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Rising college tuition can push families to get creative to save money — but one dad from Massachusetts may have taken it a step too far.
Dave and his wife have two kids — one already attends an in-state college, while the other, a high school senior, is considering colleges in another state where the family also owns a second home. That’s where things take an unusual turn: Dave wrote to “The Ramsey Show” that he is considering a paper divorce so his wife could claim residency in that state, potentially qualifying their child for in-state tuition.
“Doing so would save us over $100,000 by paying in-state tuition for both kids,” he said. “My wife and I love each other very much. And the paperwork wouldn’t change our relationship.”
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Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey was taken aback by the question, and co-host Rachel Cruze admitted she’d never heard anything like it before. Ramsey quickly called out the flaw in Dave’s logic and pointed to the obvious solution: tell your kid no and stick to an in-state college to save money.
“Before you divorce your wife, maybe you just tell your kid no,” Ramsey said. “You’re weird. I mean, who talks about divorcing their wife to get in-state tuition for a kid for four years because you can’t tell your own spoiled kid no? That’s whacked.”
The average tuition and fees for a four-year in-state college in the U.S. for the 2025–26 academic year is $11,950, compared with $31,880 for out-of-state students, according to data from educational nonprofit College Board. When including the total student budget for housing, food, and supplies, the average annual cost rises to $30,990 for in-state residents and $50,920 for those from out of state.
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Ramsey called out the kid for considering out-of-state colleges that could cost the family $100,000, while Cruze laid the blame on the dad for even suggesting a divorce. Ramsey warned Dave that even thinking about this plan could wreck his relationship if his wife ever found out.
“You have your priorities really screwed up,” Ramsey said. “Let’s just start with telling your spoiled brat child no. He’s asking him to pay $100,000 to go across a state line.”
Situations involving major education costs often highlight how quickly large financial commitments can impact long-term household planning and cash flow.
Finance Advisors is a free matching platform that connects individuals with fiduciary financial advisors who specialize in tax-aware retirement and income planning.
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