On this page you can find more information to help you understand how to budget for child care expenses while attending or working at UW-Madison.
Including Child Care Tuition in Cost of Attendance
Students can include child care costs in their Cost of Attendance (COA). The UW Office of Student Financial Aid can account for these costs when students submit a Budget Adjustment eForm through their Student Center. For questions about increasing your COA, please speak to a UW Financial Aid advisor.
Average Cost of Child Care Per Week
All fees and tuition costs are estimates for planning purposes only. Please contact child care providers for the most up-to-date information on their fees and tuition.
Below are estimates of weekly child care rates providers located in Dane County. Please note, most child care providers require a 12-month contracts. Part-time care is estimated based on 5 half-days per week, but providers may offer a variety of part-time scheduling options. Additional CCTAP funding is available to parenting students who work with child care providers that have received national or City of Madison accreditation.
Group Child Care Weekly Rates
Group centers can care for 9 or more children, usually in a child care center or outside of a residence.
| AGE OF CHILD | FULL-TIME | PART-TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | $430-$550 | *$375 |
| 2 Years | $370- $450 | $300-$320 |
| 3 Years | $370- $412 | $270-$320 |
| 4 Years | $325- $395 | $265-$280 |
*Part-time care for children under 12-months-old is rare.
Family Child Care Provider Weekly Rates
Family child care providers provide care for 4–8 children, usually in the provider’s home or a home-based setting. Learn More.
| AGE OF CHILD | FULL-TIME | PART-TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 | $325 | $280 |
| 2-3 Years | $305 | $260 |
| 4-5 Years | $290 | $250 |
| 6-12 Years | Contact Provider | Contact Provider |
4K Wrap Care Weekly Rates
Four-Year-Old Kindergarten (4K) is a half-day or full-day tuition-free, optional program in Madison, Wisconsin that helps prepare children for kindergarten. 4K programs are held in schools or child care centers authorized to teach 4K curriculum. Children must be four years old by September 1 of the year they plan to enroll and live in the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD). Learn More.
4K Wrap Care is child care that is offered before or after your child’s 4K class.
| AGE OF CHILD | 4 or 5 Days/Week |
|---|---|
| 5 Years | $256 |
Elementary School-Aged Care Weekly Rates
Weekly rates for after or before school care and summer programs for elementary aged children. Learn More.
| 5 Days/Week | 4 Days/Week | 3 Days/Week | 2 Days/Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| $180 | $130 | $110 | $95 |
Fees & Waitlists
Registration Fees
Most child care centers require a $25-50 one-time registration fee per child.
Waitlist Fees
Some child care center waitlists are free, but some may require you to put down a $25 month deposit or more. It is recommended that families with young children get on multiple waitlists to increase their chance of securing child care.
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- Average Waitlist Length for Infant Care (0-18 months) is 6 months to two years.
- Average Waitlist Length for Preschool Care (18 months-4 years-old) is 4 months to one year.
Back-up Hourly Care
You may want to budget a monthly cost for occasional back-up care for when your regular child care provider is closed due to illness, professional development, or vacation.
The average hourly cost for back-up care is between $13-15 per hour.
Additional Fees
Questions to ask your child care provider:
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- What is the annual registration fee?
- Is there a material or supply fee for books or classroom materials?
- Is there a charge for meals or snacks?
- Are there field trip fees?
- Are there any other additional fees?