Head-to-head · 2026
St Joseph's Catholic High School vs The Illawarra Grammar School
Side-by-side 2026 comparison: fees, ICSEA, sector, gender, programs and boarding. Both in Wollongong. Sourced from each school's published schedule and ACARA MySchool. Verified 11 June 2026.
Looking for just one school's fees and full profile?
At a glance
The headline differences
- Sector: St Joseph's Catholic High School is Catholic systemic; The Illawarra Grammar School is Anglican.
- Gender: St Joseph's Catholic High School is co-ed; The Illawarra Grammar School is co-educational.
- Year 12 fees differ by $25,117: St Joseph's Catholic High School is more affordable.
- ICSEA gap of 133: The Illawarra Grammar School draws from a more advantaged community.
- Both schools are in Wollongong, so catchment + commute considerations are similar.
Comparison
Side-by-side
| Metric | St Joseph's Catholic High School | The Illawarra Grammar School |
|---|---|---|
| City / suburb | Albion Park, Wollongong | Mangerton, Wollongong |
| Sector | Catholic systemic | Anglican |
| Gender | co-ed | co-educational |
| Year levels | 7-12 | ELC to Year 12 |
| ICSEA | 1018 | 1151 |
| Year 12 fee | $2,773 | $27,890 |
| Year 7 fee | $2,066 | $24,850 |
| Boarding | Day school | Day school |
| Founded | 1982 | 1959 |
| Religion | Catholic | Anglican Church of Australia |
All fees verified 11 June 2026 against each school's published schedule. Excludes uniforms, technology, camps, capital + boarding (unless shown).
St Joseph's Catholic High School
Standout strengths
- ›Marist heritage (founding principal Br Mat Murphy, 1982)
- ›Diocese of Wollongong systemic secondary school
- ›Tiered fee structure: tuition, family/P&F levy, building levy
St Joseph's Catholic High School is a Catholic systemic co-educational secondary school (Years 7-12) in Albion Park, in the Diocese of Wollongong. Opened in 1982 with 140 students and Marist Brother Mat Murphy as founding principal (officially opened 13 March 1983), it now enrols around 730 students. ICSEA of 1018 (close to the national average) with low-fee Catholic tuition.
See full profile →The Illawarra Grammar School
Standout strengths
- ›Wollongong's flagship independent Anglican K-12 school
- ›Strong academic results; private bus network across Illawarra
- ›$300 prompt-payment discount per student
Anglican co-educational school in Mangerton, Wollongong. Wollongong's flagship independent Anglican K-12 school
See full profile →Common questions
FAQs
Which is better, St Joseph's Catholic High School or The Illawarra Grammar School?
"Better" depends on family priorities. By ICSEA, The Illawarra Grammar School. By 2026 Year 12 fee, St Joseph's Catholic High School is more affordable. Both are in Wollongong. The most meaningful comparison is on culture, programs, transport and entry pathway for your specific child – visit open days and talk to current parents.
What are the 2026 fees for St Joseph's Catholic High School and The Illawarra Grammar School?
St Joseph's Catholic High School's 2026 Year 12 tuition is $2,773 (Year 7: $2,066). The Illawarra Grammar School's 2026 Year 12 tuition is $27,890 (Year 7: $24,850). Both schools also charge additional levies (technology, camps, capital, uniform) typically adding 8-15% to headline tuition.
What are the ICSEA scores for St Joseph's Catholic High School vs The Illawarra Grammar School?
St Joseph's Catholic High School has an ICSEA score of 1018; The Illawarra Grammar School has 1151. The Australian median is 1000. ICSEA measures the socio-educational advantage of the school community – it correlates with academic outcomes but does NOT measure teaching quality or value-add. ICSEA is published by ACARA on MySchool.
Which school is older, St Joseph's Catholic High School or The Illawarra Grammar School?
The Illawarra Grammar School is the older school (founded 1959 vs 1982 for St Joseph's Catholic High School).
Do St Joseph's Catholic High School or The Illawarra Grammar School offer boarding?
St Joseph's Catholic High School: Day school only. The Illawarra Grammar School: Day school only.
Next step
Model the 6-year cost for either school
Project Year 7-12 tuition with 4.5% annual indexation. Add boarding, levies and sibling discounts. Compare side-by-side.
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