>>The deal my dad and I had was we would split college costs 50-50.
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>I've had this discussion before and it seems to be a religious difference. I know almost no one Jewish whose parents expected them to pay for college or who expects their kids to pay unless the family really can't afford it. That is, the Jewish parents in my experience don't view paying for college as a character-building experience, but instead as part of their ongoing responsibility to their children.
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My experience is very similar. I can't remember any of my high school friends (95% Jewish) who didn't go to college. We all expected our parents would pay for it. In my case, however,
I went to a low-cost state university, but there were four of us in college simultaneously. My parents did what they could, but we all needed loans to make up the difference. The loans became our responsibility when we graduated.

My sons both went to more expensive schools (my ex's choice, not mine). We did the same thing in that they are responsible for the loans after graduation.

I've never really discussed it, but I assumed this was a common arrangement.