Australia is home to many excellent, world-class private schools. Many of them are the highest performing schools in their states, but they come at a cost. Here are the ten most expensive private schools in the country, with tuition exceeding $50,000 per year in some cases.
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Year 12 Tuition (2025) | Boarding Fee (2025) | Founded | Enrolment | Faculty (FTE) | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geelong Grammar School | Corio, VIC | Co-ed Day & Boarding | $52,612 | $88,500 | 1855 | ≈ 1,469 | ≈ 395 | Timbertop outdoor campus, elite boarding, VCE and IB pathways |
| 2 | Kambala | Rose Bay, NSW | Girls’ Day & Boarding | $51,703 | $31,000 | 1887 | ≈ 1,023 | ≈ 206 | Academic excellence, performing arts, and harbour views |
| 3 | The Scots College | Bellevue Hill, NSW | Boys’ Day & Boarding | $51,258 | $34,660 | 1893 | ≈ 2,240 | ≈ 410 | Leadership traditions, sporting heritage, and academic rigour |
| 4 | Melbourne Girls Grammar | South Yarra, VIC | Girls’ Day & Boarding | $47,524 | - | 1893 | ≈ 1,010 | ≈ 192 | High academic standards, wellbeing programs, and leadership education |
| 5 | Wesley College | St Kilda Road, VIC | Co-ed Day | $47,574 | - | 1866 | ≈ 3,400 | ≈ 685 | Multi-campus model, arts and sport, and international programs |
| 6 | St Catherine’s School | Toorak, VIC | Girls’ Day & Boarding | $47,120 | - | 1896 | ≈ 770 | ≈ 130 | Academic achievement, performing arts, and pastoral care |
| 7 | The King’s School | Parramatta, NSW | Boys’ Day & Boarding | $47,045 | $35,856 | 1831 | ≈ 2,215 | ≈ 427 | Heritage, leadership programs, and GPS sport |
| 8 | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | Sydney, NSW | Girls’ Day | $49,036 | - | 1895 | ≈ 900 | ≈ 174 | Academic excellence, social awareness, and inner-city location |
| 9 | Cranbrook School | Bellevue Hill, NSW | Boys’ Day & Boarding | $49,521 | $31,000 | 1918 | ≈ 1,340 | ≈ 276 | IB and HSC programs, rowing, performing arts, and campus redevelopments |
| 10 | Sydney Grammar School | Darlinghurst, NSW | Boys’ Day | $49,209 | - | 1857 | ≈ 1,800 | ≈ 317 | Academic culture, debating, music, and selective entry |
1. Geelong Grammar School – Corio, Victoria
Geelong Grammar School is the country's most expensive secondary school, and it has a reputation to match its tuition fees. Its expansive grounds include heritage buildings and cutting-edge facilities. The Timertop campus in the Victorian Alps is something really special.
Geelong Grammar is known for its academic excellence, which combines a focus on mind, body, and character. Like many private schools in the state, it offers both the VCE and IB pathways, with many students going on to lead in business, politics, and culture.
Private school fees in Australia have reached record highs in 2025, with some institutions charging over $50,000 per year for Year 12 tuition alone. When boarding and additional levies are included, total annual costs at certain schools, such as Geelong Grammar, can exceed $140,000. These figures reflect not just educational quality but also the cost of expansive facilities, small class sizes, and global study pathways.
2. Kambala – Rose Bay, New South Wales
Kambala's campus overlooks Sydney Harbour, providing one of the most scenic learning environments in the country. This school was founded in the late 19th century and has consistently ranked among the state's best during its history. This, like many of Australia's other most prestigious schools, combines its history with a forward-looking approach to the curriculum. Students are encouraged to pursue a range of subject areas, including music, drama, and visual arts, in addition to more academic subjects like science and languages.
3. The Scots College – Bellevue Hill, New South Wales
The Scots College in Bellevue Hill is one of the country's oldest boys' schools. This school overlooks the harbour and its campus is home to sporting grounds and world-class facilities. The school aims to develop "gentlemen scholars" who lead with integrity by blending academic excellence with character education. The emphasis on sport, performing arts, and critical thinking means that students are well-rounded, graduating with a sense of confidence, discipline, and purpose.
4. Melbourne Girls Grammar – South Yarra, Victoria
Melbourne Girls Grammar is one of Victoria's best independent schools for girls. The South Yarra campus is home to heritage architecture and modern learning environments. With a focus on curiosity, independence, and balance, MGGS produces students who achieve excellent VCE results. With an excellent teacher-to-student ratio, the school can deliver a personalised approach to students, ensuring that they receive a combination of education and care.
5. Wesley College – St Kilda Road, Victoria
Wesley College is one of the country's largest independent schools. It has campuses in St Kilda Road, Glen Waverley, and Elsternwick. Students can enjoy opportunities across academia, sports, and performing arts, with the IB pathway offered at all stages. Wesley College students are encouraged to think globally and act ethically, with its co-educational philosophy promoting inclusion and mutual respect.
The majority of Australia’s most expensive private schools are located in Sydney and Melbourne. Between them, New South Wales and Victoria account for all ten schools on this year’s national list. This reflects both the high cost of living in Australia’s major cities and their concentration of long-established independent schools with international reputations.
6. St Catherine’s School – Toorak, Victoria
Though there are certainly expensive private schools in Queensland, St Catherin's School is another in Victoria. This school's philosophy and facilities both reflect its blend of heritage and modernity. Thanks to small class sizes, students enjoy personal attention that leads to strong academic outcomes. Academia is balanced out with performing arts and sports programs. St. Catherine's ranks among Australia's finest for its educational focus and pastoral support.
7. The King’s School – Parramatta, New South Wales
The King's School, which was founded in 1831, is Australia's oldest independent boys' school. It's also one of the most recognised names in education. Its Parramatta campus features sandstone buildings and modern learning facilities. With nearly 2 centuries of history, King's is the benchmark for excellence and leadership within the Australian private school system, and its sporting tradition is second-to-none.
8. SCEGGS Darlinghurst – Sydney, New South Wales
SCEGGS Darlinghurst was founded in 1895 and is one of Sydney's most respected independent schools for girls, though there are top girls' private schools in Perth and WA, too. It prides itself on producing articulate, empathetic graduates with strong social values. It's among the state's highest-achieving schools, which is thanks to its close-knit learning environment that encourages individuality.
9. Cranbrook School – Bellevue Hill, New South Wales
Like some of Adelaide's most expensive private schools, Cranbrook School blends Anglican traditions with modern, inquiry-based approaches. Students here can choose between the HSC and the IB, and they can also enjoy the full program of sport, music, and outdoor education. The school's leadership and wellbeing programs focus on resilience and self-awareness, exemplifying Cranbrook's forward-facing ethos.
High tuition fees are driven by several key factors: staffing ratios, facilities, and program diversity. Elite schools maintain low student-to-teacher ratios (often below 10:1), employ hundreds of full-time staff, and invest heavily in sports complexes, theatres, and STEM centres. Many also offer dual curriculum pathways (VCE, HSC, and IB), which contribute to operational costs but broaden student outcomes.
10. Sydney Grammar School – Darlinghurst, New South Wales
Sydney Grammar School has a proud tradition of scholarship and high academic achievement. The school's current curriculum features classical learning alongside modern science and technology, with music and debating a key part of school life. Students from Sydney Grammar School are often among the state's top HSC performers, and many receive national and international academic awards. The school's focus on discipline, culture, and scholarship has made its alums among the highest-achieving out there.
Australia's most expensive schools aren't just about high tuition fees, though. These schools are part of the nation's commitment to educational excellence and diversity. From historic campuses in Sydney and Melbourne to innovative institutions, all of these schools have a focus on academic plus personal growth, leadership, and creativity. In addition to their facilities, they often include global programs and small class sizes, creating environments where students can excel.
Most are also incredibly outward-facing, offering international qualifications like the IB alongside local academic pathways as well as enriching cocurricular activities like music, sport, and community engagement. Their fees might be the highest in the country, but they also offer unparalleled opportunities for their students.
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