What child care costs in Vermont
Vermont doesn’t publish what each program charges, so the surest way to know is to ask. Here’s what we can show: the tuition some centers list on their own websites, what families pay with the state’s help, and where pre-K is publicly funded.
What centers’ own websites list
| Program | Age | Tuition | For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christ the King Early Childhood ProgramRutland City | Preschool | $7,915 a year | 2026–27 school year |
Only tuition a center’s website states clearly, for an age, and for the current school year or with a date in the last 12 months. A range means the center lists more than one schedule. Each program’s page links to the website it came from. Websites change, so confirm with the program.
We’ve found the websites of 56 of Vermont’s 656 centers, preschools and afterschool programs so far, and read them for prices; 1 list current, dated tuition.
What families pay with help
Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance Program helps families with incomes up to 575% of the federal poverty level pay for regulated child care. Families pay a weekly share based on income: a family of four earning up to $4,813 a month pays nothing, and the share rises in steps to $425 a week at $15,813 a month, the top of the guidelines (from Mar 22, 2026).
Who qualifies and how to applyPublicly funded pre-K
383 Vermont programs are prequalified to be paid for publicly funded pre-K under Act 166: 154 run by public schools and 229 privately. If your child is 3 or older and not yet in kindergarten, ask your school district or the program which hours are covered and how to enroll. Program pages say whether a program is prequalified.
What to ask about cost
- The weekly or monthly price for your child’s age and the schedule you need.
- Fees: to apply, to join the waitlist (and whether it’s refunded), registration and deposits.
- What’s included: meals, diapers, and whether you pay for holidays, vacations and sick days.
- Whether it takes Child Care Financial Assistance, and what you’d pay each week if you qualify.
Questions
How much does child care cost in Vermont?
Vermont doesn’t publish programs’ prices, so the surest way to know is to ask each program. 1 center lists current tuition on its own website; they’re on this page.
What do families pay with the Child Care Financial Assistance Program?
A weekly family share based on income. A family of four earning up to $4,813 a month pays no share; above that, the share starts at $50 a week and rises to $425 a week for a family of four earning up to $15,813 a month (guidelines from Mar 22, 2026).
Is pre-K free in Vermont?
383 programs are prequalified to be paid for publicly funded pre-K under Vermont’s Act 166: 154 run by public schools and 229 privately. Ask your school district or the program which hours are covered and how to enroll.
Why is infant care the most expensive?
Babies need more teachers per child than any other age group, so each infant spot costs a program more to staff.
From the state’s list of child care providers (Vermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division, on the state’s open data portal), retrieved Oct 29, 2026. The state updates its list once a month. Openings are what each program last reported to the state, on the date shown. Always confirm details with the program. The state’s data is shared under the Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0.