Apply Today for the United Way Child Care Scholarships

Applications for the United Way Child Care Scholarship are now open. Parents pursuing their education while having young children in child care are encouraged to apply. If selected, parents will receive subsidized child care for all of their young children beginning in the Spring 2026 semester.

The United Way Child Care Scholarship subsidizes the cost of child care for parents so they can focus on increasing their family’s economic mobility while their children receive a quality, early childhood education.

“Thanks to United Way, my family’s financial situation has significantly improved,” Tasha said, a scholarship recipient who has since graduated from Alamo Colleges. “I now possess a stable career that offers opportunities for growth and success. I can now support my family comfortably, alleviating concerns about whether I can afford basic needs for the month,” she added.

The scholarship and Dual Generation remove the immense financial burden that parents face when trying to juggle the high-cost of child care (an $9,300 average in Texas) while also trying to secure quality education for their young children. Often parents are forced to delay or cancel their higher education plans altogether due to this cost.

The United Way Child Care Scholarships are powered by United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County’s Women United. Women United is one of the U.S.’s largest women’s philanthropy groups that unites its members in their shared passion for community impact. Earlier this year, Women United raised $322,000 for the scholarship program. Currently, over 80 parents are able to pursue their education without the high-cost of child care limiting their economic mobility.

If you need help with the high cost of child care today and cannot wait until the scholarships are awarded, you are encouraged to apply for United Way’s Dual Generation Initiative. Dual Generation also provides subsidized child care for parents pursuing their education. Parents who live on the east or west sides of the city can apply for Dual Generation online at uwsatx.org. For other forms of assistance, please call United Way’s 211 Helpline to discover community support related to child care, job training, housing, food insecurity and more.