{"id":846455,"date":"2026-01-04T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=846455"},"modified":"2026-01-06T16:30:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T14:30:43","slug":"most-expensive-private-schools-in-south-africa-in-2026-with-four-now-over-r400000-a-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/846455\/most-expensive-private-schools-in-south-africa-in-2026-with-four-now-over-r400000-a-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Most expensive private schools in South Africa in 2026 \u2013 with four now over R400,000 a year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Private education in South Africa has reached new heights in 2026, with at least 13 schools now charging over R350,000 annually for tuition and boarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading the pack is Hilton College in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, which has cemented its position as the country\u2019s most expensive school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its annual fees for 2026 stand at R451,557, reflecting a 5.0% increase from 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When BusinessTech first began to track the most expensive schools in 2014, Hilton College was the only school priced over R200,000 for boarding and tuition. In 2026, Hilton College will have more than doubled this figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2026, all of the boarding schools charge well over R200,000, as well as some of the day schools, which shows how much prices have changed over the past 12 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joining Hilton in the elite R400,000-plus category are Michaelhouse, Roedean School for Girls in Johannesburg, and St Andrew\u2019s College in Makhanda, while St John’s College is toeing the line at R397,302.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For day school learners, the cost trajectory is similarly steep. In 2026, 12 schools will now charge over R200,000 for annual tuition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kearsney College leads this segment at R275,000, followed by Roedean School for Girls at R233,104 and St John\u2019s College at R232,974.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fee increases for 2026 average 6.4% across the assessed schools, outpacing the inflation rate, which ended 2025 at just 3.5%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among boarding schools, hikes range from 5.0% to 8.0%, averaging 6.5%. Day schools show a similar pattern, with increases of 6.0% on average among the top 10 most expensive institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These escalating costs raise concerns for families already under financial pressure after a challenging 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With private school fees far outpacing inflation, the affordability of elite education in South Africa remains a pressing issue for many households.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As more schools join the R400,000-plus club, the gap between private education costs and inflation underscores the financial strain on parents striving to secure top-tier education for their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note:<\/strong> The fees listed below are as they appear on the various schools\u2019 web pages and cover termly board and\/or annual tuition only. The total fees demanded may vary based on discounts and other once-off charges as outlined by the relevant institution. Fees are for the highest level of learning available (up to grade 12). We\u2019ve included the annual increase for schools where we have historical data. Lists are not comprehensive, as some schools have not publicly published 2026 fee schedules.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Boarding schools<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Michealhouse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
School<\/th>Location<\/th>2025 fees<\/th>2026 fees<\/th>%<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Hilton<\/td>Hilton, KZN<\/td>R430 054<\/td>R450 893<\/td>5.0%<\/td><\/tr>
MichaelHouse<\/td>Balgowan, KZN<\/td>R392 000<\/td>R417 000*<\/td>6.5%<\/td><\/tr>
Roedean School for Girls<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R387 093<\/td>R413 095<\/td>6.7%<\/td><\/tr>
St Andrew\u2019s College<\/td>Makhanda, EC<\/td>R387 531<\/td>R409 815<\/td>5.8%<\/td><\/tr>
Kearsney College<\/td>Botha\u2019s Hill, KZN<\/td>R374 330<\/td>R399 740<\/td>6.8%<\/td><\/tr>
St John\u2019s College<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R376 589<\/td>R397 302<\/td>5.5%<\/td><\/tr>
Bishops College<\/td>Cape Town, WC<\/td>R364 680<\/td>R386 300<\/td>5.9%<\/td><\/tr>
St Mary\u2019s<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R358 665<\/td>R382 215<\/td>6.5%<\/td><\/tr>
Diocesan School for Girls<\/td>Makhanda, EC<\/td>R345 630<\/td>R368 100<\/td>6.5%<\/td><\/tr>
St Andrew\u2019s School for Girls, Senderwood<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R341 525<\/td>R364 570<\/td>6.7%<\/td><\/tr>
Kingswood College<\/td>Makhanda, EC<\/td>R338 910<\/td>R360 930<\/td>6.5%<\/td><\/tr>
St Cyprian\u2019s School<\/td>Cape Town, WP<\/td>R329 725<\/td>R351 160<\/td>6.5%<\/td><\/tr>
St Stithians College<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R323 635<\/td>R346 295<\/td>7.0%<\/td><\/tr>
St David\u2019s Marist Inanda<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R314 880<\/td>R338 496<\/td>7.5%<\/td><\/tr>
Crawford College North Coast<\/td>Ballito, KZN<\/td>R313 060<\/td>R334 080<\/td>6.7%<\/td><\/tr>
Somerset College<\/td>Stellenbosch, WC<\/td>R306 900<\/td>R326 800<\/td>6.5%<\/td><\/tr>
St Benedict\u2019s College<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R302 313<\/td>R322 290<\/td>6.6%<\/td><\/tr>
Bridge House<\/td>Franschhoek, WC<\/td>R304 430<\/td>R323 300<\/td>6.2%<\/td><\/tr>
Durban Girls\u2019 College<\/td>Durban, KZN<\/td>R292 000<\/td>R310 300<\/td>6.3%<\/td><\/tr>
Wykeham Collegaite<\/td>Pietermaritzberg, KZN<\/td>R287 300<\/td>R307 400<\/td>7.0%<\/td><\/tr>
St Charles College<\/td>Pietermaritzburg, KZN<\/td>R279 200<\/td>R296 650<\/td>6.3%<\/td><\/tr>
Treverton College<\/td>Mooi River, KZN<\/td>R279 830<\/td>R296 220<\/td>5.9%<\/td><\/tr>
Uplands College<\/td>White River, MP<\/td>R270 540<\/td>R289 200<\/td>6.9%<\/td><\/tr>
Woodridge College<\/td>Thornhill, EC<\/td>R268 798<\/td>R290 434<\/td>8.0%<\/td><\/tr>
St Martin\u2019s College<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R261 400<\/td>R277 025<\/td>6.0%<\/td><\/tr>
Epworth High School for Girls<\/td>Pietermaritzburg, KZN<\/td>R260 853<\/td>R285 800<\/td>6.1%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>
*These fees were the only fees available to BusinessTech at the time of publication, which are based on matric fees over a payment period that results in the highest fee payable.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Day schools<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Kearsney College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
School<\/th>Location<\/th>2025 fees<\/th>2026 fees<\/th>%<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Kearsney College<\/td>Botha\u2019s Hill, KZN<\/td>R257 510<\/td>R275 000<\/td>6.8%<\/td><\/tr>
Roedean School for Girls<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R218 877<\/td>R233 104<\/td>6.5%<\/td><\/tr>
St John\u2019s College<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R220 828<\/td>R232 974<\/td>5.5%<\/td><\/tr>
Bishops College<\/td>Cape Town, WC<\/td>R213 240<\/td>R225 900<\/td>5.9%<\/td><\/tr>
St Mary\u2019s, Waverly<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R204 140<\/td>R218 425<\/td>6.9%<\/td><\/tr>
Clifton School<\/td>Durban, KZN<\/td>R206 306<\/td>R213 822<\/td>3.6%<\/td><\/tr>
Crawford College Sandton<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R202 840<\/td>R211 900<\/td>4.7%<\/td><\/tr>
Kingsmead College<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R194 140<\/td>R207 535<\/td>6.9%<\/td><\/tr>
St David\u2019s Marist Inanda<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R187 400<\/td>R201 455<\/td>7.5%<\/td><\/tr>
Cedarwood School<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R189 065<\/td>R200 409<\/td>6.0%<\/td><\/tr>
St Stithians College<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R186 615<\/td>R199 680<\/td>7.0%<\/td><\/tr>
Crawford College La Lucia<\/td>Durban, KZN<\/td>R187 000<\/td>R198 000<\/td>5.9%<\/td><\/tr>
Crawford College Lonehill<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R184 610<\/td>R197 500<\/td>6.9%<\/td><\/tr>
St Andrew\u2019s School for Girls, Senderwood<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R184 235<\/td>R196 670<\/td>6.7%<\/td><\/tr>
SAHETI<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R179 625<\/td>R192 019<\/td>6.9%<\/td><\/tr>
Redhill School<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R179 520<\/td>R192 000<\/td>6.9%<\/td><\/tr>
Crawford College Pretoria<\/td>Tshwane, GP<\/td>R180 000<\/td>R190 000<\/td>5.5%<\/td><\/tr>
Beaulieu College<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R180 524<\/td>R189 551<\/td>5.0%<\/td><\/tr>
Diocesan School for Girls<\/td>Makhanda, EC<\/td>R173 180<\/td>R184 440<\/td>6.5%<\/td><\/tr>
St Cyprian\u2019s School<\/td>Cape Town, WP<\/td>R172 910<\/td>R184 150<\/td>6.5%<\/td><\/tr>
Kingswood College<\/td>Makhanda, EC<\/td>R172 770<\/td>R183 990<\/td>6.5%<\/td><\/tr>
St Benedict\u2019s College<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R174 114<\/td>R183 690<\/td>5.5%<\/td><\/tr>
Herzlia High School<\/td>Cape Town, WC<\/td>R169 056<\/td>R183 432<\/td>8.5%<\/td><\/tr>
St Andrew\u2019s College<\/td>Makhanda, EC<\/td>R173 220<\/td>R183 180<\/td>5.7%<\/td><\/tr>
Brescia House<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R168 523<\/td>R180 151<\/td>6.9%<\/td><\/tr>
Woodridge College<\/td>Thornhill, EC<\/td>R164 211<\/td>R177 428<\/td>8.0%<\/td><\/tr>
St Peter\u2019s College, Sunninghill<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R164 661<\/td>R174 800<\/td>6.2%<\/td><\/tr>
Bridge House<\/td>Franschhoek, WC<\/td>R164 330<\/td>R174 150<\/td>6.0%<\/td><\/tr>
St Charles College<\/td>Pietermaritzburg, KZN<\/td>R163 800<\/td>R174 050<\/td>6.3%<\/td><\/tr>
Somerset College<\/td>Stellenbosch, WC<\/td>R163 300<\/td>R173 900<\/td>6.5%<\/td><\/tr>
Crawford College North Coast<\/td>Ballito, KZN<\/td>R160 300<\/td>R169 100<\/td>5.5%<\/td><\/tr>
Durban Girls\u2019 College<\/td>Durban, KZN<\/td>R160 800<\/td>R170 900<\/td>6.3%<\/td><\/tr>
Herschel Girls\u2019 School<\/td>Cape Town, WC<\/td>R160 240<\/td>R171 450<\/td>6.9%<\/td><\/tr>
Holy Rosary School<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R152 380<\/td>R165 790<\/td>8.8%<\/td><\/tr>
Michael Mount Waldorf School<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R151 305<\/td>R160 685<\/td>6.2%<\/td><\/tr>
Oak Hill College<\/td>Knysna, WC<\/td>R144 759<\/td>R154 844<\/td>7.0%<\/td><\/tr>
Wykeham Collegiate<\/td>Pietermaritzberg, KZN<\/td>R143 800<\/td>R153 800<\/td>7.0%<\/td><\/tr>
Uplands College<\/td>White River, MP<\/td>R141 860<\/td>R151 600<\/td>6.9%<\/td><\/tr>
Epworth High School for Girls<\/td>Pietermaritzburg, KZN<\/td>R143 363<\/td>R151 800<\/td>5.9%<\/td><\/tr>
Crawford College Ruimsig<\/td>Ruimsig, GP<\/td>R142 910<\/td>R151 000<\/td>5.6%<\/td><\/tr>
Treverton College<\/td>Mooi River, KZN<\/td>R136 080<\/td>R143 560<\/td>5.5%<\/td><\/tr>
St Martins College<\/td>Johannesburg, GP<\/td>R133 500<\/td>R140 175<\/td>5.0%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>
*Compiled by BusinessTech<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These are the most expensive private schools for boys and girls in South Africa for 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":815114,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9876],"tags":[19930,853],"class_list":["post-846455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-private-school-fees","tag-south-africa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/846455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/92"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=846455"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/846455\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":847308,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/846455\/revisions\/847308"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/815114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=846455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=846455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=846455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}