Daycare in North Dakota
What daycare costs in each North Dakota county, how to get help paying, and how to check a license.
Short answer
Help paying in North Dakota
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), run by North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
$81,840a year or less for a family of three to start (75% of state median income), as of October 2025. You also need to work, study or train.
The highest copay reported for a family of three is 6% of income (January 2025).
How to applySources: North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services; National Women's Law Center
What does daycare cost in each North Dakota county?
Weekly full-time prices in 2022. Center infant care runs from $195 in Eddy County to $240 in Divide County. Prices aren't adjusted for inflation, so today's rates are likely higher.
| County | Infant | Toddler | Preschool | Infant, home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | $198 | $181 | $167 | $145 |
| Barnes County | $209 | $190 | $177 | $153 |
| Benson County | $199 | $182 | $168 | $146 |
| Billings County | $203 | $185 | $172 | $149 |
| Bottineau County | $218 | $199 | $185 | $161 |
| Bowman County | $220 | $201 | $186 | $161 |
| Burke County | $216 | $198 | $183 | $159 |
| Burleigh County | $221 | $201 | $187 | $162 |
| Cass County | $214 | $195 | $181 | $157 |
| Cavalier County | $207 | $189 | $175 | $152 |
| Dickey County | $203 | $185 | $172 | $149 |
| Divide County | $240 | $219 | $203 | $177 |
| Dunn County | $230 | $210 | $195 | $169 |
| Eddy County | $195 | $178 | $165 | $143 |
| Emmons County | $199 | $182 | $169 | $147 |
| Foster County | $209 | $191 | $177 | $154 |
| Golden Valley County | $217 | $198 | $184 | $160 |
| Grand Forks County | $212 | $193 | $180 | $156 |
| Grant County | $200 | $183 | $169 | $147 |
| Griggs County | $200 | $183 | $170 | $147 |
| Hettinger County | $215 | $196 | $182 | $158 |
| Kidder County | $198 | $181 | $168 | $146 |
| LaMoure County | $198 | $181 | $168 | $146 |
| Logan County | $212 | $194 | $180 | $156 |
| McHenry County | $213 | $194 | $180 | $156 |
| McIntosh County | $199 | $182 | $169 | $147 |
| McKenzie County | $240 | $219 | $203 | $176 |
| McLean County | $215 | $197 | $182 | $158 |
| Mercer County | $224 | $204 | $189 | $164 |
| Morton County | $223 | $204 | $189 | $164 |
| Mountrail County | $216 | $197 | $183 | $159 |
| Nelson County | $199 | $182 | $169 | $146 |
| Oliver County | $199 | $182 | $169 | $147 |
| Pembina County | $204 | $186 | $173 | $150 |
| Pierce County | $209 | $191 | $177 | $154 |
| Ramsey County | $201 | $184 | $170 | $148 |
| Ransom County | $222 | $203 | $188 | $163 |
| Renville County | $219 | $200 | $186 | $161 |
| Richland County | $208 | $190 | $176 | $153 |
| Rolette County | $197 | $180 | $167 | $145 |
| Sargent County | $221 | $202 | $187 | $162 |
| Sheridan County | $201 | $183 | $170 | $147 |
| Sioux County | $196 | $180 | $166 | $144 |
| Slope County | $205 | $187 | $173 | $150 |
| Stark County | $220 | $200 | $186 | $162 |
| Steele County | $203 | $185 | $172 | $149 |
| Stutsman County | $206 | $188 | $175 | $152 |
| Towner County | $201 | $184 | $170 | $148 |
| Traill County | $209 | $191 | $177 | $154 |
| Walsh County | $203 | $186 | $172 | $150 |
| Ward County | $220 | $201 | $186 | $162 |
| Wells County | $199 | $182 | $168 | $146 |
| Williams County | $230 | $210 | $195 | $169 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices. Data as of 2022 prices.
Look up your county to see a year's cost for each age, or read how much childcare costs for nannies and other options.
Help paying for daycare in North Dakota
Three ways to bring the bill down. You can use more than one.
1. Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
The state's child care subsidy, run by North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. A family of three qualifies at up to $81,840 a year to start. You pay a copay and the state pays the rest to the provider you pick. New applicants may go on a waiting list (started December 2025). Families below 30% of state median income and homeless families come first. In North Dakota, a provider whose price is above the state's payment can charge you the difference, so ask first.
2. Head Start and Early Head Start
Free for families at or below the poverty line, or on TANF or SSI. 53 centers in North Dakota; 18 take babies and toddlers.
3. Tax breaks
For 2026, a dependent care FSA through your employer can shelter up to $7,500 of child care costs from tax, and the Child and Dependent Care Credit pays up to 50% of up to $3,000 in expenses for one child or $6,000 for two or more. The same dollars can't count for both.
How to check a daycare's license in North Dakota
Every licensed program has a state record with its license, the ages and number of children it's licensed for, and its inspection history. Look a program up before you tour it, and again before you sign.
- Find and check child care in North Dakota on Childcare.gov, with links to the state's search, licensing rules and inspection reports.
Daycare in North Dakota: common questions
How much does daycare cost in North Dakota?
Full-time infant care at a North Dakota child care center has a median price of $214 a week, about $11,118 a year; at a family child care home it's $157 a week. These are 2022 prices from the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices, not adjusted for inflation, so expect to pay more today. Prices for toddlers and preschoolers are lower, and they vary by county.
How do I get help paying for daycare in North Dakota?
Apply to Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), run by North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. A family of three can earn up to $81,840 a year to start (as of October 2025). Parents generally need to be working, in school or in job training. You pay a copay based on income, and the state pays the rest to the provider you choose. New applicants may go on a waiting list (started December 2025). Families below 30% of state median income and homeless families come first.
Is there free daycare in North Dakota?
Head Start and Early Head Start are free for families who qualify. The Office of Head Start lists 53 centers in North Dakota; 18 serve babies and toddlers (Early Head Start) and 44 offer preschool for ages 3 to 5. You qualify with income at or below the federal poverty line, or at any income if you get TANF or SSI, your child is in foster care, or your family is homeless.
How do I check that a daycare is licensed in North Dakota?
Look the program up in North Dakota's child care search before you visit. Childcare.gov's North Dakota page links to the state's search, its licensing rules and its inspection reports.
What's the difference between a daycare center and a family child care home?
A center runs in a commercial or school building with several classrooms and staff. A family child care home is licensed care in the provider's own home, usually for a smaller group of mixed ages, and in North Dakota it costs a median $157 a week for an infant against $214 at a center. Both are licensed and inspected by the state.
Are there tax breaks for daycare?
For 2026, a dependent care FSA through your employer can shelter up to $7,500 of child care costs from tax, and the Child and Dependent Care Credit pays up to 50% of up to $3,000 in expenses for one child or $6,000 for two or more. The same dollars can't count for both.
Daycare in nearby states
Other benefits in North Dakota
Having a baby in North Dakota Benefits, each with its source, checked October 2026 Pregnancy Medicaid Up to 175% FPL WIC Yes Paid family leave No Medicaid pays for a doula No See North DakotaGear for daycare days
Sources
- 1.National Database of Childcare Prices: 2008-2022 (Data File) U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 2.National Database of Childcare Prices Technical Report (September 2024) U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 3.National Database of Childcare Prices: State-Level Estimates and Affordability Rankings 2022 U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 4.National Database of Childcare Prices U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 5.Child Care Assistance Program (policy changes and waitlist) North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 6.North Dakota: Financial Assistance Resources for Families (last reviewed 2026-06-26) Childcare.gov (Administration for Children and Families). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 7.Warning Signs: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2025 National Women's Law Center. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 8.CCDF Family Co-Payments by State (January 2025) Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 9.42 U.S. Code 9858n, Definitions (Child Care and Development Block Grant Act) Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (U.S. Code). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 10.Understanding and finding child care in North Dakota Childcare.gov (Administration for Children and Families). Accessed October 16, 2026.