Did you know that the average student loan debt for a 2011 college graduate is $23,300?* It should come as no surprise that a recent study commissioned by Gerber Life reveals that 47% of parents are concerned that their child may graduate with a lot of student loan debt.

A recent study commissioned by Gerber Life confirms that parents with young children find it difficult to save for college. They identify two main reasons — mortgage/rent payments and general household bills.

When you think about how much parents love their children, and how important it is to budget for college, it’s not surprising to learn that 91% of moms and dads would give up vacations, cell phones or the Internet if it meant that their child’s education would be paid.

Tuition at the average public university costs more than $8,000 today, according to an online article published on Oct. 29, 2011 by CNNMoney. For parents, this leaves an obvious question: “How can I help pay for my child’s college education?” Some parents use 529 plans to help.

It’s not surprising that a recent independent study commissioned by Gerber Life found that 46% of parents would feel less stressed if their child received a scholarship for college. Who wouldn’t?