As much as we fret about the rising cost of higher education in the United States, one thing remains even more prohibitively expensive in many states: parenthood.
In Kansas and Missouri, it’s cheaper to send your child to a four-year public college than to pay for infant care and day care before they even go to public schools.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, infant care is more expensive than college in 33 states, including Kansas and Missouri. The report said the government defines child care that costs less than 10% of a family’s yearly income as “affordable.” In both Kansas and Missouri, the cost over goes over that threshold.
Here’s how it breaks down:
Kansas
The average cost of infant care in Kansas is $11,201 a year, or $933 per month. For a typical family, that takes up 17.8% of that family’s income.
The average cost of child care for a 4-year-old costs $7,951, or $663 each month.
The average cost for a 4-year college in Kansas is $7,387.
Infant care in Kansas costs $3,814 (51.6%) more per year than in-state tuition for a 4-year public college.
Missouri
The average cost of infant care in Missouri is $8,632, or $719 per month. For a typical family, that takes up 14.9% of that family’s income.
The average cost of child care for a 4-year-old costs $9,308, or $776 each month.
The average cost for a 4-year college in Missouri is $7,998.
Infant care in Missouri costs $634 (7.9%) more per year than in-state tuition for a 4-year public college.
For more on this study, and to compare the costs you pay to what other parents pay across the nation, view the report online.
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