If you've ever compared activity price tags side by side, swim club dues can look steep at first glance — especially for our advanced groups. But when you look at what that monthly cost actually buys, and how it stacks up against other swim clubs and other youth activities in Central Minnesota, swimming holds up as one of the most affordable, time-rich options a family can choose.

It's Not Just About the Sticker Price

A monthly fee only tells part of the story. The real question is: how much coached, supervised, skill-building time does my child get for that investment—and what else am I being asked to pay or commit to?

How CMA Compares to Other Swim Clubs

Swim club pricing varies widely across Minnesota, even among programs with similar practice schedules. Looking at comparable USA Swimming club programs in our region, CMA's pricing is right in line with — and in several cases below — what similar advanced groups charge elsewhere in the state, especially once you account for the extra costs some clubs add on, like separately billed USA Swimming/LSC membership fees.

More importantly, at CMA:

• There is no annual registration fee. Many swim clubs charge $25–$150 to enroll, before monthly dues even begin.
• Pricing is transparent and consistent—one monthly rate per group, with no surprise add-ons.

How CMA Compares to Dance

Most dance and similar activity programs in our area are structured around one class, once a week, for about an hour, typically running $55–$60 a month.

For roughly that same monthly investment, a CMA swimmer in our entry-level group is in the water four days a week, working with a coach, building endurance, and learning every competitive stroke. Even our most advanced groups—five days a week, two hours a day—remain well within the range families already budget for other activities.

	Typical Weekly Commitment	Approx. Monthly Cost
A typical once-a-week activity class	1 day/week, ~1 hour	$55–$60
CMA Pond Pups (entry-level)	4 days/week	$73.16
CMA Lake Sharks	4 days/week	$102.52

How CMA Compares to Youth Hockey

Youth hockey is one of the most popular winter sports in Central Minnesota, and it's a great comparison point because, like swim, it's a season-long commitment with real coaching and real ice/pool time. Looking at a local youth hockey association's published fee schedule for a single season (roughly October through March):

Level	Season Total (dues + required raffle tickets)	Monthly Equivalent
Intro to Hockey	$125	~$21
6U/Mini Mite	$300	~$50
8U/Mite	$600	~$100
10U/Squirt	$1,250	~$208
12U/PeeWee	$1,400	~$233
15U/Bantam	$1,600	~$267

Entry-level hockey is comparable to CMA's entry-level pricing. But once players move into travel-level hockey (Squirt and up), the monthly cost passes CMA's most expensive group and keeps climbing — Bantam runs well above anything CMA charges at any level.

And that's before three things hockey typically requires that CMA does not:

1. Mandatory volunteer hours or a buyout fee. Local hockey associations commonly require 10–20+ hours of family volunteer time per season, per player, or a buyout of several hundred dollars per player if those hours aren't completed.
2. Starter equipment. A first-time full set of skates, helmet, pads, gloves, stick, and bag typically runs $400–$700 new.
3. Team-level extras, such as additional ice time, tournament travel, and gate fees, layered on top of season dues.

What's Included at CMA — and What's Not

• $0 annual registration fee.
• No routine volunteer hour requirement. Unlike many local youth sports programs — including hockey — CMA does not require families to log volunteer hours or pay a buyout fee to avoid them. Your monthly dues are your commitment.
• Certified, professional coaching at every level, from first strokes to national-qualifying times.
• Access to both Sartell Middle School and Sartell High School pools.
• A clear pathway from novice swimmer all the way through college recruitment — many of our alums have gone on to swim at the D1 level.

The Bottom Line

Dollar for dollar, swimming gives your family more days of coached practice, more skill development, and more community — without a registration fee, without mandatory volunteer hours, and without the equipment costs that come with sports like hockey. Compared to other swim clubs in the region, other youth activities, and other winter sports, CMA holds its own as one of the smartest investments you can make in your child's activity budget.

Questions about pricing, group placement, or getting started? Reach out to Central Minnesota Aquatics—we'd love to have your swimmer join us.