Day care can cost more than college tuition in Montana

Parents of college-age children rejoice: It costs less to send a 19-year-old to the University of Montana for a year than it does to put a 4-year-old in full-time day care.

That doesn’t truly compare apples to apples. But one Missoula family sending their child to UM for two semesters of full-time college course work will spend an average $5,238, not counting room, board and books. The family next door with a 4-year-old and two full-time jobs will require $6,750 for 50 weeks a year of day care.

Looking for an in-home nanny? The rates range from $7 to $13 an hour per child, or roughly $1,000 a month to look after two small children.

By ROB CHANEY of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/11/04/news/local/news04.txt