Licensed Daycare in Colorado Springs, Colorado
583 licensed daycares in Colorado Springs, verified weekly. Compare cost, age groups, and Head Start spots in your ZIP — directly from official Colorado licensing records.
Colorado Springs listings updated August 2026 from official Colorado records.
Daycare in Colorado Springs: what parents should know
There are 583 licensed childcare providers on record in Colorado Springs, with Child Care Center the most common type (about 22% of local listings). Every provider here holds a current Colorado license at indexing time, sourced from Colorado Department of Early Childhood — Licensing & Administration.
For age coverage, 17 centers in Colorado Springs report infant care (roughly 3% — infant slots are the scarcest and fill fastest, so start early), and 88 offer preschool programs for ages 3–5. 16 are Head Start programs, free for income-eligible families.
Licensed care in Colorado Springs spans 8+ ZIP codes, so families can usually find an option within a short commute. About 28% are family child care homes — typically smaller group sizes and 10–30% cheaper than centers, a good fit for infants and toddlers.
Combined, Colorado Springs's licensed centers hold about 32,940 licensed seats — a practical gauge of how much local supply competes for each opening.
Colorado Springs childcare by the numbers
The Colorado Springs childcare landscape
Colorado Springs benefits from Colorado's new statewide free preschool, and — as a major military town — has a strong base-linked childcare system on top of it. There is no city-funded program like Denver's, so the statewide UPK plus military and Head Start options do the heavy lifting here.
Free preschool (Universal Preschool Colorado)
Universal Preschool Colorado (UPK) gives every 4-year-old (and some younger children) free preschool hours in the year before kindergarten, regardless of income, applied for through the state system and delivered by participating El Paso County providers and school districts. Unlike Denver, Colorado Springs has no separate city tuition program — UPK is the main free lever.
Military childcare and subsidies
With Fort Carson, Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases, and the Air Force Academy nearby, many local families use on-base Child Development Centers and DoD fee-assistance for off-base care — ask your installation's child & youth services. For others, Colorado's subsidy is CCCAP, administered through El Paso County, and Community Partnership for Child Development (CPCD) runs the area's Head Start.
Licensing and quality
Child care is licensed by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. Check a provider's Colorado Shines rating — the state quality system — alongside any NAEYC accreditation, and confirm the public license and inspection record before enrolling.
Neighborhoods and cost
Full-time infant care in Colorado Springs commonly runs $1,100–$1,500/month — below Denver. Options are spread from the north-side and Briargate areas (newer, family-heavy) to central and east-side neighborhoods closer to the military installations.
When to start looking
The UPK Colorado application typically opens in winter for the following fall — match through the state, then confirm with the provider. For infant care, tour early and join waitlists; military families should contact installation child & youth services as far ahead as possible.
Childcare costs in Colorado Springs
ChildCare Aware reports the Colorado average full-time cost at $1,430/month for infant care and $1,080/month for preschool. City-level prices in Colorado Springs vary by ZIP code and program model — Head Start sites are free for eligible families, family daycare homes typically run 10-30% below center rates, and accredited centers run above the average.
The Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit and a Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 max) reduce effective cost regardless of program. Colorado families may also qualify for Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) (intake: (303) 866-5957).
Full Colorado licensing & cost overviewQuick facts
- State regulator
- Colorado Department of Early Childhood — Licensing & Administration
- Infant ratio
- 1:5
- Toddler ratio
- 1:5
- Preschool ratio
- 1:10
- Avg capacity
- 56 kids
What will daycare actually cost you in Colorado Springs?
Estimate your monthly cost by age and program type, then see which subsidies and tax credits you may qualify for.
Program types in Colorado Springs
What to pack for the first day
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Dishwasher-safe ones survive daily bottle washing; paper labels peel within a week.
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Ask the center first — many supply cots but require your own fitted sheet.
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Two full changes per day for potty-training age, one for older kids.
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Most centers ask for one clearly named bottle a child can open alone.
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Needed if the center does not provide meals; look for one that fits an ice pack.
Browse options on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices are the same for you. Full list by age in our daycare supply checklist.
Largest licensed centers in Colorado Springs
By licensed capacity on file — bigger programs often mean more openings and age groups. Always verify the current license before enrolling.
No openings near Colorado Springs? Widen the search
Waitlists are normal in high-demand areas. Centers one ZIP code over often have space, and part-time or in-home options may open sooner — start by checking nearby ZIP codes.
Found a center in Colorado Springs? Here is what to pack
Bottles, name labels, nap bedding and spare clothes — our checklist by age covers what centers ask you to bring, and what they ask you not to send.
All Colorado Springs licensed centers
Page 1 of 39Each listing links to the full state-record details, including last inspection date if reported.
Parent-asked basics on licensing, ratios, and waitlist timing for this area.
How many licensed daycare centers are in Colorado Springs, Colorado?
What's the average daycare cost in Colorado Springs?
What staff-to-child ratios apply in Colorado Springs daycares?
Are subsidies available for daycare in Colorado Springs?
How do I verify a Colorado Springs daycare's license?
Where to get childcare help in Colorado Springs
Free, official channels for finding licensed care, checking quality ratings, and applying for assistance — no account or fee required.
Child Care Resource & Referral counselors help you find vetted local options.
1-800-424-2246 · Find yoursUnited Way's free, confidential line connects you to local childcare, food, and family aid.
Call 211 · 211.orgFree early education for income-eligible families and pregnant women.
Find a programColorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) can cover most of your childcare cost by income.
(303) 866-5957 · How to applyCheck NAEYC accreditation and your state's quality-rating (QRIS) for any provider.
Find quality careConfirm any provider's current license & inspection record with Colorado Department of Early Childhood — Licensing & Administration.
Official license searchChildcare resources for Colorado Springs
Data and guidance on this page draw on official government and nonprofit sources.
How this data is sourced. Listings for Colorado Springs, Colorado are compiled from official Colorado Department of Early Childhood — Licensing & Administration licensing records and cross-checked for current license status — not paid placements or user star-ratings. Rankings never depend on advertising. Provider details change often, so always confirm directly before enrolling. Reviewed by the DaycareHub editorial team · August 2026 · methodology
Search 583 Licensed Centers in Colorado Springs
Free, no signup, verified directly with Colorado Department of Early Childhood — Licensing & Administration.