The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled a parent’s financial standing should be considered in requiring them to contribute to a child’s college expenses. The Dubuque County district court ordered Philip Vaughan to pay one third of the cost of his 22-year-old daughter’s education at Iowa State University.
His daughter has lived with his ex-wife since they divorced. Vaughan challenged the law requiring him to pay the college costs since he no longer had to pay child support once the girl turned 18.
He also argued that he did not have the means to pay the college costs. The district court ruled that Vaughan and his ex-wife should each pay one-third of the cost of the college education, or about $634 each month. The Court of Appeals upheld the ruling.
The Iowa Supreme Court agreed that Vaughan does have some responsibility to pay for his daughter’s college education under Iowa law, but the court said Vaughan’s financial situation should be taken into account in setting the amount he has to pay.
With that said, the High Court ruled that Vaughan should contribute $150 each month to his daughter’s college expenses.
See the complete ruling here: Tuition ruling PDF