Unfortunately @neela it requires a # and not $000.
My concern is - if you ask too much, will they not interview you. I could be wrong.
If you ask too little and you get an offer will the offer be too little ? Just as @Rivet2000 stated.
Part of me wonders if this question is on there because they are using a software program or some other system and it’s just there…such as workday. But like most companies they will have an internal range and they know what they’re going to pay regardless.
My current and last company work that way.
But today, employees have the power. Companies (at least mine) are bending over backward to pacify on lifestyle and it’s still not enough. Look at the GM news yesterday about backtracking and apologizing on the office return as an example.
With the government doing its best to put the brakes on the economy, is that different when these kids graduate and does that cause a - take it or leave it, you are lucky to have a job shift ?
Obviously we all want our kids to max out so I don’t want him to undersell himself. At the same time I want to ensure he doesn’t lose any interview opps.
Fortunately he said not every company asks the question.
Will keep pushing him to go in to the career center and will of course have to look at cost of living should an offer come.
I made $4.25 an hour for 16 hours a week when I graduated and $7.50 an hr for 40 hrs in my first full time job while working 75+ at ESPN in the early 90s so really $4 an hr - boy have times changed !! My company has - on company time - soccer tourneys, golf outings, etc. It’s just a different, kinder world 
Thanks for everyone’s guidance.