Average Cost of Daycare & Preschool in Tennessee (2024)
The average cost of daycare in Tennessee is about $1,094 a month for an infant and $903 a month for a 4-year-old in a licensed center (2024 data). Below that, the real published rates of 8 Tennessee schools — not an average.
Center-based preschool for a 4-year-old in Tennessee averages $10,840 a year — about $903 a month, below the US average of $12,503. Infant care runs higher (about $13,126/year). Source: Child Care Aware of America, 2024 Affordability Analysis, 2024.
Real published tuition: among the Tennessee preschools we list, published monthly tuition ranges $350–$1,796/month (39 programs that post prices). Most schools don't publish rates — ask for a quote.
Infant care in Tennessee runs about $2,286 more a year than preschool-age care, so the cost usually falls as your child grows. Eligible Tennessee families can pay far less — the state's public pre-K, Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K (VPK), is free for income- or risk-qualified children — see help paying for preschool in Tennessee.
Estimate your preschool cost
Based on Tennessee's average — adjust for your child's age, schedule, and program type.
✓ Sent. See help paying for preschool in Tennessee.
What Tennessee preschools actually charge
State averages are a starting point, not a price. These are real published rates from 8 Tennessee schools we list, taken from each school's own tuition page or rate sheet and converted to a monthly figure — cheapest program first. Click a school name to see the source.
| School | City | Program | Published rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idlewild Presbyterian Children's Center | Memphis | 24–35 months — Full day 7am–6pm | $350/mo |
| St. Mary's Episcopal School - Early Childhood | Memphis | St. Mary's Place (2-yr-olds), 2-day program — 2 mornings–2 full days | $467/mo |
| Hutchison School - Abston Early Childhood Center | Memphis | Little Hive (2-year-olds) — 2 full days | $583/mo |
| Threshold Montessori School | Memphis | Pre-K (ages 3–5, 3 days/week) — 3 days | $680/mo |
| Presbyterian Day School | Memphis | Young Knights (2-year-olds) — 5 Half Days | $707/mo |
| The Maria Montessori School | Memphis | Primary (3–4+ yr), half day 8:30–11:30 — Half day | $878/mo |
| Lipman Early Learning & Research Center | Memphis | Reggio Emilia Inspired Preschool (3 years) — School day 8:00 am–3:15 pm | $968/mo |
| Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal School | Memphis | Junior Kindergarten (age 4) — 5 Half Days | $1,167/mo |
Lowest published program per school, normalised to a month. Most preschools don't publish rates at all — a blank here means we haven't found a published price, not that a school is cheap or expensive. Always confirm current pricing with the school.
Prices swing with schedule and program type — full-day costs about twice a half-day, and Montessori or private programs run well above a community or church-based one; meals, registration, and materials fees add more. What drives preschool pricing → · How to afford preschool → · Compare the real price →
Preschools in Tennessee
See also: when your child can start in Tennessee · preschool costs in other states.