23 day schools in South Africa that charge more than R100,000 a year for tuition
Private schools are by far the most expensive options for education in country, particularly when looking at the cost of full board for learners. However, in many cases, the boarding fees make up as much as half of the costs.
While 17 boarding schools in 2018 can now set parents back over R200,000 for a year of full board and tuition, when you look at the price of tuition alone – which is available for day learners, or pupils that commute to school every day – the picture changes a bit.
When looking at day school prices, Kearsney College is the most expensive school in the country charging R166,650 a year for tuition alone. The school is not alone in charging over R100,000 for school, though, with at least 22 other schools pushing past that mark in 2018.
It should be noted that aside from the prestige, tradition, and beautiful facilities and grounds, the fees also cover tuition, games, ordinary medical attention, and the use of facilities.
They also generally include other benefits, such as basic entertainment arranged for learners, and transport for sporting and other events.
Most schools do not include additional fees in this amount. Additional fees can typically relate to various levies, such as IT and infrastructure, as well as further costs for food, extra mural activities and trips.
Many ‘legacy’ schools also offer a discount to learners attending the same school as their older siblings.
The fees listed below are as they appear on the various schools’ web pages, and cover tuition only. Fees are for the highest level of learning available (up to grade 12), and do not include levies, admission fees, or optional extras.
23 most expensive day schools in South Africa (2018)
| School | 2018 tuition |
|---|---|
| Kearnsney College | R166 650 |
| St John’s College | R145 488 |
| Roedean School for Girls | R142 973 |
| St Martin’s | R139 100 |
| Bishops, Rondebosch | R137 260 |
| St Stithians | R135 750 |
| Kingsmead College | R132 870 |
| Crawford College Sandton | R132 830 |
| St Alban’s College | R130 470 |
| St Mary’s, Waverley | R129 780 |
| Redhill School | R129 521 |
| Crawford College La Lucia | R126 390 |
| St Andrew’s School for Girls, Senderwood | R126 110 |
| St Mary’s DSG, Pretoria | R120 540 |
| Crawford College Lonehill | R119 220 |
| Crawford College Pretoria | R118 280 |
| Kingswood College | R115 860 |
| St Andrew’s College, Grahamstown | R113 085 |
| St Cyprian’s | R110 000 |
| Diocesan School for Girls, Grahamstown | R109 940 |
| Crawford College North Coast | R107 470 |
| The Wykeham Collegiate | R105 920 |
| Somerset College | R105 403 |
While Hilton College and Michaelhouse in the KZN midlands are by far the most expensive in general, they do not offer day class options, and have been excluded from the above listing. Below is a table with the most expensive schools for full board, including these two schools.
20 most expensive boarding schools in South Africa (2018)
| School | 2018 Full board and tuition |
|---|---|
| Michaelhouse | R265 680 |
| Hilton* | R253 660* |
| St Andrew’s College, Grahamstown | R252 990 |
| Roedean School for Girls | R252 341 |
| Kearnsney College | R242 220 |
| Bishops, Rondebosch | R240 380 |
| St Mary’s, Waverley | R234 540 |
| St Andrew’s School for Girls, Senderwood | R233 810 |
| St Stithians | R232 640 |
| St Martin’s | R232 120 |
| St Alban’s College | R229 410 |
| St John’s College | R227 815 |
| Kingswood College | R221 370 |
| Diocesan School for Girls, Grahamstown | R219 420 |
| St Mary’s DSG, Pretoria | R209 675 |
| Somerset College | R208 515 |
| St Cyprian’s | R204 000 |
| The Wykeham Collegiate | R196 600 |
| Crawford College North Coast | R193 330 |
| Treverton College | R191 840 |
* 2017 fees
Read: These are the 20 most expensive schools in South Africa in 2018
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