Saving for long-term goals, like college, was hard for my family.  There was no money for me when I was accepted to my dream school.  Some dodgy record-keeping made it difficult to qualify for financial aid.  In the end, I worked my way through the University of Illinois and was able to graduate debt free.  However, this is impossible now.  The rising rates of tuition have seen private school tuition go up 4X but public in-state tuition has increased an even more alarming 5x in twenty years.  Getting started on a 529 is a great way to keep your kid debt free when they graduate.  USNews gives you the charts and Saving for College gives you some more tools for comparison.