Want Affordable, High-Quality Child Care? Look to the Military

The cost of child care in the United States has reached crisis levels. Recent research from the Economic Policy Institute shows that child care costs are now higher than college tuition in 38 states and exceed the cost of rent in 17 states and Washington D.C. Department of Labor Data shows that the average American family spends between 9 and 16 percent of their annual income per year per child. This is an unsustainable burden on American families.

For military families, the financial burden created by sky-high child care costs is alleviated by a robust support system that includes Child Development Centers (CDCs), fee assistance programs, and other supports that make high-quality child care affordable and accessible. The military reduced fees significantly in January 2024 and are now about seven percent of a service member’s total family income. These resources allow service members to focus on their missions, confident that their children are receiving safe and reliable care.

I know personally how huge a difference military child care makes. My oldest daughter was born at Offutt Air Force Base, and as a young E-3 (Airman First Class), I saw firsthand the incredible child care options available on base. The Child Development Center was not just affordable but a lifeline. It allowed me to focus on my work with the peace of mind that my daughter was safe and well cared for—something I took for granted until I separated from the military.

The military’s substantial investment in child care, totaling $1.79 billion annually as of January 2024, reflects a pragmatic understanding: accessible child care is not just a family benefit but a strategic necessity. Without it, service members could not focus on their duties, and retention rates would likely decline. Furthermore, these subsidies represent an essential lifeline for lower-ranking personnel, making high-quality child care an option that would otherwise be out of reach.

For veterans transitioning out of the military and into higher education, the loss of these child care supports can be devastating. SVA’s research shows that more than half of student veterans have children, compared to approximately 20 percent of parenting students generally, and roughly 20 percent are single parents. The demands on their time and finances are further compounded by the fact that about 75 percent of student veterans work while attending school, often in service or retail jobs that pay low wages. This burden disproportionately impacts women and students of color, who are overrepresented among single-parent households and in lower-wage employment sectors. Without affordable child care, many student veterans cannot fully commit to their education or achieve the long-term economic security provided by earning a degree.

I faced these exact challenges when I transitioned to civilian life. The cost of child care became an overwhelming obstacle. Enrolling my daughter in daycare was financially out of reach, forcing my then-husband and me to make a tough decision about which of us could pursue higher education. I stayed home with our daughter while he attended school. When we divorced, I found myself navigating a new reality as a single parent with dreams of finishing my own education. To make it possible, I relied on student loans and worked full-time while raising my two daughters. It was an exhausting balancing act. The cost of infant care and extended daycare for my two children during that time eclipsed my G.I. Bill benefits, forcing me to take on even more debt just to complete my degree.

The child care model designed by the U.S. Department of Defense, the world’s largest employer, offers important lessons for the broader civilian world. By examining how and why the military prioritizes child care, policymakers can uncover practical solutions that benefit not just individual families but also the economy as a whole. The stakes are high. Without access to affordable child care, families face limited career advancement, decreased graduation rates, and an overall reduction in long-term economic potential. It is time to explore what the military has long understood—that child care is a critical investment in both people and productivity.

The civilian world has much to learn from the military’s approach to child care, which treats it not as a luxury but as a fundamental necessity. The DoD operates one of the largest employer-sponsored child care programs in the United States, serving over 200,000 children annually through its CDCs and subsidized family child care homes. These programs are not only affordable but also held to rigorous quality standards, with over 97 percent of DoD-operated child care facilities meeting national accreditation criteria, compared to just nine percent of civilian childcare centers nationwide.

By comparison, the civilian child care system is plagued by high costs, limited availability, and inconsistent quality, creating barriers for families across the socioeconomic spectrum. This financial strain disproportionately affects women, single parents, and families of color, many of whom face systemic barriers to economic mobility.

Completing a degree is hard and expensive enough without child care making it even more expensive. Today, I’m proud of the education I earned and the example I set for my children, but I’m still paying the financial price. The debt I incurred to cover basic child care expenses continues to weigh heavily on me, even years later. My experience is not unique—it’s a reality faced by many student veterans, particularly single parents, who are forced to choose between financial stability and the promise of a better future. Reflecting on the support that was available while on active duty, I can’t help but wonder how many more lives could be transformed if civilian child care systems adopted even a fraction of the military’s pragmatic, mission-driven approach.

Policymakers have the opportunity to look to the military model as a blueprint for change, and in recent years, they have taken it. In 2021, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Congressman Mondaire Jones (D-NY-17) introduced the Universal Child Care and Early Learning Act, which uses the military’s approach to child care funding and quality controls as its inspiration. Year after year, there are discussions in Washington D.C. and state houses about expanding access to subsidized child care. Increasing federal funding for quality improvements and incentivizing employer-sponsored care are all actionable steps that could alleviate the burden on civilian families. Additionally, requiring accreditation and accountability standards similar to those in military child care programs would help ensure that investments in child care yield tangible benefits for children and parents alike.

The military’s child care system underscores a critical truth: Child care is not just a personal responsibility but a public good with far-reaching economic and social benefits. Adopting elements of this approach in the civilian world could help improve workforce participation, close equity gaps, and enhance long-term educational and economic outcomes for families. The lessons are clear, what remains is the will to implement them. This conversation should not be limited to an endless argument between politicians. It is time for policymakers, employers, and communities to work together to reimagine childcare as a strategic investment in the future of our nation.