Study: Child care costs surpass college tuition costs
The cost of child care in the United States for many parents is more than the cost of in-state college tuition, according to a new study from the think tank New America.
BizWomen.com reported that college tuition costs $9,410 per year on average, according to the study, whereas the average annual cost for full-time child care for children 4 years old and younger is $9,589. On a state-by-state level, the cost of child care is higher than the cost of in-state tuition and fees in 33 states.
One issue the report addresses is that American businesses tend not to help pay for child care. Less than 4 percent of child care centers’ revenue comes from businesses, while 57 percent comes from parents paying tuition, and about 39 percent comes from government funding.
As a result, New America recommends systemic changes, including four major policies as a way to begin easing the child care burden for American workers: universal paid family leave, expanding and improving cash assistance programs, implementing high-quality universal pre-K programs, and focusing resources on programs aimed at dual-language learners.
RELATED: Read Kristen Corey’s guest submission: “Child care is not just a women’s issue“
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