do parents have responsibility to provide for the children's higher education?

[Ban my account ffs!]

According to the federal government, they do.  Your financial aid award is based on your parents' income until you are 25 years of age or you are under 25 but have children of your own (and you live on your own).

I also take severe exception to this idea that 'you should get the education that you can afford.'  Why should a stupid rich kid get an ivy league education while a brilliant poor kid gets to work at McDonalds?

If we're going to have a system where "not everybody needs to go to college"... I'd like to invest tax dollars educating those that will benefit the most from it... the smart poor kids.  The rich kids will likely be rich and get a good job regardless of mental aptitude.  Let them rely on daddy and connections.. let the poor kid rely on financial aid and his own mental aptitude.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Of course not.  They are adults, I'll help if I can, but it's on them.  All my kids know this and will prepare accordingly...or work at Taco Bell their whole life, it's their call.

Well, I think that's how it works with most families.  You do what you can.  I think it's most important to provide the right environment so your kids can do well in school now and earn scholarships.  Then you strike a balance between academic prestige and affordability as far as schools go.  It's not rocket science... though it is increasingly becoming such.