Nebraska state guide

Childcare centers in Nebraska

Nebraska has 2,652 childcare centers and homes in its state licensing records, across 272 cities, with about 123,000 licensed seats at the 1,990 centers that report capacity. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit handles licensing. This guide covers how to check a license, quality ratings, how subsidy works, and how to find a center in your city.

Data updated October 1, 2026 · Source: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (opens in a new tab) public records · How we compile this →

Largest cities for childcare in Nebraska

Ranked by centers and homes on file. Each city page lists every center in that city.
  1. Omaha713 centers and homes
  2. Lincoln352 centers and homes
  3. Kearney89 centers and homes
  4. Grand Island68 centers and homes
  5. Bellevue64 centers and homes
  6. Papillion52 centers and homes
Show 6 more
  1. Norfolk51 centers and homes
  2. Columbus49 centers and homes
  3. Elkhorn41 centers and homes
  4. Scottsbluff33 centers and homes
  5. Beatrice29 centers and homes
  6. Bennington29 centers and homes

Centers and homes listed per city, of 2,652 in Nebraska.

All 272 Nebraska cities

All 272 cities in Nebraska, A to Z

Jump to a letter, or open a group below.

A · 17 cities

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B · 25 cities

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C · 27 cities

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D · 11 cities

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E · 12 cities

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F · 12 cities

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G · 13 cities

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H · 17 cities

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I · 2 cities

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J · 2 cities

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K · 3 cities

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L · 13 cities

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M · 15 cities

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N · 8 cities

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O · 14 cities

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P · 15 cities

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R · 9 cities

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S · 26 cities

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T · 5 cities

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U · 2 cities

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V · 4 cities

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W · 18 cities

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Y · 2 cities

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Nebraska childcare centers by county

84 Nebraska counties have licensed centers or homes on file, ranked here by how many. Douglas County has the most, with 748 centers and homes.
  1. Douglas County748 centers and homes
  2. Lancaster County386 centers and homes
  3. Sarpy County217 centers and homes
  4. Buffalo County105 centers and homes
  5. Hall County74 centers and homes
  6. Madison County61 centers and homes
  7. Platte County55 centers and homes
  8. Scotts Bluff County49 centers and homes
  9. Gage County46 centers and homes
  10. Dawson County40 centers and homes
  11. Dodge County37 centers and homes
  12. Adams County35 centers and homes
  13. Holt County32 centers and homes
  14. Saunders County32 centers and homes
  15. Knox County27 centers and homes
  16. Cass County25 centers and homes
  17. Lincoln County25 centers and homes
  18. Washington County25 centers and homes
All 84 Nebraska counties, A to Z

License types in Nebraska

Nebraska’s licensing records use these categories. Each listing shows which one applies.

  • Child Care Center

    763 listings

  • Family Child Care Home II

    452 listings

  • Family Child Care Home I

    407 listings

  • School Age Only Child Care Center

    280 listings

  • Preschool

    88 listings

How to check a daycare license in Nebraska

Every licensed center in Nebraska has a public record with Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit. Here is how to read it.

  1. Search the state’s site

    Open License Information System Search (opens in a new tab) and look the center up by name and city. Confirm the license type and that its status is active.

  2. Read the inspection information

    Open the center’s record and read whatever inspection or compliance information the state posts for it.

  3. Compare with Clear Day’s center page

    Our page shows the license type and capacity next to the hours and programs the center lists, so you can weigh the state’s record beside what the center offers.

Open License Information System Search (opens in a new tab)

Each Clear Day center page in Nebraskalinks to that center’s state record when the state publishes one, so step 3 starts one click from step 1.

Step Up to Quality quality ratings

Step Up to Quality (opens in a new tab) is Nebraska’s own quality rating program for child care. The level a center holds comes from the state.

This is the state’s rating, shown as the state’s. Clear Day does not rate or review centers.

702 of 1,990 Nebraska centers have a Step Up to Quality rating

Share of 1,990 Nebraska centers in the directory, by Step Up to Quality level.

  • Step 1 12%244 centers
  • Step 2 14%283 centers
  • Step 3 3%56 centers
  • Step 4 1%29 centers
  • Step 5 5%90 centers
  • No rating on file 65%1,288 centers

Paying for childcare in Nebraska

These programs help Nebraska families pay for care. Which one fits depends on income, your child’s age and where you live.

Frequently asked questions about childcare in Nebraska

Answers use the numbers on this page, as of October 1, 2026.
How many childcare centers are in Nebraska?

Nebraska has 2,652 childcare centers and homes in the state licensing records Clear Day reads, across 272 cities. Omaha has the most, with 713, followed by Lincoln (352) and Kearney (89).

How do I check if a daycare is licensed in Nebraska?

Look the center up in License Information System Search, the state's public license lookup. Confirm the license is active, then read whatever inspection or compliance information the state posts for that center. Clear Day center pages link to the state's record for that center when the state publishes one.

Does Nebraska help pay for childcare?

Yes. Nebraska's child care subsidy program is Child Care Subsidy. 1,285 of the 1,710 centers in our directory that report subsidy status (75%) are current providers. Nebraska funds some pre-K seats through Early Childhood Education Grant Program, a competitive state grant, rather than a universal program.

What is Step Up to Quality?

Step Up to Quality is Nebraska's quality rating program for child care. 702 of 1,990 centers in the Clear Day directory carry a rating. The ratings are the state's. Clear Day does not rate or review centers.

Where does this data come from?

Center records come from Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit public records. Every share on the page names the number of centers it is counted over, and the methodology page explains how.

When was this data last updated?

The state records on this page were last imported October 1, 2026. Each center page shows its own record date. See the methodology for details.

How we compile the data →

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Other state guides

Nebraska is one of 35 states in the directory: 173,052 centers and homes across 13,878 cities. Each state has its own guide with its own rules, agency and license lookup.

Where this data comes from

Center records come from Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit public records. Every percentage on this page names the number of Nebraska centers it is counted over. This page is a guide, not legal advice. Clear Day does not rate, rank or review centers.

Read the full methodology →

Last updated
October 1, 2026
Agency
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (opens in a new tab)

This information is sourced from public records and may be incomplete or out of date. For the most current and accurate details, please verify directly with Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit or contact the center directly. Clear Day does not rate, rank or endorse any center.

Data updated Oct 1, 2026 · Source: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit public records · Nebraska license lookup (opens in a new tab) · How we compile this →