The statistic shows the gap between parents' college savings goals and projected college savings in the United States in 2012, in U.S. dollars. The statistic also gives a breakdown of the facts, by income group. On average, parents expect to pay 32 percent of the total cost of college from their savings and income, which at a public four-year college would amount to a total of 44,489 U.S. dollars. Based on current saving habits, however, projections show that they are likely to save only half of this some, around 19,784 U.S. dollars.
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Gap between parents' college saving goals and projected college savings in the United States in 2012
(in U.S. dollars)
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Sallie Mae. (February 27, 2013). Gap between parents' college saving goals and projected college savings in the United States in 2012 (in U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 22, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/260137/gap-between-parents-savings-goals-and-projected-savings-in-the-united-states/
Sallie Mae. "Gap between parents' college saving goals and projected college savings in the United States in 2012 (in U.S. dollars)." Chart. February 27, 2013. Statista. Accessed June 22, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/260137/gap-between-parents-savings-goals-and-projected-savings-in-the-united-states/
Sallie Mae. (2013). Gap between parents' college saving goals and projected college savings in the United States in 2012 (in U.S. dollars). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 22, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/260137/gap-between-parents-savings-goals-and-projected-savings-in-the-united-states/
Sallie Mae. "Gap between Parents' College Saving Goals and Projected College Savings in The United States in 2012 (in U.S. Dollars)." Statista, Statista Inc., 27 Feb 2013, https://www.statista.com/statistics/260137/gap-between-parents-savings-goals-and-projected-savings-in-the-united-states/
Sallie Mae, Gap between parents' college saving goals and projected college savings in the United States in 2012 (in U.S. dollars) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/260137/gap-between-parents-savings-goals-and-projected-savings-in-the-united-states/ (last visited June 22, 2025)
Gap between parents' college saving goals and projected college savings in the United States in 2012 (in U.S. dollars) [Graph], Sallie Mae, February 27, 2013. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/260137/gap-between-parents-savings-goals-and-projected-savings-in-the-united-states/
