Education

How much do Australian Private Schools Cost?

Tuition fees range markedly in Australia, with Catholic schools usually being much less expensive than other private schools.  However, you might expect to pay anywhere between $12,000 and $21,000 for a Year 12 day student attending an established metropolitan school - with additional boarding fees being quite substantial.  Most schools do, however, provide a discount of some form for families where multiple children attend the same school.

Fee Comparisons

To provide some more detail, the table below provides an indication of school fees payable at some well known colleges across Australia for Year 12 students.  Generally, these are prestigious schools and their fees are at the high end of the range - Catholic schools are usually appreciably less expensive.  The table illustrates some very significant fee differences between Melbourne and Sydney and the other mainland state capitals. test

1) includes Annual Consolidated Charge of $645 and IT Levy $552

2) Includes a Educational Technologies Charge of $660 per annum

3) Includes a Voluntary Building Fund Foundation contribution of $480

4) Includes a Technology Levy of $1400

Additional Costs

Apart from the cost of school fees, any assessment of the cost of attendance at an Australian private school should include provision for a range of additional costs that may apply.  A summary, and by no means exhaustive, list of costs split into non-recurring and recurring costs appears below:

Non – Recurring

• Application Fee – circa $50 to $200
• Enrolment Fee – circa $500 to $2,000 and may be higher; Christ Church charges a non-fundable/non-tax deductible fee of $3900 for admission
• Non Interest Bearing Loans – may increase as a child progresses through the school

Recurring

• Technology Levies
• Building Levies – Compulsory or Voluntary
• Additional subject costs eg. Music, language, sports tuition
• Special Programme costs
• School Camps and Trips
• Uniforms
• Musical equipment hire
• School bus services
• Book charges
• Pre and After-school care costs
• Fundraising support (voluntary)
• International Baccalaureate levies

Add these all these costs together, remember that school fees are paid after tax and that recent increases in school fees have far outstripped background inflation, and you’ll see why we have recommended elsewhere that they should form part of your family’s financial planning.