Child care in Illinois nearly costs as much as college

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — Child care nearly costs more than sending your child to college, which prompted shock from locals.

Most people stress about the cost of college, but when comparing prices, child care is not that far behind, less than $200 to be exact.

"It's just too much," said Sharron Cole, a Springfield resident.

$13,802 a year may sound like the price of college tuition, but it's actually how much on average a family will pay for child care in Illinois.

"The board of education at Concordia watches that on a monthly basis," said Concordia Lutheran Board of Education President Roger Gruber.

That is just $168 less than average in-state tuition at four-year public college and university.

"We actually have some financial aid that's donated by our parents and our congregation," said Concordia Lutheran Administrative Assistant Lora Beavers.

Concordia Lutheran works to keep rates affordable.

For the upcoming 2019-2020 school year, the preschool prices are as follows:

• Full-time and year-round: $150 per week or $35.00 per day
• Part-time and year-round:
• Five days per week, it will be $75.00 per week
• Three days per week, it will be $45.00 per week
• Two days per week, it will be $30.00 per week

"We also get a small amount that's been given by a member of a different church that's designated to go to all the Lutheran churches," said Beavers.

But keeping those rates low can also prove to be difficult for preschools.

"We want to have a good, Christian-based preschool and K-8 school. So, we try to keep our rates as low as possible and with excellent staff, that's always the key right there is keeping good staff," said Gruber.

It can also prove costly for families who want a safe place for their children.

"She's three and we were going to put her in a daycare, but it is very expensive," said Cole.

Cole said as a former daycare worker, she has seen firsthand how prices can impact families.

"It's like a hundred and some odd dollars every so many weeks," said Cole.

With the extra cost, it can pose a financial burden that isn't expected.

For a minimum wage worker in Illinois, it could take up to 42 weeks to pay for just one child and for an average family, infant care can take up to 20% of their income.