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How Much Is After-School Care in 2026?

$150–$600/month depending on your state and program type. Pick yours for a real number.

After-School Care Cost Calculator

Select a state to see cost ranges.

After-school care costs $150–$600 per month in 2026. The national average is $245/month, or about $2,200 per school year. Add before-school coverage (6–8am) and the average before and after school care cost runs $350–$700/month combined.

  • School-based programs: $50–$350/month (cheapest, uses existing school facilities)
  • YMCA / community centers: $150–$400/month (includes sports, arts, homework help)
  • Private after-school centers: $300–$600/month (best ratios, longest hours)
  • Before-school add-on: $80–$200/month extra for morning coverage (6–8am)
  • Tax savings: CDCTC covers 20–35% of costs; Dependent Care FSA saves $1,000–$1,850/year pre-tax

High-cost states (CA, MA, DC) run 30–60% above these averages. All 50 states ranked below.

After-school care qualifies for CCDF subsidies. Income limits are higher than most families expect.

Families earning $60K–$80K/year in high-cost states often qualify for partial assistance.

Check your state's limits →

After-School Care Cost by State — All 50 States

Massachusetts private after-school care averages $500–$750/month — the most expensive state. Mississippi and Arkansas anchor the low end at $120–$245/month. The 50-state spread is roughly 3x for private providers, mirroring full-day daycare costs. YMCA and community programs narrow the gap slightly but follow the same labor-cost patterns as the overall childcare market.

Monthly cost estimates for one school-age child. Ranked highest to lowest. School-based costs vary widely by district — ranges shown are typical community and private provider rates.

# State School/District YMCA / Community Private Provider
1 Washington DC $270–$390 $450–$690 $680–$980
2 Massachusetts $250–$360 $410–$630 $620–$900
3 New York $210–$310 $360–$550 $540–$770
4 Washington $200–$290 $340–$520 $510–$730
5 California $200–$290 $330–$510 $500–$720
6 Connecticut $200–$290 $330–$510 $500–$720
7 New Jersey $190–$280 $320–$490 $480–$690
8 Rhode Island $190–$280 $320–$490 $480–$690
9 Colorado $180–$260 $300–$460 $450–$650
10 Maryland $180–$260 $300–$460 $450–$650
11 Oregon $170–$240 $280–$430 $420–$610
12 Vermont $170–$240 $280–$430 $420–$610
13 New Hampshire $170–$240 $280–$430 $420–$600
14 Hawaii $170–$240 $280–$420 $410–$600
15 Minnesota $160–$230 $260–$400 $400–$570
16 Virginia $160–$230 $260–$400 $400–$570
17 Illinois $160–$230 $260–$400 $390–$570
18 Alaska $150–$220 $260–$390 $380–$550
19 Delaware $140–$200 $230–$350 $340–$490
20 Wisconsin $140–$200 $230–$350 $340–$490
21 Maine $140–$200 $230–$350 $340–$490
22 Pennsylvania $140–$200 $230–$350 $340–$490
23 Michigan $120–$180 $210–$320 $310–$450
24 Nebraska $110–$160 $190–$290 $280–$410
25 North Dakota $110–$160 $190–$290 $280–$410
26 Ohio $110–$160 $190–$290 $280–$410
27 Montana $110–$160 $190–$290 $280–$410
28 Iowa $110–$160 $190–$290 $280–$410
29 Indiana $110–$160 $190–$290 $280–$400
30 Florida $110–$160 $190–$290 $280–$400
31 Nevada $110–$160 $190–$290 $280–$400
32 Arizona $110–$160 $190–$290 $280–$400
33 Utah $110–$160 $180–$280 $270–$390
34 North Carolina $110–$150 $180–$270 $270–$380
35 Texas $100–$150 $170–$260 $250–$360
36 Wyoming $100–$150 $170–$260 $250–$360
37 Missouri $100–$150 $170–$260 $250–$360
38 Kansas $100–$150 $170–$260 $250–$360
39 Georgia $100–$150 $170–$260 $250–$360
40 Idaho $100–$140 $170–$250 $250–$360
41 New Mexico $100–$140 $160–$240 $240–$340
42 South Carolina $100–$140 $160–$240 $240–$340
43 South Dakota $100–$140 $160–$240 $240–$340
44 Tennessee $100–$140 $160–$240 $240–$340
45 Kentucky $90–$130 $150–$230 $230–$330
46 Oklahoma $80–$120 $140–$220 $210–$310
47 West Virginia $80–$120 $140–$220 $210–$310
48 Louisiana $80–$110 $130–$200 $200–$290
49 Alabama $80–$110 $130–$200 $190–$280
50 Arkansas $80–$110 $130–$190 $190–$270
51 Mississippi $70–$110 $120–$190 $180–$270

What Drives After-School Program Costs

Location explains more of the price gap than program type. The same YMCA after-school program costs $180/month in Mississippi and $420/month in Massachusetts — a 2.3x difference driven by labor and real estate, not quality. Within a state, urban programs run 20–40% above suburban. Extended hours or holiday coverage adds another 15–30% regardless of provider type.

Location
State and city matter more than program type. The same YMCA after-school program costs $180/month in Mississippi and $420/month in Massachusetts. Labor costs and real estate drive the gap, not program quality.
Age of Child
School-age programs (5–12) are cheaper than infant or toddler care, but older children in enrichment-heavy programs (STEM, arts, sports) can cost as much as preschool. Basic supervision programs stay low; specialized enrichment adds 30–60%.
Hours Needed
Standard after-school runs 3–6pm on school days. If you need extended hours (pickup flexibility, 6–7pm) or holiday coverage, expect to pay 15–30% more. Before-care adds roughly half the after-care rate.
Subsidy Eligibility
CCDF subsidies, 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants, and Head Start transition programs can drop costs to near zero for qualifying families. The cutoffs vary by state — many middle-income families who don't think they qualify actually do.
Provider Type
School-district and nonprofit programs run 20–40% less than private for-profit centers for equivalent hours. The tradeoff is often reliability: school programs close on school holidays; private centers usually don't.

Tax Benefits Cut the Real Cost

After-school programs qualify for both the Dependent Care FSA and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. At a 22% tax bracket, the FSA alone saves $1,100/year on $5,000 in after-school costs. Combined benefits can reduce your net cost by $1,000–$2,000/year.

Calculate your tax savings →

After-School Care Cost by City

25 major metros — school-district program rates for one child

Akron from $158/mo Albuquerque from $148/mo Allentown from $178/mo Amarillo from $132/mo Anaheim from $268/mo Anchorage from $235/mo Ann Arbor from $195/mo Arlington from $150/mo Athens from $148/mo Atlanta from $185/mo Augusta from $145/mo Aurora from $210/mo Austin from $175/mo Bakersfield from $230/mo Baltimore from $245/mo Baton Rouge from $148/mo Bellevue from $318/mo Bend from $232/mo Billings from $138/mo Birmingham from $140/mo Boise from $148/mo Boston from $305/mo Boulder from $248/mo Brownsville from $115/mo Buffalo from $245/mo Cape Coral from $155/mo Chandler from $178/mo Charleston from $158/mo Charleston from $128/mo Charlotte from $180/mo Chattanooga from $145/mo Chesapeake from $208/mo Chicago from $220/mo Chula Vista from $258/mo Cincinnati from $175/mo Clarksville from $138/mo Clearwater from $165/mo Cleveland from $172/mo Colorado Springs from $198/mo Columbia from $148/mo Columbus from $138/mo Columbus from $185/mo Corpus Christi from $138/mo Dallas from $165/mo Dayton from $158/mo Denton from $152/mo Denver from $225/mo Des Moines from $158/mo Detroit from $162/mo Durham from $178/mo El Paso from $130/mo Elk Grove from $255/mo Eugene from $222/mo Evansville from $140/mo Fargo from $142/mo Fayetteville from $138/mo Fort Lauderdale from $190/mo Fort Wayne from $148/mo Fort Worth from $158/mo Fremont from $305/mo Fresno from $235/mo Frisco from $168/mo Gainesville from $152/mo Garland from $148/mo Gilbert from $180/mo Grand Rapids from $168/mo Greensboro from $162/mo Hartford from $262/mo Henderson from $170/mo Honolulu from $310/mo Houston from $160/mo Huntsville from $148/mo Indianapolis from $160/mo Irvine from $295/mo Irving from $152/mo Jackson from $118/mo Jacksonville from $145/mo Jersey City from $285/mo Joliet from $195/mo Kansas City from $168/mo Killeen from $128/mo Knoxville from $148/mo Lakeland from $150/mo Lakewood from $218/mo Laredo from $118/mo Las Vegas from $165/mo Lexington from $152/mo Lincoln from $148/mo Little Rock from $135/mo Long Beach from $280/mo Los Angeles from $290/mo Louisville from $158/mo Lubbock from $130/mo Madison from $205/mo Manchester from $228/mo McAllen from $122/mo McKinney from $162/mo Memphis from $148/mo Mesa from $170/mo Miami from $195/mo Midland from $145/mo Milwaukee from $185/mo Minneapolis from $230/mo Modesto from $222/mo Montgomery from $130/mo Murfreesboro from $155/mo Naperville from $235/mo Nashville from $165/mo New Haven from $255/mo New Orleans from $152/mo New York City from $320/mo Newark from $268/mo Norfolk from $205/mo Oklahoma City from $145/mo Omaha from $158/mo Orlando from $178/mo Pearland from $155/mo Peoria from $168/mo Philadelphia from $200/mo Phoenix from $175/mo Pittsburgh from $195/mo Plano from $165/mo Portland from $235/mo Portland from $250/mo Providence from $258/mo Raleigh from $185/mo Rancho Cucamonga from $252/mo Rapid City from $128/mo Reno from $162/mo Richmond from $210/mo Riverside from $248/mo Rockford from $172/mo Round Rock from $160/mo Sacramento from $260/mo Salem from $215/mo Salt Lake City from $158/mo San Antonio from $140/mo San Diego from $270/mo San Francisco from $340/mo San Jose from $310/mo Santa Clarita from $272/mo Savannah from $148/mo Scottsdale from $210/mo Seattle from $295/mo Sioux Falls from $138/mo South Bend from $142/mo Spokane from $235/mo Springfield from $148/mo St. Louis from $172/mo St. Paul from $222/mo St. Petersburg from $172/mo Stockton from $218/mo Sugar Land from $162/mo Sunnyvale from $315/mo Tacoma from $252/mo Tallahassee from $158/mo Tampa from $185/mo Tempe from $172/mo Toledo from $155/mo Tucson from $162/mo Tulsa from $140/mo Virginia Beach from $218/mo Waco from $132/mo Washington from $330/mo Wichita from $148/mo Wilmington from $232/mo Winston-Salem from $158/mo

After-School Care Cost by State

All 50 states + DC — click for school-based, YMCA, and private rates plus city-level data

Alabama $280/mo Alaska $480/mo Arizona $390/mo Arkansas $250/mo California $640/mo Colorado $530/mo Connecticut $590/mo Delaware $430/mo District of Columbia $670/mo Florida $365/mo Georgia $340/mo Hawaii $565/mo Idaho $305/mo Illinois $460/mo Indiana $325/mo Iowa $315/mo Kansas $320/mo Kentucky $295/mo Louisiana $280/mo Maine $385/mo Maryland $555/mo Massachusetts $650/mo Michigan $360/mo Minnesota $450/mo Mississippi $245/mo Missouri $340/mo Montana $320/mo Nebraska $325/mo Nevada $385/mo New Hampshire $500/mo New Jersey $615/mo New Mexico $290/mo New York $645/mo North Carolina $350/mo North Dakota $280/mo Ohio $350/mo Oklahoma $290/mo Oregon $500/mo Pennsylvania $460/mo Rhode Island $475/mo South Carolina $340/mo South Dakota $275/mo Tennessee $325/mo Texas $370/mo Utah $360/mo Vermont $460/mo Virginia $520/mo Washington $590/mo West Virginia $250/mo Wisconsin $385/mo Wyoming $290/mo
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What About Summer? Full-Time Summer Childcare Costs by State
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Subsidy Eligibility by State
CCDF income limits, all 50 states
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Subsidy Calculator
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After-school care qualifies for both
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After-School Care Costs: What the Numbers Show

The cheapest after-school care most families don't use is at the school itself. 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants fund programs serving over 1.6 million students at $50–$150/month or free. Private centers range from $300/month in Mississippi to $750/month in Massachusetts. Families earning $60,000–$80,000/year in high-cost states often still qualify for partial CCDF assistance.

The spread in after-school costs is wider than most parents expect. School-district programs and 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants bring the floor down to $50–$150/month in many states. But in Massachusetts, California, or New York, a private after-school center for one child runs $500–$750/month. Two kids in a high-cost city: $1,000–$1,400/month. That's a second mortgage in some markets.

The state with the widest spread between school-district and private rates is Massachusetts — pull up Massachusetts after-school care for the full range. Other top markets: California after-school care, New York after-school care, Texas after-school program pricing, and Florida after-school care. Each state page shows school-district, YMCA, and private provider rates with city-level data. For the seasonal complement — what changes when school ends in June — see summer childcare costs.

School-Based Programs: The Underused Option

The cheapest after-school care in most states isn't at the YMCA or a private center — it's at the school itself. Programs funded through 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants serve over 1.6 million students nationwide at low or no cost. Income-based sliding scales bring many families to $50–$150/month. The problem is awareness: many parents assume these programs are full or only for low-income families. Some are. Many aren't. Call the school office directly.

YMCA and Community Centers: The Middle Tier

YMCA after-school programs run $150–$400/month nationally, with financial assistance available on a sliding scale. They typically pick kids up at school, provide snack, homework time, and supervised activities. Quality varies significantly by branch — worth visiting before committing. Boys & Girls Clubs offer similar programs, often at lower rates in underserved areas.

Private After-School Centers: When Reliability Matters

Private after-school providers operate like mini daycare centers for elementary-aged kids. $300–$600/month nationally, $450–$750/month in high-cost states. What you're paying for: consistent staffing, structured programming, and reliable holiday coverage. School-based programs close on school holidays. Private centers usually don't. If your employer can't accommodate school-day gaps, the premium for private care often makes financial sense.

How to Find Cheaper After-School Care

Three things most families skip: (1) Check your school district's website for extended-day or after-school programs — many districts don't advertise these well. (2) Search your state's childcare assistance database for CCDF eligibility — income limits are higher than most people assume. (3) Ask your current daycare or preschool about after-school slots for school-age siblings — many offer discounted add-on rates to existing customers.

The subsidy calculator on this site checks eligibility across all 50 states. Many families earning $60,000–$80,000/year qualify for partial assistance in high-cost states.

After-School Care Costs: Common Questions

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