Why child care costs so much in Minnesota

MPR News with Angela Davis · Aug 25, 2025 · 47m

Child care is one of the biggest expenses families face — and here in Minnesota, it's among the highest in the nation.Infant care in the state averages nearly $1,900 a month — that's more than most families pay for a mortgage and is more than the cost of in-state tuition at some public colleges. And Minnesota isn’t alone. In more than 40 states, parents say child care is the single biggest expense in their households. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with leaders in early childhood education and child care policy to help us understand what’s behind these rising costs and what families are…