I'm not really sure what came first, the expectation that parents help out or the high price. My parents have helped out how they could but none of us actually went to University. That always makes things substantially less expensive and I don't know how much they would want to help out if they didn't think the programs would pay off either. I feel like that would result in a lengthy wtf is your actual plan discussion. I don't really know anybody who could completely finance their childs education.

I still made minimum wage when I drove a forklift :( but I agree with your general sentiment because these things are really valuable. I could have got my certificate and worked somewhere that paid more but I wasn't in to that. I have a few friends who ended up as plumbers or ironworkers which are really smart careers. Most parents I know want to help because they know it will put their kids on the right track so they won't have to help out much later in life. Granted that backfires sometimes and a lot of people just really can't help.

I think all in all parents are more likely to either help or want to help if they know the program will get their child somewhere.