How much does preschool cost?
Full-time preschool at a daycare center costs about $13,000 a year in the U.S., roughly $1,080 a month (our estimate in August 2026 prices), about 21% less than care for a baby. Part-day programs cost less, and public pre-K is free for many 4-year-olds. Here are preschool prices for 48 states and D.C., Texas workforce areas, California and Pennsylvania counties, and counties across the U.S., plus where pre-K is free, published tuition schedules and ways to pay less.
Updated Oct 18, 2026.
Preschool prices in your county
Median full-time prices at licensed centers. National database: U.S. Department of Labor, mostly 2022 prices, raised to August 2026 with the BLS day care and preschool price index (our estimate). For Texas, California and Pennsylvania the top figure uses state data: Texas’s 2026 survey, California’s 2021 survey (ages 2 to 4) and Pennsylvania centers’ posted rates. Part-day programs cost less; prices are for one child.
Preschool cost by state
By our estimate in August 2026 prices, full-time care for a preschooler at a daycare center costs about $13,000 a year on average across the U.S., from about $7,300 in Mississippi to $20,600 in Vermont (and $24,900 in Washington, D.C.). That is about 21% less than infant care. A licensed family child care home costs less in 86% of counties with both prices: about $11,240 a year on average.
| State | Center, a year | A month | Home daycare, a year | Less than infant care | 4-year-olds in state pre-K | Price year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $20,602 | $1,717 | $13,143 | 2% | 72% | 2021 |
| Massachusetts | $19,425 | $1,619 | $14,756 | 31% | 30% | 2022 |
| New Jersey | $19,089 | $1,591 | $11,819 | 2% | 35% | 2022 |
| Washington | $18,449 | $1,537 | $15,120 | 22% | 19% | 2022 |
| Colorado | $17,606 | $1,467 | $14,120 | 23% | 70% | 2015–2022 |
| Connecticut | $17,345 | $1,445 | $15,854 | 23% | 16% | 2022 |
| Alaska | $16,641 | $1,387 | $14,172 | 18% | 11% | 2015–2022 |
| Minnesota | $16,579 | $1,382 | $10,296 | 19% | 18% | 2022 |
| New York | $16,358 | $1,363 | $13,512 | 13% | 56% | 2022 |
| California | $16,062 | $1,339 | $16,053 | 32% | 46% | 2022 |
| Maryland | $15,815 | $1,318 | $13,122 | 25% | 38% | 2022 |
| Rhode Island | $15,770 | $1,314 | $13,429 | 15% | 26% | 2022 |
| New Hampshire | $15,584 | $1,299 | $12,008 | 17% | 0% | 2022 |
| Hawaii | $15,249 | $1,271 | $12,329 | 28% | 7% | 2022 |
| Oregon | $14,803 | $1,234 | $11,642 | 27% | 17% | 2022 |
| Wisconsin | $14,551 | $1,213 | $11,456 | 11% | 59% | 2022 |
| Nevada | $13,819 | $1,152 | $10,647 | 17% | 10% | 2022 |
| Virginia | $13,360 | $1,113 | $10,572 | 19% | 22% | 2013–2022 |
| Ohio | $13,307 | $1,109 | $10,596 | 21% | 13% | 2022 |
| Illinois | $13,267 | $1,106 | $10,954 | 26% | 35% | 2020–2022 |
| Maine | $13,012 | $1,084 | $10,137 | 12% | 47% | 2022 |
| Montana | $12,654 | $1,055 | $11,651 | 11% | 0% | 2022 |
| Pennsylvania | $12,542 | $1,045 | $10,242 | 16% | 26% | 2020 |
| Arizona | $12,394 | $1,033 | $10,850 | 23% | 2% | 2022 |
| Nebraska | $11,870 | $989 | $8,579 | 15% | 34% | 2022 |
| Oklahoma | $11,667 | $972 | $8,995 | 14% | 65% | 2022 |
| Delaware | $11,588 | $966 | $9,174 | 24% | 9% | 2022 |
| North Dakota | $11,586 | $965 | $9,563 | 15% | 11% | 2022 |
| Missouri | $10,901 | $908 | $7,676 | 21% | 22% | 2016–2020 |
| South Carolina | $10,775 | $898 | $8,537 | 8% | 45% | 2022 |
| Utah | $10,687 | $891 | $9,392 | 26% | 2% | 2022 |
| Florida | $10,567 | $881 | $9,421 | 26% | 63% | 2015–2022 |
| West Virginia | $10,399 | $867 | $9,900 | 3% | 66% | 2022 |
| Texas | $10,026 | $835 | $9,268 | 9% | 52% | 2022 |
| Wyoming | $9,894 | $824 | $8,961 | 9% | 0% | 2019–2022 |
| Michigan | $9,767 | $814 | $11,291 | 7% | 43% | 2022 |
| Georgia | $9,429 | $786 | $8,290 | 11% | 53% | 2022 |
| Idaho | $9,281 | $773 | $7,400 | 12% | 0% | 2022 |
| North Carolina | $9,151 | $763 | $9,562 | 34% | 21% | 2015–2022 |
| Iowa | $9,102 | $759 | $6,979 | 14% | 65% | 2022 |
| Louisiana | $8,939 | $745 | $8,367 | 6% | 35% | 2022 |
| Kentucky | $8,936 | $745 | $7,148 | 12% | 26% | 2022 |
| South Dakota | $8,863 | $739 | $6,753 | 7% | 0% | 2022 |
| Tennessee | $8,644 | $720 | $7,595 | 28% | 20% | 2022 |
| Kansas | $8,634 | $719 | $6,536 | 13% | 45% | 2022 |
| Alabama | $7,965 | $664 | $7,832 | 8% | 40% | 2022 |
| Arkansas | $7,447 | $621 | $6,188 | 12% | 33% | 2018–2021 |
| Mississippi | $7,339 | $612 | — | 12% | 23% | 2022 |
Full-time prices for children 3 to 4½ (36 to 54 months, the database’s preschool age). County medians weighted by county population; August 2026 prices, our estimate from each county’s latest year (National Database of Childcare Prices). Price year is each state’s range of county survey years. In New Jersey, Vermont and West Virginia, the preschool price is within 5% of the infant price, which reflects how those states survey prices; some states cover only part of their counties. Indiana and New Mexico aren’t in the database. These are prices for full-time care; free public pre-K and part-day programs are covered below. 4-year-olds in state pre-K: the share enrolled in state-funded pre-K in the 2024–25 school year (NIEER, State of Preschool 2025); where it’s high, fewer families pay for a 4-year-old’s preschool.
Texas: preschool prices by area
The 2026 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey puts the statewide median full-day price at licensed centers at $41.00 a day for 3-year-olds (about $888 a month), $40.80 for 4-year-olds and $40.40 for 5-year-olds, against $45.00 for babies under 12 months. Part-day care at centers that also offer full days or after-school care had a median of $34.20 a day for 3-year-olds and $33.40 for 4-year-olds.
| Workforce area | 3-year-old, a day | 4-year-old, a day | 4-year-old, a month | 4-year-old, a year | Change since 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Area | $56.60 | $56.40 | $1,222 | $14,664 | +16.0% |
| Rural Capital | $48.20 | $48.00 | $1,040 | $12,480 | +16.5% |
| Greater Dallas | $45.40 | $45.20 | $979 | $11,752 | +9.7% |
| North Central Texas | $44.20 | $43.80 | $949 | $11,388 | -3.9% |
| Alamo | $43.80 | $43.60 | $945 | $11,336 | +14.1% |
| Tarrant County | $43.20 | $43.00 | $932 | $11,180 | +3.4% |
| Cameron | $42.60 | $42.60 | $923 | $11,076 | +12.1% |
| Gulf Coast | $41.80 | $41.60 | $901 | $10,816 | +8.3% |
| Lower Rio Grande Valley | $37.60 | $37.40 | $810 | $9,724 | +14.7% |
| Brazos Valley | $36.00 | $36.00 | $780 | $9,360 | +11.1% |
| Coastal Bend | $35.00 | $34.80 | $754 | $9,048 | +7.4% |
| Panhandle | $32.60 | $32.60 | $706 | $8,476 | +10.1% |
| Borderplex | $32.80 | $32.60 | $706 | $8,476 | +13.2% |
| Permian Basin | $32.60 | $32.60 | $706 | $8,476 | +9.4% |
| Texoma | $32.40 | $32.40 | $702 | $8,424 | +11.7% |
| Heart of Texas | $32.20 | $32.00 | $693 | $8,320 | +9.6% |
| Central Texas | $32.20 | $32.00 | $693 | $8,320 | +12.7% |
| South Plains | $32.00 | $31.80 | $689 | $8,268 | +2.6% |
| Middle Rio Grande | $31.20 | $31.00 | $672 | $8,060 | +4.7% |
| South Texas | $29.80 | $29.80 | $646 | $7,748 | +3.5% |
| Golden Crescent | $29.80 | $29.60 | $641 | $7,696 | +16.5% |
| East Texas | $29.20 | $29.00 | $628 | $7,540 | +8.2% |
| West Central Texas | $29.20 | $29.00 | $628 | $7,540 | +4.3% |
| Southeast Texas | $29.00 | $29.00 | $628 | $7,540 | +9.8% |
| North Texas | $28.20 | $28.00 | $607 | $7,280 | +9.4% |
| Deep East Texas | $27.60 | $27.40 | $594 | $7,124 | +4.6% |
| Northeast Texas | $27.20 | $27.20 | $589 | $7,072 | +6.2% |
| Concho Valley | $25.80 | $25.60 | $555 | $6,656 | +0.0% |
Median full-day rates at licensed centers, from 2026 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey; a month = 260 days ÷ 12; change = the 4-year-old median against the 2025 survey. Area medians come from a sample of centers, so one-year changes for a single area are rough; statewide, the 4-year-old median rose 8.5% ($37.60 to $40.80). The survey leaves out programs that offer only part-day care, so its part-day medians aren’t church preschool or Mother’s Day Out tuition. Every county and age →
Of Texas’s 9,614 licensed centers, 8,966 are licensed to care for pre-K-age children (3 and 4), and 5,486 of those list part-time care among their programs.
California: preschool prices by county
California’s last price survey (2021), raised to August 2026 prices, puts full-time care for a preschooler (ages 2 to 4) at a center at about $1,399 a month ($16,794 a year) statewide, against about $1,936 for an infant; a licensed family child care home charges about $1,245 a month. Prices run from about $860 a month in the least expensive counties to $2,190 in San Francisco County.
| County | Center, a month | Center, a year | Family child care home, a year | Less than infant care |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $1,372 | $16,460 | $14,518 | 30% |
| San Diego | $1,278 | $15,342 | $12,863 | 31% |
| Orange | $1,385 | $16,624 | $15,117 | 31% |
| Santa Clara | $2,017 | $24,206 | $20,907 | 18% |
| Alameda | $1,951 | $23,414 | $18,907 | 17% |
| Sacramento | $1,241 | $14,898 | $13,599 | 30% |
| San Bernardino | $1,054 | $12,642 | $12,107 | 33% |
| Riverside | $1,080 | $12,960 | $12,096 | 31% |
| Contra Costa | $1,623 | $19,479 | $16,630 | 26% |
| San Francisco | $2,189 | $26,267 | $24,064 | 17% |
| San Mateo | $2,042 | $24,505 | $21,568 | 17% |
| Fresno | $1,083 | $12,991 | $12,210 | 31% |
| Ventura | $1,192 | $14,299 | $12,389 | 30% |
| San Joaquin | $1,007 | $12,082 | $11,683 | 33% |
| Kern | $1,056 | $12,676 | $12,553 | 34% |
The 15 counties with the most licensed centers. Median full-time prices for children 2 to 4 from the 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey, adjusted by the BLS day care price index (our estimate). All 58 counties →
Many California families pay these prices for only a year or two: transitional kindergarten is free for every child who turns 4 by September 1, and part-day state preschool is free for families under the income limit (see Is pre-K free?).
Pennsylvania: preschool prices and Pre-K Counts
Pennsylvania centers list their daily rates in the state’s COMPASS search. The median full-time rate for preschoolers is $56.23 a day (about $1,218 a month), from 3,249 centers, and the median part-time rate is $46.00 a day, from 3,038 centers.
| County | Full time, a day | A month | A year | Part time, a day | Centers listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $58.00 | $1,257 | $15,080 | $47.00 | 931 |
| Allegheny | $60.00 | $1,300 | $15,600 | $50.00 | 302 |
| Montgomery | $67.60 | $1,465 | $17,576 | $50.40 | 209 |
| Delaware | $56.50 | $1,224 | $14,690 | $45.00 | 136 |
| Lehigh | $47.20 | $1,023 | $12,272 | $40.00 | 132 |
| Bucks | $64.00 | $1,387 | $16,640 | $51.00 | 130 |
| Chester | $68.60 | $1,486 | $17,836 | $59.20 | 122 |
| Berks | $49.00 | $1,062 | $12,740 | $43.00 | 106 |
| Luzerne | $43.00 | $932 | $11,180 | $37.60 | 89 |
| Lancaster | $55.50 | $1,202 | $14,430 | $45.40 | 82 |
| Northampton | $46.00 | $997 | $11,960 | $38.00 | 69 |
| Westmoreland | $48.20 | $1,044 | $12,532 | $40.20 | 64 |
| Dauphin | $56.50 | $1,224 | $14,690 | $45.60 | 62 |
| York | $49.20 | $1,066 | $12,792 | $47.20 | 57 |
| Erie | $53.50 | $1,159 | $13,910 | $42.50 | 52 |
The 15 counties with the most centers listing a full-time preschool rate (ages 37 months to kindergarten). Rates are what centers post and may have changed; programs don’t have to list them. Every county and age →
PA Pre-K Counts is free pre-K for children from 3 until kindergarten age who are at risk of school failure, in families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level ($99,000 a year for a family of four in 2026–27; 2026 income chart). School districts, Head Start programs, nursery schools and child care centers run it. 537 of the 4,933 certified centers on Daycare Record offer it, 92% of them rated STAR 4; 104 offer Head Start, and 59 are listed for the state-funded Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program. Seats are limited, so apply early, directly to a program or through your Early Learning Resource Center. Check each center’s inspection record before you enroll.
Philadelphia (112), Allegheny (35), Delaware (27) and Luzerne (25) counties have the most. Pre-K Counts: the 2026–27 income chart, how to apply, and all 537 centers by county with their records →
Part-day vs full-day preschool
Many preschools run for a few hours in the morning, two to five days a week, on the school calendar. A part-day program costs less in total than full-time care, but not in proportion to the hours: in Texas and Pennsylvania a part-time day costs about four-fifths of a full day’s price.
- Texas: a part-day spot (under six hours a day) at centers that also offer full days or after-school care had a statewide median of $34.20 a day for a 3-year-old and $33.40 for a 4-year-old in 2026, against $41.00 and $40.80 for a full day of six hours or more (2026 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey). Programs that offer only part-day care aren’t in the survey.
- Pennsylvania: centers that post both rates charge a median of 83% of their full-time daily rate for a part-time day. Across all centers, the typical part-time preschool rate is $46.00 a day, against $56.23 full time.
Three part-time days a week come to about $600 a month at Pennsylvania’s median part-time rate, or about $440 at the Texas part-day median for a 3-year-old. Ask whether a program charges for 9 or 12 months, whether the price changes with the number of days, and what care is available before and after class if you work.
Is pre-K free?
Often, for the children who qualify. 44 states and D.C. pay for some free public pre-K, usually for 4-year-olds and usually through school districts; Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Wyoming have none, and NIEER doesn’t count Indiana’s program, which requires parents to work or go to school. 37% of U.S. 4-year-olds and 9% of 3-year-olds were in state-funded pre-K in 2024–25, and states spent an average of $8,124 per child (NIEER, State of Preschool 2025; spending per child; each state’s share is in the table above). Who qualifies, and for how many hours, depends on the state. A daycare’s or private school’s own pre-K class charges tuition, but many centers also hold free state-funded seats (Pre-K Counts and PHLpreK in Pennsylvania, district partnership classrooms in Texas), so ask which kind of seat it is.
In some places pre-K is open to every 4-year-old regardless of income, including D.C., Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Vermont and West Virginia, though seats or hours can be limited (Education Commission of the States); in most states it depends on income or other criteria. Free pre-K often covers only part of a working day, from 2½ hours to a school day, so many families still pay for care before and after it. The part-time rates above are a guide to that cost.
| State | Free program | Who it’s free for | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Public school pre-K | 4-year-olds who qualify: family income up to $61,050 for a family of four (2026–27), children learning English, homeless, military or foster families and a few others; 3-year-olds where the district offers it | Full day for eligible 4-year-olds |
| Texas (Dallas ISD) | District pre-K | Every 3- and 4-year-old in the district, at any income, from 2026–27 | Full day |
| California | Transitional kindergarten (TK) | Every child who turns 4 by September 1, at any income | At least 3 hours a day; many districts run a full school day |
| California | State preschool (CSPP) | 3- and 4-year-olds in families earning up to $136,044 for a family of four (2026–27) | Part-day free; full-day free under 75% of state median income, fees capped at 1% of income above it |
| Pennsylvania | PA Pre-K Counts | Children from 3 until kindergarten age who are at risk of school failure, in families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level ($99,000 for a family of four) | Half day (at least 2½ hours) or full day (at least 5), 180 days a year |
| Philadelphia | PHLpreK | Any 3- or 4-year-old living in Philadelphia, at any income, while seats last (5,250 in 2025–26) | A 5½-hour day, 180 days a year |
| Every state | Head Start | 3- to 5-year-olds in families under the poverty line, or receiving TANF, SSI or SNAP, homeless or in foster care | Varies by program |
| Every state | Preschool special education | 3- to 5-year-olds with a disability or developmental delay, at any income | Set by the child’s plan; ask your school district |
Texas: Education Code §29.153, the USDA school meal income limits and The Texan, March 2026; California: CDE TK FAQ, Management Bulletin 26-03 and 26-04; Pennsylvania: Department of Education, 2024–25 annual report and City of Philadelphia; special education: U.S. Department of Education. The full Texas eligibility list and income table → · Who qualifies for Head Start →
In 2024–25, 52% of Texas 4-year-olds were in public pre-K, 46% of California 4-year-olds were in TK or state preschool and 26% of Pennsylvania 4-year-olds were in state-funded pre-K. State spending per child was $4,395 in Texas, $14,907 in California and $8,474 in Pennsylvania (NIEER).
What Texas districts charge for pre-K
If your child doesn’t qualify for free pre-K, some Texas districts sell the seats they have left. The tuition can’t be more than it costs the district to add the class, and the district must ask the state each year to approve its rate (TEA). Published prices for 2026–27:
| District | Who and when | Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Cypress-Fairbanks ISD | 4-year-olds, space available (new for 2026–27) | $650 a month; $50 registration (district) |
| Frisco ISD | 4-year-olds, full day | $688.50 a month (district) |
| Hutto ISD | 4-year-olds (2026–27 enrollment closed) | $740 a month, August to May (district) |
| Houston ISD | 3- and 4-year-olds | $7,419 a year, or 9 payments of $824 (district) |
| Northwest ISD | 4-year-olds, full day, by lottery | $7,000 a year (district) |
| Lubbock ISD | Pre-K | $4,000 a year; ask about a tuition waiver (district) |
Some districts have gone the other way: Dallas ISD made full-day pre-K free for every 3- and 4-year-old for 2026–27 (The Texan), while Northside ISD in San Antonio is ending tuition pre-K; children already enrolled may stay through 2026–27 (San Antonio Report). Under a 2025 law (HB 2), from 2027–28 a district can charge pre-K tuition only if a state-designated partnership intermediary finds that qualifying private providers aren’t available (TEA, August 2026).
California: TK and the hours around it
TK must run at least 180 minutes a day, with at least one adult for every 10 children, and each district decides between a half day and a full school day (CDE). Districts funded by the state’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program must offer care before and after class that brings the day to nine hours, plus 30 days when school is out: to every TK child in districts with high shares of low-income students and English learners, and at least to those children elsewhere. It’s free for children from low-income, foster or homeless families, and others can be charged on a sliding scale (CDE). For 3-year-olds and for full-day care, state preschool (CSPP) is free part-day for families under the income limit, and full-day CSPP is free under 75% of the state median income, with fees capped at 1% of monthly income above it.
Pennsylvania: Pre-K Counts and PHLpreK
Pre-K Counts classes have up to 20 children with a teacher and an aide, and providers may charge for extra hours of child care around the program. In 2024–25 it served 27,619 children at 972 locations (annual report). Apply to a Pre-K Counts program directly, or ask your Early Learning Resource Center. In Philadelphia, PHLpreK pays for a 5½-hour day, 180 days a year (city figures), for any 3- or 4-year-old in the city while seats last (5,250 in 2025–26; City of Philadelphia); families who need more hours use child care aid or pay for them.
What preschools actually charge: published tuition
Few preschools post their prices, so the surveys above are the best guide to what’s typical near you. These programs publish theirs; they show how much the schedule matters:
| Program | Where | Schedule | Tuition | Fees and billing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Presbyterian Church Preschool | Bethlehem, PA | 3-year-olds 9:15–11:45; 4-year-olds 9:15–1:00 | 3s: 2 days $221.50, 3 days $266, 5 days $354 a month; 4s: 4 days $360.50, 5 days $411.50 a month | $100 registration; 10 monthly payments, August to May (rates) |
| Capistrano Unified School District preschool | Orange County, CA | Half day (3 hours) or full day (7 hours), 2, 3 or 5 days | Half day: $337, $472 or $772 a month; full day: $501, $720 or $1,161 a month | $195 registration a year (rates) |
| Texas Tech Child Development Research Center | Lubbock, TX | Preschool class, 2, 3 or 5 days, mid-August to mid-May | $4,204 (Tu/Th), $6,349 (M/W/F) or $8,581 (M–F) a year | $50 application and $150 registration, non-refundable (rates) |
| The Christian School at Castle Hills preschool | San Antonio, TX | Full day for 3s and 4s; part time for 18 months to 4 years | Full day $1,060 a month; part time (potty-trained) $864 for M/W/F or $760 for Tu/Th a month | $215 registration, $226 technology and supply fee, $180 family security fee, $55 billing fee; billed monthly, June to May (rates) |
| Carnegie Mellon Children’s School | Pittsburgh, PA | 5 days from 8:30 (Fridays to 11:30) | $12,985 a year to 1:00; 4s to 2:30, $16,800 | $540 materials, $410 administrative and $22 application fees; $700 deposit (rates) |
| Bing Nursery School, Stanford University | Stanford, CA | Half day (3½ hours), 2, 3 or 5 days, September to June | $10,860 (Tu/Th), $14,740 (M/W/F) or $25,600 (M–F) a year | $50 application; $800 reservation fee, applied to tuition (rates) |
| De Anza College Child Development Center | Cupertino, CA | Full day, 8:00–5:30, all year | $2,630 a month (community families) | $500 registration, non-refundable; 12 monthly payments (rates) |
From each program’s published tuition for the school year shown. Ask any program for its fee schedule in writing: registration, supply and activity fees, deposits, whether you pay for holidays and breaks, and late-pickup charges.
Why preschool prices differ from site to site
You’ll see very different “average” preschool prices. They measure different things: full-time care or part-day programs, medians or averages, state surveys, agency data or rates programs post online, and data from different years. Compare like with like: a full-time price against full-time prices.
| Source | What it measures | U.S., a year | Texas | California | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daycare Record (this page) | U.S.: average of county medians from the DOL database, full time, in today’s prices; states: Texas’s 2026 survey (3-year-olds), California’s 2021 survey in today’s prices (ages 2 to 4, weighted by centers) and Pennsylvania centers’ posted rates (medians) | $12,995 | $10,660 | $16,794 | $14,620 |
| Child Care Aware of America | Average price of full-time care for a 4-year-old at a center, from state agencies and referral networks, 2025 (three methods) | $12,165–$12,555 | — | — | — |
Child Care Aware puts care for a 4-year-old in a family child care home at $10,572–$14,045 a year. Many “average preschool cost” figures online are for half-day programs or cite no source. Prices are still rising: the consumer price index for day care and preschool was up 3.1% in the 12 months to September 2026 (BLS).
Preschool, pre-K and taxes
Preschool tuition isn’t a tax deduction, but if you pay for it so you (and your spouse) can work, it counts as child care for the two federal tax breaks for working parents. IRS Publication 503 says the costs of nursery school, preschool and similar programs for children below kindergarten are expenses for care; kindergarten and higher grades aren’t, though before- and after-school care for a kindergartner can be (IRS Publication 503; IRS FAQ). The same rule applies to a dependent care FSA (Publication 15-B).
- Dependent care FSA: from 2026 you can pay up to $7,500 a year ($3,750 if married filing separately) of preschool or other care with pre-tax pay, if your employer offers an FSA (Publication 15-B). FSA calculator →
- Child and dependent care credit: 20% to 50% of up to $3,000 in costs for one child ($6,000 for two or more) from 2026 (draft 2026 Form 2441 instructions). FSA money comes off that limit, so a family that puts the full $7,500 in an FSA has nothing left for the credit, even with two children. Credit calculator →
- Free pre-K or TK: there’s nothing to claim for the free hours, but what you pay for care before and after them counts.
Ways to pay less for preschool
- Free public pre-K, TK and state preschool: check whether your child qualifies before you sign a private contract (see Is pre-K free?). In Texas, some districts run free pre-K classrooms inside child care centers, so a child can get free pre-K and paid care before and after it in one place.
- Head Start is free preschool for eligible families. Who qualifies →
- Child care aid: Texas child care scholarships cap a family’s share at 7% of income; California and Pennsylvania (Child Care Works) also help families under their income limits pay for care.
- A dependent care FSA and the care credit cover preschool tuition when you work (see taxes).
- Part-day or fewer days: two or three mornings a week cost less in total; a parent co-op preschool costs less again if you can help in the classroom.
- Ask about discounts: siblings, paying for the year up front, employer or military rates, and whether the price drops when your child turns 4 or 5.
Common questions
How much does preschool cost per month?
About $1,080 a month on average for full-time preschool at a U.S. daycare center, by our estimate, from about $610 in Mississippi to about $1,720 in Vermont. In Texas the median is about $888 a month for a 3-year-old (2026 survey). Part-day programs cost less.
How much is preschool per week?
About $250 a week for full-time preschool at a center, on average. Texas centers charge a median of $205 a week for a 3-year-old, and Pennsylvania centers post a median of $281 a week.
Is pre-K free?
Often, for children who qualify. In California, transitional kindergarten is free for every child who turns 4 by September 1. In Texas, public pre-K is free for 4-year-olds who qualify by income or another route, and in Pennsylvania, Pre-K Counts is free for families earning up to 300% of the poverty level. Head Start is free for eligible families everywhere. Pre-K classes at daycares and private schools charge tuition unless the seat is state-funded, so ask.
How much does private pre-K cost?
About the same as other full-time preschool care: in Texas the median full-day price for a 4-year-old is $40.80 a day, about $884 a month. The U.S. average for full-time preschool at a center is about $1,080 a month. Part-day classes a few mornings a week cost less.
Is preschool cheaper than daycare?
Preschool-age care costs less than care for babies and toddlers, because a teacher can look after more children: nationally, full-time care for a preschooler costs about 21% less than infant care. A part-day preschool costs less in total than full-time daycare, but usually more per hour.
How much does part-time preschool cost?
Texas centers charged a statewide median of $34.20 a day for a 3-year-old’s part-day spot (under six hours) in 2026, and Pennsylvania centers post a median part-time preschool rate of $46.00 a day. Three days a week comes to about $600 a month at Pennsylvania’s median part-time rate, or about $440 at the Texas part-day median for a 3-year-old. Programs that offer only part-day classes set their own prices, so ask.
Is preschool tuition tax deductible?
Not as a deduction, but if you pay for it so you can work, preschool and pre-K tuition counts as child care for a dependent care FSA (up to $7,500 a year from 2026) and the child and dependent care credit. Kindergarten tuition doesn’t count.
Can I use a dependent care FSA for preschool?
Yes. Preschool, nursery school and pre-K costs count, along with before- and after-school care, when the care lets you (and your spouse) work or look for work. Kindergarten and private-school tuition don’t.
More guides
Changes
- Oct 18, 2026: First published, with preschool prices for 48 states and D.C., Texas workforce areas, California and Pennsylvania counties, free pre-K rules and published tuition.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices; DOL release, Nov 2024; 2026 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey; California 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey (CDSS); Pennsylvania DHS COMPASS provider search and data.pa.gov provider list; NIEER, State of Preschool 2025; IRS Publication 503; Child Care Aware of America, 2025 price data (published May 2026). Checked Oct 18, 2026. Prices are estimates; ask each program for its rates.