For most families, regular child support ends around the time a child would be starting college, not during it. Whether — and how — college costs get addressed after that point varies a lot from state to state.
The general rule: support usually ends first
Since most states end the standard support obligation at 18 or high school graduation (see our guide on when child support ends), college expenses in most states fall outside of what the ordinary guideline calculation covers.
States that do address college costs
A minority of states have specific statutory authority allowing a court to order continued support, or a contribution toward college costs, for a defined period — sometimes tied to full-time enrollment, a minimum GPA, or an age cap (commonly in the low-to-mid 20s where it exists at all).
Voluntary agreements are common
Even in states without a statutory college-support provision, parents can voluntarily agree (often as part of a divorce settlement) to contribute to college costs — this is a private agreement between the parents rather than something a court would order under the standard guideline formula.
FAQ
Will my state's calculator show a college support number?
No — none of the calculators on this site model college expense contributions, since it's a distinct legal question from the standard guideline calculation and varies enormously by state (and often isn't formula-driven at all).
How do I find out if my state addresses this?
This is a state-specific legal question best answered by a family law attorney, since the availability, standard, and age cap (where it exists) vary significantly and change over time.