How to estimate the amount parents are willing to pay for 2015-2016 college expenses for CSS profile

Your parents need to look at their budget and determine how much do they have left over each month that they can put towards college. The multiply that by 12. If they have a college fund, then include that appropriately. Sounds like they don’t have a college fund, though.

With that income, some schools will expect them to pay $25k-35k or MORE per year. That could mean paying $2k-3k+ per month. Ask them if they can do that.

Typically, if there is no college fund, then parents figure how much they can pay each month towards college by looking at their budget and expenses.

Ask your parents how much they can put towards college EACH month for 48 months.