too much burden on either side. We also discussed things like scholarships, financial aid, and whether our child could contribute through part-time work. Setting clear expectations early on helped avoid misunderstandings later. I know not everyone has a cooperative co-parenting relationship, but even small agreements can make a big difference in ensuring your child gets the education they deserve.

 

[Sebastian Cole]

Hi Alexander! Divorce after kid goes to college can bring a lot of financial questions, but what’s helped me is setting clear boundaries and agreements on who covers what. I also think it’s important to involve the college itself—sometimes they can guide you on splitting payments or identifying additional financial aid options. Keeping the focus on what’s best for the child has really helped in my situation.

 

[Julian Westwood]

I’ve been struggling with this question myself—how do divorced parents pay for college fairly without putting too much burden on one side? In my case, we included college expenses in our divorce agreement, but things didn’t go as planned. My ex lost her job, so I had to cover more than expected. I’d recommend keeping some flexibility in financial planning and encouraging kids to apply for scholarships or part-time work. It’s not ideal, but it helps balance things out.

 

[VelvetMystique]

From my experience, whether divorced parents have to pay for college depends on the situation. Some states require it, but in many cases, it's up to the parents to decide. My ex and I didn’t have a legal obligation, but we both wanted to support our child’s education. We agreed to contribute what we could, and our child covered the rest through scholarships and part-time work. If there's no court order, I think it comes down to what’s best for the child and what each parent can reasonably afford.

 

[WhisperingWillow]

Interesting and important tips!