The Real Cost of Launching a Career: How the Bank of Mom and Dad is Supporting Their Graduates After College

For decades, college graduations symbolized a turning point: the moment when young adults stepped into their independence, launched their careers, moved into their own apartments, and paid their own bills. But today’s reality tells a very different story.

In September, we surveyed 600 U.S. parents of graduates to gauge to what extent they are financially supporting their kids and how they feel about it, revealing that both financial and emotional support don’t stop at the graduation stage. In fact, for many families, the real work (and spending) begins after the cap and gown are put away. 

Key findings: 

• Nearly 4 in 10 recent graduates don’t have full-time work, with 26.7% still job hunting and 10.7% stuck in part-time roles. 

• Over half (56%) of parents spend $500+ per month supporting their graduate children, and 1 in 3 spend $1,000 or more.

• 51.7% of parents continue providing financial help for 7+ months post-graduation, and nearly 9% for over 2 years.

• 1 in 6 (16.2%) parents expect to spend between $10,000–$19,999, and 8% more than $20,000.

• Two-thirds (65%) of graduates live at home rent-free, while nearly half (46.2%) rely on parents to cover transportation costs.

Nearly 40% of recent graduates aren't in full-time employment

Despite strong degrees and big ambitions, the job market isn't making it easy for new graduates. Our survey found:

• 62.7% of recent graduates are working full-time

• 26.7% are still job hunting

• 10.7% are stuck in part-time or temporary roles

Meaning that nearly 4 in 10 grads in the past 2 years don't yet have stable, full-time work, leaving many to lean heavily on their parents, financially, emotionally, and practically.

The high cost of supporting independence

Parents aren’t just providing the occasional safety net for their children; many are footing ongoing bills that rival a second mortgage.

• 56% of parents spend $500+ per month supporting their child after graduation

• 1 in 3 spend $1,000+ monthly

• The median monthly spend falls between $250-$999

It doesn’t stop quickly; more than half of parents (51.7%) end up providing support for seven months or longer, with many continuing for well over a year. As many as 8.7% of parents claimed to have been financially supporting their children for more than 2 years.

With that in mind, the total costs add up fast and are often higher than parents expect:

• 33% expect to spend $5,000-$9,999 in total support

• Only 12.7% expect to spend less than $1,000 

• 16.2% anticipate spending $10,000-$19,999

• 8% estimate that they’ll spend more than $20,000 helping their child transition into the workforce post-graduation

For many families, supporting a graduate is no longer a short-term bridge. It’s a major financial commitment that can even rival college tuition itself. 

What parents are actually paying for

Financial help goes far beyond pocket money for many parents. The “Bank of Mom & Dad” is very much open for business, and it’s costly. Parents are stepping in to cover the basics of adult life:

• Rent-free living: 65% let their graduates live at home without paying rent.

• Bills and living costs: Nearly two-thirds (64.7%) pay for utilities, WiFi, or groceries, and almost half (46.2%) contribute to transportation.

• Direct cash allowances: More than 1 in 4 (27%) give their child a monthly stipend.

• Student loan help: A quarter (24.3%) even covers loan repayments.

• Career extras: 1 in 4 parents go the extra mile, paying for career coaching, resume services, interview clothing, and networking opportunities to boost their child’s job prospects. 

The hidden, non-financial support

It’s not just about money, parents are also investing time and energy into their graduate’s job search themselves:

• Job search help: Over half (52.2%) are reviewing resumes, preparing their child for interviews, or even tapping into their own professional networks.

• Emotional support: 63% provide daily encouragement to help their child stay motivated throughout the job search process.

• Time commitment: Two-fifths (40%) spend between 3 and 5 hours a week actively helping with applications, prep, or career advice. As many as one in eight (11.8%) spend between 6 to 10 hours a week helping their graduate children.

For many families, supporting a job-seeking graduate has become a second full-time responsibility.

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When expectations don’t match reality

Parents often picture graduation as the moment their child will “launch” into independence, but the data show that the reality is very different.

While more than a third of parents (33.3%)  expected their graduate to become financially independent within a year, more than a quarter (25.8%) believed that it would happen in just six months. A smaller percentage (7.2%) of parents were even more optimistic and believed that their children would be able to stand on their own financially immediately after graduation.

The reality for many is that these timelines stretched much further:

• More than two-fifths of parents (40.7%) say that it has taken longer than they expected for their child to become financially independent post-graduation.

• 41.7% say their child became independent as expected.

• 17.7% report that their child is still not financially independent.

These numbers highlight a widening gap between expectation and reality for parents of graduates. For many families, the path to independence isn’t a quick leap but a slow climb.

The silver lining: parents are still willing

Despite the heavy financial lift, most parents remain surprisingly positive about supporting their children in the rocky period from college to career. While 71% admit that the extra expenses have had at least some impact on their own finances, from cutting back on personal spending to delaying retirement savings, the majority still see the trade-off as worth it.

• 25.8% say the impact has been significant

• 45.2% report some level of strain

• Only 29% feel no financial impact at all

And yet, when asked how they feel emotionally about providing this support, the answers reveal an enduring generosity: 64% say they are happy to help, while another 29.5% admit it’s “manageable but not ideal.” Just 6.5% express outright frustration or significant financial strain.

In other words, while parents may be dipping into their savings and sacrificing their own goals, most still view supporting their graduate as a natural (or even expected) extension of parenting.

How grads (and parents) can ease the burden

The research paints a clear picture: for today’s graduates, financial independence doesn’t come at graduation; it often takes years. Leaving parents to bridge the ever-expanding gap with money, time, and emotional energy, all while balancing their own financial futures.

But there’s another way to ease that burden. TopResume’s Job Placement Service, #GetHiredNow, is designed to help graduates move from searching to being hired faster. With resume support, interview coaching, and access to open roles, it reduces the time parents need to provide support and helps young professionals achieve independence sooner.

For families stretched thin, this kind of targeted help could mean the difference between a slow climb and a confident launch into the working world.

What we did

This survey was commissioned by TopResume and conducted via Pollfish on September 2, 2025. A total of 600 U.S.-based parents of college graduates from the past two years participated.