Licensed · State-verified

Licensed Daycare in Minnesota

Find the right daycare in Minnesota in under 5 minutes. 2,808 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against Minnesota Department of Human Services — Licensing Division. Free, no signup.

2,808
Licensed Centers
$1,380/mo
Avg Infant Care
$1,020/mo
Avg Preschool
1:4
Infant Ratio
Search 2,808 Minnesota centers Estimate your monthly cost

Minnesota Childcare Licensing

In Minnesota, all child care centers serving children outside the family home are required to be licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services — Licensing Division. Licensed centers undergo background checks, capacity inspections, and routine compliance reviews.

Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:4 for infants under 12 months, 1:7 for toddlers (12–35 months), and 1:10 for preschool (3–5 years). NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below the state minimum.

Verify a license at Minnesota Department of Human Services — Licensing Division

What's distinctive about Minnesota: Minnesota has tight regulations and high-quality QRIS (Parent Aware) ratings. Costs run above national median, especially in Twin Cities. CCAP eligibility tops at 85% state median.

Quick licensing facts

Regulator
Minnesota Department of Human Services — Licensing Division
Infant ratio
1:4
Toddler ratio
1:7
Preschool ratio
1:10
Avg infant cost
$1,380/mo
Avg preschool cost
$1,020/mo

Top Cities for Daycare in Minnesota

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Minneapolis
219 centers
Saint Paul
81 centers
Duluth
47 centers
Rochester
23 centers
Edina
20 centers
Saint Cloud
16 centers
Bloomington
16 centers
Cloquet
15 centers
Moorhead
14 centers
Plymouth
13 centers
Eden Prairie
13 centers
Eagan
13 centers
Financial help

Minnesota Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits

Minnesota families can apply for Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) based on income and work/school status. Federal programs — the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 cap), and Head Start — stack on top of state assistance.

Local intake line: (651) 431-3809

Check Subsidy Eligibility Estimate Your Cost

Official Minnesota & Federal Resources

Independently verify any provider, check subsidy eligibility, and access national child-care databases — all official .gov sources.

License search
Minnesota Department of Human Services — Licensing Division
Verify license & inspection history
Cost & quality data
ChildCare Aware Minnesota
Annual cost report & advocacy
Federal · HHS.gov
Head Start Locator
Free programs for eligible families
Federal · ACF.gov
childcare.gov
National subsidy & CCDF info

Program Types in Minnesota

Preschool
351 centers
Montessori
351 centers
Licensed Group Child Care Home
351 centers
Family Daycare
351 centers
Child Care Center
351 centers
Infant Care
351 centers

Recently Verified Centers

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C Preschool

Coon Rapids Cloud Nine Kids #13

Rochester

Preschool (2-5) Cap 119
N Head Start

Nurturing Hearts Coon Rapids #14

Rochester

2 years - 12 years Cap 57
C Before/After School

Coon Rapids Smart Start Academy #15

Adams

School Age (5+) Cap 73
C Infant Care

Coon Rapids Little Angels #16

Altura

Preschool (2-5) Cap 24
E Montessori

Explorer Kids Coon Rapids #17

Austin

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 117
C Licensed Center

Coon Rapids Generations Daycare #18

Blooming Prairie

Infants & Toddlers Cap 90
C Family Daycare

Coon Rapids KinderSmile #19

Brownsdale

School Age (5+) Cap 60
A Group Care

Active Kids Coon Rapids #20

Brownsville

School Age (5+) Cap 20
C Preschool

Coon Rapids Playhouse Academy #21

Byron

Preschool (2-5) Cap 39
C Head Start

Coon Rapids Learning Center #22

Caledonia

2 years - 12 years Cap 31
C Before/After School

Coon Rapids Childcare Academy #23

Canton

School Age (5+) Cap 81
C Infant Care

Coon Rapids Little Stars Daycare #24

Chatfield

Preschool (2-5) Cap 45

Daycare in Minnesota — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know a daycare in Minnesota is licensed?
Every center listed here is verified against the Minnesota Department of Human Services — Licensing Division database. Look for the 'Licensed' badge on each profile. You can also confirm directly via the agency's lookup tool at https://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&dDocName=DHS-273749.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in Minnesota?
State minimums in Minnesota are roughly 1:4 infants, 1:7 toddlers, and 1:10 preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below these ceilings.
How much does daycare cost in Minnesota?
Full-time infant care averages about $1380/month; preschool runs around $1020/month. Costs vary by city — large metros like Minnesota trend higher than rural areas.
Are subsidies available for childcare in Minnesota?
Yes. The primary state program is Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), reachable at (651) 431-3809. Federal options like Head Start, the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, and Dependent Care FSA also apply. See our subsidies guide for eligibility rules.
How do I report unsafe conditions at a Minnesota daycare?
File a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Services — Licensing Division via their website. Inspections are public record; severe violations result in license suspension.

Search 2,808 Licensed Minnesota Centers

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