North Dakota state guide

Childcare centers in North Dakota

North Dakota has 1,088 childcare centers and homes in its state licensing records, across 137 cities. North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing 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: North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing (opens in a new tab) public records · How we compile this →

Largest cities for childcare in North Dakota

Ranked by centers and homes on file. Each city page lists every center in that city.
  1. Fargo205 centers and homes
  2. Bismarck102 centers and homes
  3. Minot90 centers and homes
  4. West Fargo83 centers and homes
  5. Grand Forks70 centers and homes
  6. Mandan45 centers and homes
Show 6 more
  1. Jamestown40 centers and homes
  2. Dickinson34 centers and homes
  3. Williston33 centers and homes
  4. Devils Lake26 centers and homes
  5. Wahpeton24 centers and homes
  6. Horace15 centers and homes

Centers and homes listed per city, of 1,088 in North Dakota.

All 137 North Dakota cities

All 137 cities in North Dakota, A to Z

Jump to a letter, or open a group below.

A · 4 cities

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B · 11 cities

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C · 9 cities

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D · 4 cities

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E · 5 cities

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F · 5 cities

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G · 8 cities

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H · 13 cities

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I · 1 city

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J · 1 city

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K · 4 cities

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L · 10 cities

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M · 17 cities

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N · 7 cities

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O · 1 city

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P · 4 cities

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R · 6 cities

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S · 7 cities

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T · 6 cities

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U · 1 city

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V · 2 cities

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W · 11 cities

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North Dakota childcare centers by county

51 North Dakota counties have licensed centers or homes on file, ranked here by how many. Cass County has the most, with 326 centers and homes.
  1. Cass County326 centers and homes
  2. Burleigh County111 centers and homes
  3. Ward County95 centers and homes
  4. Grand Forks County82 centers and homes
  5. Morton County51 centers and homes
  6. Stutsman County42 centers and homes
  7. Richland County39 centers and homes
  8. Williams County39 centers and homes
  9. Stark County36 centers and homes
  10. Ramsey County27 centers and homes
  11. Bottineau County14 centers and homes
  12. Walsh County14 centers and homes
  13. Traill County12 centers and homes
  14. Pierce County11 centers and homes
  15. Emmons County10 centers and homes
  16. Mercer County9 centers and homes
  17. Ransom County9 centers and homes
  18. Barnes County8 centers and homes
All 51 North Dakota counties, A to Z

License types in North Dakota

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

  • Group Child Care Home

    428 listings

  • Group Child Care Facility

    167 listings

  • Child Care Center

    164 listings

  • Family Child Care

    148 listings

  • Multiple License

    93 listings

  • School Age Child Care

    35 listings

  • Preschool

    25 listings

How to check a daycare license in North Dakota

Every licensed center in North Dakota has a public record with North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing. Here is how to read it.

  1. Search the state’s site

    Open North Dakota HHS childcare search tool (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 North Dakota HHS childcare search tool (opens in a new tab)

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

Bright & Early ND quality ratings

Bright & Early ND (opens in a new tab) is North Dakota’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.

804 of 1,060 North Dakota centers have a Bright & Early ND rating

Share of 1,060 North Dakota centers in the directory, by Bright & Early ND level.

  • Step 1 53%563 centers
  • Step 2 14%150 centers
  • Step 3 6%58 centers
  • Step 4 3%33 centers
  • No rating on file 24%256 centers

Paying for childcare in North Dakota

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

Frequently asked questions about childcare in North Dakota

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

North Dakota has 1,088 childcare centers and homes in the state licensing records Clear Day reads, across 137 cities. Fargo has the most, with 205, followed by Bismarck (102) and Minot (90).

How do I check if a daycare is licensed in North Dakota?

Look the center up in North Dakota HHS childcare search tool, 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 North Dakota help pay for childcare?

Yes. North Dakota's child care subsidy program is Child Care Assistance Program. Public pre-K is a separate option: ND Best in Class.

What is Bright & Early ND?

Bright & Early ND is North Dakota's quality rating program for child care. 804 of 1,060 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 North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing 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

North Dakota is one of 17 states in the directory: 101,819 centers and homes across 8,109 cities. Each state has its own guide with its own rules, agency and license lookup.

Where this data comes from

Center records come from North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing public records. Every percentage on this page names the number of North Dakota 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
North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing (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 North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing or contact the center directly. Clear Day does not rate, rank or endorse any center.

Data updated Oct 1, 2026 · Source: North Dakota Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Licensing public records · North Dakota license lookup (opens in a new tab) · How we compile this →