Parents Giving Less Money to Students in College

Down more than a third from 2010

Parents are giving their children less cash to pay for college amid continued economic weakness, adding to pressure on students to borrow money, rely more on grants and scholarships—and in many cases, live at home.

Parents shelled out an average of $5,727 from their income and savings for each child's college costs in the 2012-2013 academic year, down more than a third from $8,752 in 2009-2010, according to an annual report on college funding by student loan provider Sallie Mae to be released on Tuesday. The share of college costs paid by parents out of income and savings fell to 27% from 37% three years ago. The figures don't include borrowing by parents, which also declined slightly in the period.