How Much Does It Cost for Preschool?

Geographic Factors

• Just as real estate and groceries cost more in some areas, so too does preschool. Remember this increased cost not only reflects the higher property taxes or rent on the facilities, but also increased staff salaries because of a higher cost of living in that area. For example, a three-day-a-week preschool in a major metropolitan area can cost $17,000, while a preschool in a less affluent or populated community may cost less than half the price.

Program Structure

• Enrolling your child in preschool two or three days a week from 9 a.m. to noon costs considerably less than enrolling her five days a week from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Some preschools for older children, where the curriculum is likely to have more of a structured sequence over several days in a row, may only have a five-day-a-week option while programs for younger toddlers are more likely to have flexible enrollment options. Some preschools offer after care until 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. for working parents and this can also increase the cost.

Child-Based Factors

• The age of your child and whether she's fully toilet trained can also affect the cost of preschool. Since state regulations typically require a lower student to teacher ratio for toddlers, the cost would be higher for a 2.5-year-old who attends full-day preschool five days a week than a 4-year-old attending for the same amount of time, according to the National Institute for Effectiveness in Early Education. And, since caring for children in diapers is typically more labor-intensive, being toilet trained may also factor into the tuition cost.

Program Quality

• The quality of the preschool program is based on several factors including teacher education and experience as well as enrichment and facilities. On the whole, preschools with more extensive facilities and more experienced, educated teachers are generally more expensive, according to the National Institute for Effective Early Education. This doesn't mean you should automatically choose the preschool with the newest building or the best-decorated classroom, but you should pay attention to things like the education and experience levels of the teachers and the types of enrichment activities available.