Study Shows Child Care Costs More Than College In Massachusetts

Parents in Massachusetts are paying more than most states for child care.

A recent study by the Economic Policy Institute ranks Massachusetts as the 2nd most expensive state for child care in the country. Only Washington DC is more costly when it comes to kids.

The report shows that on average it is more expensive to put an infant in day care for a year than it is for in-state tuition at a four-year public college.

It's actually much, much more expensive.

Where the college tuition is typically $10,702...a year of infant child care is $17,062!

And for the average Massachusetts family that accounts for about 20% of the household income, which is double what is considered "affordable child care."

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says child care is considered affordable when it is 10% of a household income.

At the cost Massachusetts families pay, only 18.7% of families can truly afford child care.