When did it become normal for parents to pay for college? I always thought that was something you do as basically a huge gift. I came out with a bit over $100k

When did it become normal for parents to pay for college? I always thought that was something you do as basically a huge gift. I came out with a bit over $100k but I chose that school knowing full well it would mean 10 years of higher payments and it was worth every penny in my opinion (I got so much out of college - I feel like the only person who came out with a huge loan that's happy with it). My parents paid the interest on my loans all through college and made the first couple payments while I transitioned into the real world -- I am eternally grateful they did even that for me. I see it more and more that parents are expected to pay for their children to go to school - which also means that a big part of my loans are probably because of my father's income being counted when I did the FASFA. If the non-dischargability of the loans is based on a lack of finanical history (which I know I'm in the minority but I do feel that's fair), then the applications for financial assistance really shouldn't take it into account unless your parents are actually paying for your school.