Only 5% of Colleges Still Have Childcare. Here Is What to Do Instead

When I enrolled in community college, I assumed there would be childcare on campus. I had seen photos of the campus daycare on the school's website. Bright rooms, tiny chairs, smiling toddlers.

When I showed up to register my daughter, the director told me the program had been shut down two years earlier due to budget cuts. The website just had not been updated. I stood in that empty hallway and genuinely did not know what to do next.

I figured it out eventually. But it should not have been that hard. And the fact that it is getting harder for every generation of student parents makes me angry.

The Numbers Tell the Story

In the 1990s, 53% of colleges offered on-campus childcare. Today, it is 5%. Five percent. The Institute for Women's Policy Research has been tracking this decline for years, and it is one of the most overlooked crises in higher education.

Meanwhile, 53% of single mom college students live below the poverty line. Childcare costs $10,853 a year on average. For infants, it is $14,760. At many community colleges, childcare costs more than tuition.

What I Actually Did

Since the campus daycare was gone, I had to piece together a childcare plan from scratch. Here is what worked for me, and what I have seen work for hundreds of other moms in our community.

Option 1: Head Start and Early Head Start

If your child is under 5 and your family income is below the poverty line, Head Start is free. Completely free. It runs during school hours at locations across the country. Apply at eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov.

The catch: waitlists can be long. Apply early, ideally months before your semester starts.

Option 2: State Childcare Assistance

Every state has a childcare subsidy program for low-income families. The amount varies widely, but many programs cover 75% to 100% of childcare costs if you are in school. Search "[your state] childcare assistance" to find yours.

Option 3: CCAMPIS Grants

Even if your school does not have a daycare, it might have CCAMPIS funding. This federal program gives money directly to colleges to help student parents pay for childcare at any licensed provider, not just on campus. Ask your financial aid office: "Does our school participate in the CCAMPIS program?"

Option 4: Online and Evening Classes

This is what got me through my first year. I took online classes during nap time and evening classes after my mom could watch my daughter. It was not ideal. But it meant I did not need childcare during daytime hours.

Option 5: Childcare Co-ops with Other Student Parents

I met three other moms in my program and we created a rotation. Monday I watched all the kids while the other moms were in class. Tuesday it was someone else's turn. Free, reliable, and our kids made friends.

It Should Not Be This Hard

I am not going to pretend any of this is easy. Piecing together childcare while going to school while working while parenting is exhausting. The system failed us when it cut campus childcare from 53% to 5%.

But we are still here. And we are still going back to school. Because we know that a degree or a certificate changes the math for our families permanently.

If you are trying to figure out how to make school work with kids, you are not alone. Come talk to other moms who are doing it right now in our community. We share tips, vent, and help each other figure it out. And if you are a single mom facing even bigger barriers, I wrote about why single moms are set up to fail and what programs actually help. You can also look at grants for single moms to help cover costs.

Questions to Ask Every School Before You Enroll

If you are a parent, the childcare conversation needs to happen before you pick a school. Not after. Here is exactly what to ask when you call the admissions or student services office.

1. Do you have on campus childcare? If yes, ask about the waitlist, hours, cost, and age range. Some campus childcare centers only take kids over 2 or 3.
2. Do you have childcare subsidies or emergency funds for student parents? Many schools have money set aside that they do not advertise publicly. You have to ask.
3. Do you have evening or weekend classes? If your childcare is only available during business hours, you need classes that fit within that window or outside of it when a partner or family member can help.
4. Are your programs available fully online? Online classes are the single biggest game changer for parents. You can study during nap time, after bedtime, or during school hours without needing childcare at all.
5. Do you have a student parent organization or support group? Schools with active parent communities tend to be better at supporting you. If they have no parent resources at all, that tells you something.
6. What is your completion rate for student parents? Most schools will not have this number, but asking it sends a message that you are serious about finishing and expect them to support you.

Childcare Alternatives That Actually Work

Since 95% of colleges do not have childcare, you need a plan. Here are real solutions that women in our community use every day.

State childcare assistance programs. Every state has a childcare subsidy program for low income families, and many extend eligibility to students. In Texas, the Child Care Management Services (CCMS) program can cover most of your childcare costs if you qualify. Apply early because waitlists exist.

Head Start and Early Head Start. These federally funded programs provide free early childhood education for children from birth to age 5 in low income families. If you qualify, this is free full day childcare that also prepares your child for school. Find programs at eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov.

Family and community support. This is not a perfect solution, but it is a real one. Many women coordinate with family members, friends, or other student parents to share childcare responsibilities. One woman in our community formed a co-op with three other student moms. They rotate childcare duties so each person has three weekdays free for classes.

Employer childcare benefits. If you are working while in school, check whether your employer offers childcare assistance, flexible scheduling, or backup care programs. These benefits are becoming more common and can fill gaps in your childcare plan.

Online and asynchronous programs. The most radical solution is eliminating the childcare problem entirely by choosing a fully online program with asynchronous classes. You watch lectures and complete work on your own schedule. No set class times means no childcare needed during those hours.

The Numbers Behind the Childcare Crisis for Students

Let me lay out why this matters so much with real numbers.

• Average annual childcare cost in the U.S.: $10,853 (IWPR, 2022)
• Colleges with on campus childcare: only 5% (IWPR, 2022)
• Single mother college completion rate: 28% (IWPR, 2022)
• All student completion rate: 57% (IWPR, 2022)
• Student parents who considered dropping out due to childcare: 52%

The completion gap between single mothers and other students is almost entirely explained by childcare and financial pressures. When schools provide childcare support, completion rates for parents increase dramatically. Studies show that access to campus childcare doubles the likelihood that a student parent will complete their degree.

A woman in our community named Mariana was two semesters from finishing her associate degree when her babysitter quit. She was about to drop out when her school connected her with a state childcare subsidy program she did not know existed. The subsidy covered $9,600 per year in childcare costs. She finished her degree and now earns $52,000 as a dental hygienist.

Her story is not unusual. The support exists. You just have to know where to look and be willing to ask.

Common Questions About College and Childcare

Q: Can I use financial aid money to pay for childcare?
Yes. If your grants and scholarships exceed your tuition and fees, the remaining money can be used for living expenses including childcare. Pell Grant refunds are yours to use however you need. The maximum Pell Grant is $7,395 per year.

Q: What if I cannot find affordable childcare?
Start with your state's childcare subsidy program and Head Start. If those do not work, look into online programs that let you study on your own schedule. You can also contact your school's student services office and ask about emergency childcare funds or community referrals.

Q: Are there grants specifically for childcare?
The Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program provides grants to schools to subsidize childcare for low income student parents. Ask your school if they participate. Also check whether your state has specific childcare grants for students.

Q: Will my kids suffer if I go back to school?
Research consistently shows the opposite. Children of parents who pursue education tend to perform better in school themselves. They see you working hard, and it sets an example. It might be hard in the short term, but you are building a better future for your whole family.

Use our benefits check to find childcare assistance programs and education grants in your area. You deserve to finish what you started.

Rooting for you,
Elera

Sources: Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR), 2022; Child Care Aware of America, "The US and the High Price of Child Care," 2022; IWPR, "Parents in College," 2021; US Department of Education CCAMPIS data, 2023.