text: It depends where you live.  In the state of NJ, there is an unfair law that forces the non-custodial parent to pay for  90% of college tuition, whether they can afford to or not.  And they have no say in where the kid goes, if the kid demands an expensive school, the parent is told to just make it happen, even if it ruins their life.  And yes, even if the kid is not even living at home, the custodial parent still gets to soak the non-custodial one for child support, in addition to the college tuition.