Many parents may think they’ve paid an awful lot for their child to graduate in the first place so why give a gift? Whether your child received a full scholarship or you wrangled with those FASFA forms every year and paid for books, board, and tuition, a gift is still appropriate.

Before you think you have to dig deep, the average college graduation gift amount from parents does not have to be large, nor does it have to be money.

Often determining monetary gift etiquette for college graduation depends upon who the graduate is as well as their achieved degree. First off, if the graduate is a close family member such as a niece or nephew, child, or grandchild, a monetary gift is definitely the correct etiquette. If a friend or co-workers mails or hands you a graduation announcement for their child, unless you are invited and plan to go to either to the graduation ceremony, party, or both, you aren’t obligated to send the grad money. On the other hand, no matter whom the graduate is, if you plan on attending the graduation ceremony or party afterwards, you should consider gifting to the grad.

There are many times when funny college graduation gifts are appropriate. Funny gifts are a good idea for friends and even family members of the graduate. Even classmates can choose a gag gift for the graduate they’ve known and studied with.

When selecting a funny gift for the graduate, it’s best to keep some taste in mind and avoid gifts that utilize verbal or visual language that is sensitive. Still, there are many humorous gifts out there so start shopping, take a friend along, and have some laughs of your own while choosing the right gift.

The US Department of Agriculture estimates that middle-income two-parent families will spend $221,190 in 2008 dollars to raise a child born in 2008 from birth to high school graduation. The cost per child for low income families (earning less than $56,870) is $159,870 and the cost per child for upper income families (earning more than $98,470) is $366,660.

Thousands of college students have borrowed too much and doomed themselves to lives of big bills and collectors' calls. But thousands, perhaps millions, of other Americans have been so scared of debt that they've avoided or quit college altogether and likewise doomed themselves to financial struggles. The research is clear: A bachelor's degree, while no guarantee of success, is often a credential needed to win a good job, a raise, a promotion, or even employer-provided health insurance.

What is the percent of first-year college dropouts, and why do so many students drop out before finishing or earning a degree? Although there are several factors that contribute to the percentage of college dropouts, two major studies have revealed the main reason students drop out of college

Generally speaking, the path from birth to 18 years old is pretty clear-cut and set. From elementary school, you head to middle school and finish your education after four years of high school. After high school graduation, you become a part of the real world and have to find a job in order to support yourself – its sink or swim

For many students deciding which classes to take involves several factors. One of the most important factors is ensuring that the desired progress is being made toward your major. Taking all the required classes in order to graduate with a Bachelor's degree or even a Master's Degree can mean that some classes must be taken at certain times in order to have the necessary prerequisites for later classes in time to get them all in. Other factors include taking classes that might lead to a minor (or double major), or for those seeking higher education, classes that might serve as either a prerequisite for those advanced programs, or ones that look good on an application and transcript.

That isn't all that must be taken into consideration. The amount of emphasis placed upon things like class rank, and a good grade point average by both graduate schools and employers cannot be understated. Finding a job for new graduates can be difficult as it is without finding yourself out of the running for a great job before you even apply due to not meeting the requirement of being in the top 20% of your class. With all of the pressure about grades, it is no wonder that many university students choose to round out whatever optional slots they have in their course schedule with as many easy, fluff, classes as possible.

Some students enter college with a clearly defined plan of study, while others are completely undecided. How should this play into your consideration of colleges? If you are interested in special programs (for example, engineering, dance, or business), it is important to determine who offers these subjects. It makes no sense to apply to a college that does not have the program you want. However, you also need to remember that the average student switches majors at least once before graduation. Ideally, you want to look for colleges that offer the kinds of programs that fit your interests, as well as the flexibility of being able to switch fields if your interests change

The average cost of college education must take a laundry list of factors into account, from tuition to books to housing to living expenses. Such costs are all compounded by the profile of the student, particularly as college classes have expanded beyond post-high school enrollments to include adults returning to college, and brick-and-mortar campuses have expanded to include online colleges.