Two UCLA-operated child care centers serving approximately 220 children are scheduled to close June 30, 2027. The decision leaves university employees and students searching for replacement care in a region with limited infant-care capacity and monthly fees that can reach $4,000. UCLA is offering transition assistance but cannot guarantee placements.
Key Takeaways
- UCLA’s Krieger and University Village centers will close June 30, 2027, ending the university’s remaining Early Care and Education programs
- Four planned Westside child care closures represent more than 450 licensed spaces, including over 100 designated for infants
- UCLA-affiliated families currently pay $3,300 monthly for infant care, while some nearby alternatives cost approximately $4,000
UCLA child care closures are creating a financial and logistical challenge for parents who depend on the university’s early-childhood programs. With both facilities scheduled to close next summer, families face the prospect of higher tuition, limited availability and longer commutes to replacement providers.
The difference can be substantial. Krystal Kendall, a UCLA manager whose 1-year-old daughter attends the University Village Center, told the Los Angeles Times that a nearby provider quoted approximately $4,000 monthly for infant care. Kendall currently pays $3,300 at UCLA, making the alternative $700 more expensive each month.
The closures also come as other Westside child care programs prepare to shut down. Together, the affected facilities account for hundreds of licensed spaces, adding pressure to a Los Angeles market where infant care is already difficult to secure.
UCLA Child Care Closures Will End Two Campus Programs
UCLA announced on August 13, 2026, that its Krieger and University Village centers would discontinue operations at the end of the 2026-27 program year. The decision affects approximately 220 enrolled children, most from families affiliated with the university.
The Krieger Center operates near UCLA’s Westwood campus, while the University Village Center is located on Sepulveda Boulevard. Both provide full-time care for infants, toddlers and preschool-age children, supporting parents whose work or academic schedules require dependable weekday arrangements.
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Darnell Hunt informed families that the decision followed a review of the program’s operations and available alternatives. UCLA maintains that continuing its Early Care and Education program is not financially sustainable and that university resources must be directed toward teaching, research and public service.
The university has confirmed that both centers will remain open through June 30, 2027. Current enrollment will continue during the remaining program year, although staffing arrangements may change as the closure date approaches.
A separate program, University Parents Nursery School, also faces closure after UCLA ends its campus lease in 2027. The independently operated school is not part of UCLA’s Early Care and Education program, but its closure further reduces available options near the university.
The decision prompted opposition from faculty members and families. On October 6, UCLA’s Academic Senate approved a resolution calling for the closures to be reconsidered, with 89 members voting in favor and four opposed. The resolution emphasized the role of child care in supporting university employees and students, although it does not require administrators to reverse their decision.
Westside Child Care Shortage Leaves Families With Limited Options
The UCLA closures are part of a wider reduction in early-childhood services across western Los Angeles. The Samuel Goldwyn Foundation Children’s Center, which has served entertainment-industry families for decades, is also scheduled to close in November 2026.
Its operators cited financial pressures associated with reduced entertainment production and changing preschool enrollment. The slowdown has affected businesses and workers across the region, while city officials have separately examined Los Angeles film production costs and permitting requirements.
Combined with the University Parents Nursery School closure, the four affected facilities represent more than 450 licensed child care spaces, according to California records cited by the Los Angeles Times. More than 100 of those spaces are designated for infants, an age group with particularly limited options.
A 2022 Los Angeles County Early Care and Education Needs Assessment found that licensed child care providers had enough capacity to accommodate only 4% of children younger than 24 months. The figure reflects licensed capacity relative to the county’s infant and toddler population, rather than the number of families actively seeking care.
The shortage is compounded by differences in staffing requirements. Infant classrooms require more caregivers per child than preschool programs, making it difficult for providers to shift resources toward younger age groups without additional staff and facilities.
California’s expanded transitional kindergarten program has also changed enrollment patterns among private preschools. As more 4-year-olds enter school-based programs, some providers face declining enrollment in older age groups while demand for infant and toddler care remains difficult to accommodate.
For UCLA families, these conditions narrow the range of practical alternatives. Parents must consider not only whether a provider has openings, but also whether operating hours, travel distance and enrollment requirements fit their daily schedules.
Higher Tuition Adds to UCLA Families’ Financial Concerns
UCLA’s published tuition schedule for July 2026 through June 2027 lists monthly infant care at $3,300 for university-affiliated families and $3,775 for community families. Affiliated families pay $2,960 for toddler care and $2,315 for preschool care.
Those rates are already significant household expenses. A parent moving from UCLA’s $3,300 infant program to a $4,000 alternative would pay $8,400 more over a full year, assuming unchanged monthly fees.
Kendall described the uncertainty facing her family after visiting another provider.
“We don’t quite know what we’re going to do,” she told the Los Angeles Times.
Her experience illustrates one possible cost difference, rather than a standard price across Los Angeles child care providers. Tuition varies by location, children’s ages, operating schedules and the availability of financial assistance.
A Public Policy Institute of California analysis found that full-time child care costs in Los Angeles County averaged approximately 17% of median household income across different provider types and age groups. The figures place child care among the substantial recurring expenses affecting families already managing other everyday household spending.
The university’s own program has faced financial difficulties. Documents reviewed by the Daily Bruin showed approximately $10.2 million in projected operating expenses for the 2026-27 academic year, compared with more than $6.2 million in expected parent tuition revenue.
The same financial records projected a cumulative program deficit of approximately $9.1 million by June 2027. That amount represents an accumulated shortfall, while the projected deficit for the 2026-27 year was approximately $1.07 million. UCLA has identified the program’s financial position as one factor behind its closure decision.
To assist affected families, UCLA is offering up to one hour of free support from a child care transition navigator. The service provides information about potential providers, referrals and enrollment options, but does not guarantee acceptance at another center.
The university also says both facilities will continue meeting California licensing requirements through their final operating year. Families will receive updates about staffing, enrollment and transition arrangements as details become available.
For parents currently relying on UCLA’s programs, the confirmed June 2027 closure date establishes when existing care will end. Finding a replacement will depend on available spaces, individual providers’ admission decisions and the costs families can accommodate.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will UCLA’s child care centers close?
UCLA’s Krieger and University Village centers are scheduled to close June 30, 2027. Both facilities will continue operating through the 2026-27 program year.
How many children will be affected by the closures?
Approximately 220 children attended the two university-operated centers when the closures were announced. Other planned Westside closures will separately reduce licensed child care capacity in the surrounding area.
How much does child care cost at UCLA?
UCLA’s 2026-27 monthly infant tuition is $3,300 for university-affiliated families and $3,775 for community families. Toddler and preschool tuition is lower, with rates determined by the child’s age and family affiliation.
Will UCLA help parents find replacement child care?
UCLA child care closures include free transition assistance for enrolled families, with up to one hour of support from a child care navigator. The service offers referrals and information, but placement at another provider is not guaranteed.
