TL;DR
In Ohio’s big-city counties, the median full-time child care center charges about $325 a week for an infant, $292 for a toddler, $258 for a preschooler, and $165 for before- and after-school care, according to the state’s 2024 Market Rate Survey. A year of infant care at that price is $16,900, which is 22% to 27% of the median household income in Cuyahoga, Franklin, Summit and Lucas counties, more than three times the 7% that federal regulators treat as affordable. Prices fall as children get older because Ohio law lets one teacher care for more children at each age. Families who qualify for Publicly Funded Child Care, the Child Care Choice Voucher, or Cuyahoga County’s UPK scholarships can pay a fraction of these figures.
The Short Answer: Median Daycare Prices in Ohio for 2026
The most reliable price data in Ohio comes from the state itself. Every few years the state surveys licensed programs about what they charge private-pay families, then uses the middle of that range, the 50th percentile, to set what it pays providers who serve families on child care assistance. The current rates took effect November 2, 2025 and are based on the 2024 survey.
Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Franklin (Columbus), Summit (Akron) and Lucas (Toledo) counties all sit in the state’s highest-cost group. Here is what the median center charges there for full-time care:
Chart: median full-time weekly price at an Ohio child care center
Ohio’s highest-cost county group, which includes Cuyahoga, Franklin, Summit and Lucas counties
Source: 2024 Market Rate Survey (50th percentile, center care, full time)
| Age group | Median weekly price | Monthly (x 4.33) | Yearly (x 52) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $325.00 | $1,407 | $16,900 |
| Toddler | $292.15 | $1,265 | $15,192 |
| Preschool | $258.00 | $1,117 | $13,416 |
| School age, summer | $235.00 | $1,018 | $2,350 for a 10-week summer |
| School age, before and after school | $165.00 | $714 | $6,270 for a 38-week school year |
Your own quote may land above or below these medians. Programs with longer hours, smaller groups, meals included, or a higher Step Up To Quality rating tend to sit above the middle. If you are comparing specific neighborhoods, our city guides break down options in affordable daycare in Cleveland, affordable daycare in Columbus, affordable childcare in Akron and affordable daycare in Toledo.
Why Infant Care Costs the Most
Most of what you pay for child care is teacher time, and Ohio law sets how many children each teacher may care for. Under Ohio Administrative Code rule 5180:2-12-18, a center needs one adult for every five infants under 12 months. By age four, one adult may supervise 14 children. A teacher’s wage and benefits cost roughly the same whatever the age of the children in the room, so spreading them across five babies instead of fourteen preschoolers pushes the per-child price up.
That is also why the price drops at each birthday that moves a child to a new ratio, and why part-time infant spots are hard to find: a center cannot fill half of a required teacher. You can see the full age breakdown on our infant care program and toddler program pages.
How Ohio Prices Compare by Region
Where you live changes the bill as much as your child’s age. The same state survey sorts every county into one of three cost groups. A family in Cleveland or Columbus pays about two-thirds more for infant care than a family in rural southern Ohio.
| County group | Example counties | Median infant price | Median preschool price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest-cost group | Cuyahoga, Franklin, Summit, Lucas, Hamilton, Montgomery | $325.00/wk | $258.00/wk |
| Middle group | Many mid-size and suburban counties | $246.65/wk | $190.00/wk |
| Lowest-cost group | Rural counties such as Brown, Gallia, Vinton | $195.00/wk | $160.00/wk |
Hamilton (Cincinnati) and Montgomery (Dayton) counties are in the highest-cost group as well, so these figures are a good guide for most of urban Ohio.
How Much of a Paycheck Daycare Takes
Prices only mean something next to income. The chart below divides a year of median infant care by each county’s median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau. The yellow bar is the 7% benchmark the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services set in 2024 as the most a family receiving child care assistance should pay.
Chart: one year of infant care as a share of household income
$16,900 a year (median center infant price of $325 a week x 52) divided by each county’s median household income; bar scale runs to 30%
Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts (2020 to 2024, in 2024 dollars), Ohio market rates, and HHS 2024 rule
In Lucas County, one infant in full-time care costs more than a quarter of the median household’s income before taxes. That gap is why so many families rely on subsidized care, and why the supply of subsidy-accepting programs matters. Ohio State University’s Crane Center found that ahead of Ohio’s 2020 quality-rating deadline, only 36% of Franklin County’s 765 subsidy-accepting programs were rated, putting about 21,000 publicly funded slots at risk.
What Changes the Price at a Specific Daycare
- Your child’s age group. Infant rooms cost the most because of the 1-to-5 ratio. Prices usually drop when a child moves to the toddler and then the preschool room.
- Full-time or part-time. The state’s survey shows part-time center care running about two-thirds of the full-time weekly price, but many centers do not offer part-time infant spots at all.
- Quality rating. Programs rated in Ohio’s Step Up To Quality system receive 10% to 25% more from the state for each child on assistance. Higher-rated programs often have more credentialed teachers and stronger curricula.
- Hours. A center open 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. covers a full commuting workday, which costs more to staff than a school-day program.
- What is included. Ask whether meals and snacks, diapers, wipes, formula, field trips and curriculum materials are in the weekly rate or billed separately.
- Fees. Registration, annual supply, and late pickup fees can add a few hundred dollars a year. Our post on saving with early registration covers ways to reduce them.
Ways Ohio Families Lower the Cost
Publicly Funded Child Care
Working families at or below 145% of the federal poverty level can start Ohio’s main subsidy, which was $3,302 a month for a family of three as of October 1, 2026. The state pays the provider directly, and the family pays a weekly copayment that is $0 at the lowest incomes and about $62 a week at $3,000 a month. Families can stay enrolled until income reaches 300% of poverty. The full income chart is in our Ohio daycare vouchers guide, and the official figures are in the state’s 2026 eligibility standards.
Child Care Choice Voucher
For working families between 146% and 200% of poverty, up to $4,554 a month for a family of three. If the voucher does not cover the whole tuition, the state’s Choice Voucher rules cap the family’s share of the remainder at 9% of monthly income.
Early Childhood Education Grant and Head Start
Children ages 3 to 5 in households at or below 200% of poverty may qualify for the ECE Grant without a parent work requirement, according to Cuyahoga County. Head Start programs serve eligible preschoolers at no cost. Our overview of affordable early education options explains how these fit together.
Cleveland-Area Preschool Scholarships
Cuyahoga County’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten program pays 50% tuition scholarships for 3- to 5-year-olds in families at or below 400% of poverty, a much higher line than any state program. A Case Western Reserve University program evaluation found that UPK children entering Cleveland Metropolitan School District kindergarten scored higher on the state readiness assessment than the district average (17.4 versus 15.7). Cleveland families can stack this with the city’s Pre4CLE effort, explained in our Pre4CLE funding guide.
Employer Benefits
Some Ohio employers pay part of child care tuition directly or partner with providers for reserved seats. If yours does not, it is worth asking, and our page on child care employee benefits explains how these programs work.
What You Get for the Price at Clever Bee Academy
Clever Bee Academy runs Step Up To Quality rated programs for infants through preteens in Cleveland, Columbus, Akron and Toledo. Most academies are open 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; our Toledo academies are open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Families get teachers who use the Creative Curriculum to meet each child at their developmental level, nutritious meals, kindergarten readiness programming, and partnerships with outside speech and occupational therapists. Because prices vary by location and age group, the most accurate number comes from the academy itself. Find your nearest academy or see our full list of programs by age.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost of daycare in Ohio per month?
In Ohio’s largest metro counties, the median full-time center price works out to about $1,407 a month for an infant, $1,265 for a toddler, and $1,117 for a preschooler. Rural counties run up to about 40% lower.
Why is daycare in Columbus and Cleveland more expensive than in rural Ohio?
Wages, rent and operating costs are higher in metro counties, and the state’s market rate survey reflects that. Cuyahoga, Franklin, Summit and Lucas are all in the state’s highest-cost group.
Is in-home daycare cheaper than a center?
Usually. The same state survey puts the median full-time price at a licensed family child care home in the highest-cost counties at $225 a week for an infant, about $100 less than a center. Homes are smaller settings, so ask about backup care for days the provider is closed.
How much does after-school care cost in Ohio?
About $165 a week at the median center during the school year in the state’s metro counties, rising to about $235 a week for full-day summer care.
Can I get help paying for daycare if I make more than the PFCC limit?
Possibly. The Child Care Choice Voucher reaches 200% of poverty, the ECE Grant covers 3- to 5-year-olds up to 200%, and Cuyahoga County’s UPK scholarships reach 400%. Apply even if you think you are over the line, because the county checks every program you might qualify for.
Sources
- Ohio Department of Children and Youth, weekly payment rates at the 50th percentile of the 2024 Market Rate Survey, effective November 2, 2025: 2024 Market Rate Survey
- Ohio Administrative Code 5180:2-12-18, group size and ratios for licensed child care centers: OAC 5180:2-12-18
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, median household income 2020 to 2024, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Summit and Lucas counties: Census QuickFacts
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, 2024 CCDF final rule overview: HHS 2024 rule
- Ohio Department of Children and Youth, Procedure Letter 45: 2026 income eligibility standards: Procedure Letter 45
- Ohio Department of Children and Youth, Child Care Choice Voucher program: Choice Voucher program
- Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services, child care assistance programs: Cuyahoga child care
- Cuyahoga County, Universal Pre-Kindergarten for parents: Cuyahoga UPK
- The Ohio State University Crane Center, Child Care Access in 2020: Crane Center whitepaper
- Case Western Reserve University, Invest in Children evaluation: Case Western evaluation
Get an exact quote for your child
Tuition depends on your child’s age, schedule and location, and many families qualify for help that lowers it. Visit an academy, see the classrooms, and leave with real numbers. Schedule a tour today.
