{"id":150,"date":"2022-10-14T16:12:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T22:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/homestead.askmattshaw\/?p=150"},"modified":"2025-12-19T10:53:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T16:53:20","slug":"who-pays-for-college-expenses-after-an-illinois-divorce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shawsanders.com\/wordpress\/who-pays-for-college-expenses-after-an-illinois-divorce\/","title":{"rendered":"Who pays for College Expenses After an Illinois Divorce?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Who<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you are currently divorced or soon will be, you probably have questions about the financial implications of your divorce. One issue that many divorced parents are concerned about is their child\u2019s college expenses. The average tuition for an Illinois public college is just under $5,500 a year. For out of state schools, tuition can be upwards of $20,000 a year. The average cost for a private college education in Illinois is almost $30,000 a year. Understandably, most parents experience \u201csticker shock\u201d when they realize how expensive their child\u2019s college education will likely be. They may also wonder how this cost will be divided between them and their child\u2019s other parent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allocation of College Tuition for Unmarried and Divorced Parents<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As with many other child-related matters, divorced or unmarried parents in Illinois have the opportunity to determine their own arrangements for financing their child\u2019s college education. If parents cannot reach an agreement, the court may intervene. Parents\u2019 financial responsibility for their child after he or she has turned 18 and graduated high school is referred to as \u201cnon-minor support.\u201d Typically, parents are only responsible for non-minor support during the child\u2019s undergraduate degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Factors Considered by Illinois Courts<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Illinois judges have the authority to allocate college expenses between parents who are unmarried or divorced. These expenses may include costs related to tuition and fees, on-campus or off-campus housing, textbooks, and healthcare. If a child is living with one of his or her parents while he or she attends college, the parents may still be jointly responsible for costs related to transportation, food, and utilities. Unlike child support, there is no statutory formula for determining college expenses in Illinois. The amount each parent must contribute to the child\u2019s college tuition and living expenses is at the judge\u2019s discretion. Courts consider the following factors when determining how to allocate college costs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n