Cost of Preschool, Child Care Stretching Families Across Colorado

Denver families continue to be stretched as costs are rising, including the cost of preschool and child care expenses, which continue to outpace inflation. “The Child Care Opportunity Index,” a recent report from Common Sense Institute (CSI), highlights how child care in Denver County and throughout Colorado continues to be “neither affordable nor accessible for most families.” 

According to the report, “From 2020 to 2024, the price of child care and preschool rose 29%, while overall prices rose 22%.” In addition to not being affordable, child care remains inaccessible, as more than half of Colorado is in a child care desert, which means families are not able to find care near where they live or work as it simply doesn’t exist. 

Denver Preschool Program (DPP) continues to be on the forefront of helping Denver families find and pay for preschool. Learn more about the findings from “The Child Care Opportunity Index” and how Denver Preschool Program continues to support Denver families. 

The Cost of Child Care in Denver County

Authored by CSI Coors Fellow for Economic Mobility Tamra Ryan, “The Child Care Opportunity Index” was released this past summer. Common Sense Institute is a non-partisan research organization that focuses on protecting and promoting Colorado’s economy. Research and reports like the “The Child Care Opportunity Index” help educate and inform the public about pressing needs that impact their daily lives. 

Major findings of the 2025 report that relate to Denver families include: 

• While Denver County has the lowest percentage of household income spent on child care at 18.3%, that mark is still more than double the 7% that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends for child care to be considered affordable.  
• The average monthly cost of child care for one child in Denver County is $1,574. 
• The average monthly wage in Denver County is $8,589.
• Denver County families making minimum wage must work more than two full days per week to cover monthly child care costs. 
• While Denver County is more affordable than many other counties, it offers fewer than one opening/available slot per child under the age of 6. In fact, Denver County only has 1 slot for every 2 children. 

How Denver Preschool Program Helps Denver Families Lower Preschool Costs

Denver families are in a slightly better position than many families throughout Colorado thanks to support from Denver Preschool Program. For the past 20 years, we have helped more than 78,000 Denver children and their families save on preschool costs. DPP tuition credits combined with Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) save Denver families more than $1,200 per month (or $14,000 for the school year), on average. 

DPP hears anecdotally from families every day about how support with preschool costs have helped: 

• One Denver mother shared, “The help with the money has been incredibly helpful. Without it, we could not send our daughter to school.” 
• A Denver mother of 5 said, “The Denver Preschool Program has truly been a hero for me and my twins by providing financial assistance that made quality early education possible. Not only has this support reduced the financial burden on my family, but it has also ensured my twins have access to a strong educational foundation and social growth opportunities.” 
• Another Denver mother shared, “It’s been a big deal for us. I was trying to work from home with a 4-year-old before [receiving support from DPP]. Her going to school allowed me to work more and advance my career. It has allowed us to meet ends, actually have child care, and pay our bills.” 

Even with preschool tuition support from Colorado UPK and DPP, many Denver families are still paying more than the recommended amount for preschool to be considered affordable. The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) has been frozen in Denver County since January 2025, which, according to another CSI report, “The Economic Impacts of Lost Child Care Assistance in Colorado,” may likely result in the following: “Employed parents who rely on affordable child care through CCCAP will likely need to reduce their employment or stop working altogether to take care of their children.” 

How Denver Families Can Lower Preschool Costs

Our guide for Denver families on how to lower preschool costs offers 5 steps to saving on preschool tuition as well as insights about the benefits of preschool for children, families, and communities. Denver families can apply for tuition support from DPP anytime of the year.