• College Ave analysis flagged a shift toward mixed funding for college as parents’ average savings fell to $37,897 in 2026 from $51,310 in 2025.
• Only 16% of savers felt fully prepared to cover a degree with savings alone, down from 27% a year earlier.
• Parent-only financing reliance weakened, with use of 529 plans or parent income/savings each down 20 percentage points year over year.
• Cost pressure showed up in behavior changes, with 26% of students expected to live at home, up from 10%.
• Estimated monthly student personal costs rose to $815 from $476, a 71% increase.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. College Avenue Student Loans LLC published the original content used to generate this news brief on August 04, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.