336 verified schools · 2026 fees · Updated 11 May 2026

Private School Fees by Australian City 2026: Real Sortable Data

The big question for Australian families: how much will private school actually cost? This guide breaks down 2026 published Year 12 tuition across 336 verified schools, grouped by city. Every fee figure pulled from the school\'s own published 2026 schedule and linked back to the source PDF on the individual school profile.

The Education Desk · Editorial team, schools + fertility + family services · Updated 11 June 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards

Key takeaways

  • 336 verified Australian private schools with 2026 fees. Sourced from each school\'s published schedule.
  • Sydney + Melbourne elite tier: $40,000-$55,000/year Year 12. Brisbane/Adelaide top tier: $30,000-$38,000. Perth: $28,000-$34,000.
  • Catholic systemic schools: $5,000-$12,000 Year 12 across all cities. Most affordable private option.
  • Boarding adds $25,000-$38,000/year. Total at top boarding schools: $65,000-$95,000/year.
  • Plan for ~5%/year fee increases when projecting Year 7-12 total cost.
Private school 2026 Year 12 tuition by Australian city · Click any header to sort
Provider ⇅ Schools ⇅ Min ⇅ Median ⇅ Max ⇅
Sydney 55$7,820$31,920$52,410
Melbourne 52$7,820$32,420$47,877
Brisbane 35$11,280$18,703$36,300
Perth 36$7,230$17,580$37,173
Adelaide 31$4,100$13,280$34,760
Hobart 12$5,241$6,500$25,760
Canberra 13$7,623$15,004$50,270
Darwin 4$6,595$16,645$17,940
Gold Coast 13$2,680$12,100$31,773
Newcastle 13$3,488$21,820$35,280
Wollongong 6$2,773$11,240$27,890
Geelong 11$3,500$8,100$55,380

Data pulled from 336 verified Australian private schools with published 2026 fees. Sortable + filterable full table at /rankings/all-australian-private-schools/.

Why Sydney + Melbourne lead

Elite private schools in Sydney + Melbourne charge $40,000-$55,000 Year 12 tuition — the highest tier nationally. Drivers: (a) higher cost-of-property in school catchments → higher fixed-cost base, (b) deeper alumni + foundation networks → ability to invest in facilities + scholarships, (c) self-reinforcing demand from wealthy families willing to pay top-tier fees.

Brisbane + Adelaide top-tier are 25-30% cheaper for comparable ICSEA + outcomes. Perth + Hobart + smaller cities cheaper still. Families relocating Sydney → Brisbane often find Year 7-12 fee savings of $50,000-$100,000+ at equivalent-tier schools.

The "total cost" trap

Published "fee" almost always means tuition only. Real annual cost adds 5-15% on top:

  • Building fund ($1,000-$3,000/year, often "voluntary" but socially expected)
  • Activities + camps ($500-$3,000/year, often non-refundable when child opts out)
  • Uniforms ($500-$1,500/year, schools typically lock students into specific suppliers)
  • Books + IT ($500-$2,000/year, often laptop levy mandatory)
  • Exam fees (ATAR-tracked + IB exam fees $500-$1,500)
  • Tours + excursions ($500-$5,000/year for international tours mandatory at some schools)

Add 5-15% to advertised tuition for realistic total. For $45,000 Year 12 tuition, expect $48,000-$52,000 all-in.

Year 7-12 total cost projection

Year 7 typically costs ~70% of Year 12 fee. Years 8-11 interpolate. With ~5% annual fee increases over 6 years:

  • Elite tier ($50k Year 12): Total Year 7-12 ~$280,000-$310,000 tuition
  • Top tier ($40k Year 12): Total Year 7-12 ~$220,000-$250,000
  • Mid tier ($25k Year 12): Total Year 7-12 ~$140,000-$160,000
  • Catholic systemic ($10k Year 12): Total Year 7-12 ~$55,000-$65,000

Use the calculator to model your specific school + entry year + scholarship scenarios.

Common questions

Which Australian city has the most expensive private schools?

Sydney + Melbourne lead — elite Sydney schools (Cranbrook, Ascham, Sydney Grammar) charge $50,000+/year Year 12. Elite Melbourne (Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Scotch, Wesley) similar. Brisbane and Adelaide top-tier schools typically $30-$38k. Perth top-tier $28-$34k. Smaller cities (Hobart, Canberra, Darwin) max around $28-$32k. The capital city + property-market premium drives Sydney/Melbourne pricing.

Where can I find the most affordable private schools?

Catholic systemic schools across all cities: $5,000-$12,000 Year 12. Christian Community Schools network ($8,000-$15,000). Lower-fee Anglican Schools Commission schools in NSW + WA ($12,000-$18,000). These represent a strong middle option between public + elite private.

How do fees compare for boarding?

Boarding adds $25,000-$38,000/year on top of tuition. Total annual cost for a Year 12 boarder at top Sydney/Melbourne school: $65,000-$95,000. AIC Scheme (Federal isolated-children allowance) can offset ~$10,000/year for geographically isolated families.

Do fees increase each year?

Yes — typically 4-6% annually. Schools publish fee schedules in October/November for the following year. Some schools have published 3-year fee outlooks. Plan for ~5%/year increase when projecting total Year 7-12 cost.

What's included in published "fee"?

Fee typically means tuition only. Total cost adds: building fund (voluntary at most schools, $1,000-$3,000/year), activities fee ($500-$2,000), camps + excursions ($500-$3,000), uniforms ($500-$1,500/year), books + IT ($500-$2,000), exam fees. Add 5-15% to published fee for realistic total.

Next step

Browse all 336 schools sortable by fee + ICSEA. Project total Year 7-12 cost with our fee calculator.