28 States Where Child Care Costs More Than College Tuition

Many parents and parents-to-be know that college can be a major expense, but they may be underestimating a major cost that comes much sooner in a child’s life — child care. A recent study conducted by NetCredit found that in most states, child care actually costs more than college, with child care costing $1,031 more than public college tuition on average across the states.

Here’s a look at all of the states where child care is a larger financial burden than college tuition.

• Child care annual cost: $21,016
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $5,021
• Difference in annual cost: $15,995

• Child care annual cost: $23,231
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $7,280
• Difference in annual cost: $15,951

• Child care annual cost: $9,881
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $3,019
• Difference in annual cost: $6,862

• Child care annual cost: $9,123
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $3,370
• Difference in annual cost: $5,753

• Child care annual cost: $10,812
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $6,164
• Difference in annual cost: $4,648

• Child care annual cost: $9,464
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $4,835
• Difference in annual cost: $4,629

• Child care annual cost: $14,438
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $10,212
• Difference in annual cost: $4,226

• Child care annual cost: $8,322
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $4,898
• Difference in annual cost: $3,424

• Child care annual cost: $6,949
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $3,757
• Difference in annual cost: $3,192

• Child care annual cost: $6,810
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $3,802
• Difference in annual cost: $3,008

• Child care annual cost: $11,316
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $8,721
• Difference in annual cost: $2,595

• Child care annual cost: $11,554
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $8,980
• Difference in annual cost: $2,574

• Child care annual cost: $9,291
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $7,103
• Difference in annual cost: $2,188

• Child care annual cost: $10,039
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $8,333
• Difference in annual cost: $1,706

• Child care annual cost: $8,092
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $6,450
• Difference in annual cost: $1,642

• Child care annual cost: $6,555
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $5,089
• Difference in annual cost: $1,466

• Child care annual cost: $8,073
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $6,663
• Difference in annual cost: $1,410

• Child care annual cost: $6,886
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $5,589
• Difference in annual cost: $1,297

• Child care annual cost: $8,646
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $7,455
• Difference in annual cost: $1,191

• Child care annual cost: $7,554
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $6,408
• Difference in annual cost: $1,146

• Child care annual cost: $5,754
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $4,628
• Difference in annual cost: $1,126

• Child care annual cost: $9,656
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $8,627
• Difference in annual cost: $1,029

• Child care annual cost: $8,202
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $7,190
• Difference in annual cost: $1,012

• Child care annual cost: $9,350
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $8,387
• Difference in annual cost: $963

• Child care annual cost: $7,109
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $6,302
• Difference in annual cost: $807

• Child care annual cost: $5,521
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $5,280
• Difference in annual cost: $241

• Child care annual cost: $5,783
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $5,551
• Difference in annual cost: $232

• Child care annual cost: $9,332
• In-state college tuition annual cost: $9,146
• Difference in annual cost: $186

All data is sourced from NetCredit and is accurate as of June 2023.