College costs continue to rise.  And predictability of retirement funds are important as well. Did his parents know after 8 years he had an expectation they would be asked to pay for college?<p>Even though we have saved for my youngest to go to college we are expecting her to apply for many merit scholarships and we expect her to help with some expenses using summer internship earnings.  The more she contributes the better her chance for ownership over the college outcome.