<p>I have pondered this same question of using IRA funds to help pay for college as my husband is turning 60 this year. Then I realized that any distribution would be counted against us for the following year’s fin aid calculation. So I decided to not go that route until the last year of our daughter’s college education (she’ll be a sophomore next year) when it won’t matter for the following year. Also, my d has some savings bonds that we are holding for her to cash out for her last year in college.</p>