Most expensive schools in South Africa in 2025: Full list of schools and their fees

The South African education sector is quite vibrant, from primary education to secondary, college, and university levels. Grade 1-10 education is compulsory, while grades 10-12 are optional. Like in many countries, education institutions are classified into private and public facilities, comprising some of the most expensive schools in South Africa.

Key Takeaways

• Sending a child to school in South Africa could cost hundreds of thousands of ZAR per year depending on the institution.
• Private education in the country has reached new heights, with at least nine schools now charging over R350,000 annually for tuition and boarding fees.
• The most expensive school in SA charges around R430,054 annually.
• Fee increases for 2025 average 6.9% across the assessed schools, outpacing the inflation rate, which ended 2024 at 2.9%.
• Among boarding schools, hikes range from 3.2% to 8.5%, averaging 6.9%. Day schools show a similar pattern, with increases traversing 6.8% on average among the top 10 most expensive institutions in SA.

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The most expensive schools in South Africa

The research focused on a sample of top academic schools in South Africa, selected based on their academic reputation and performance. Publicly available data regarding school reviews, policies, and socioeconomic factors were assessed from credible sources such as the government's website, Business Tech, and MSN. Here is a look at Mzansi's most expensive schools in 2025.

Boarding schools

Typically, boarding institutions tend to be more expensive than their day counterparts. This is often attributable to the extra costs associated with student accommodation. Here is a look at South Africa's most expensive boarding schools, provinces, and annual fees.

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Day schools

While day schools are conventionally cheaper than boarding institutions, some can still be expensive. For example, the day institutions listed below all charge fees exceeding R100,000 annually.

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The other expensive day schools in South Africa are:

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Which are the top 10 most expensive schools in South Africa?

The most expensive boarding schools in South Africa include:

• Hilton College
• Michaelhouse
• St Andrew's College
• Roedean School for Girls
• St John's College
• Kearsney College
• Bishops College Cape Town
• St Mary's, Waverly
• St Alban’s College
• Diocesan School for Girls

What are the top 10 private schools in South Africa?

These are some of the best schools in South Africa, according to the 2024 matric results:

• SAHETI
• Roedean School for Girls
• Crawford College Sandton
• Somerset College
• St Mary’s Waverly
• King David Linksfield
• Herschel Girls’ School
• St Stithians Girls College
• Helpmekaar Kollege
• Redhill School

What are the most expensive schools in Gauteng?

Gauteng province has numerous expensive boarding and day schools. Some of the most expensive ones include Roedean School for Girls, St John's College, St Mary's, Waverly, Crawford College Sandton, and King David High School.

Which is the most expensive school in South Africa?

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Hilton College South Africa is the most expensive school in the country. Its annual fees for 2025 stand at R430 054, reflecting a 5.8% increase from 2024. In 2014, this was the only school priced over R200 000 for boarding and tuition. In 2025, Hilton College fees have doubled.

Which are the most expensive high schools in South Africa?

Michaelhouse, St Andrew’s College in Makhanda, Roedean School for Girls, St John’s College, Kearsney College, Bishops College, St Mary’s, and St Alban’s College are among the elite high schools in SA charging R350,000-plus annually for tuition and boarding.

Which are the most expensive private schools in South Africa?

Most elite day private schools charge over R200 00 in annual tuition fees in 2025. Kearsney College leads this segment at R25 510, followed by St John’s College at R220 828 and Roedean School for Girls at R218 877.

Which is the most expensive private school in Pretoria?

St Alban’s College, an all-boys school founded in 948 by Wulsin, is one of the most expensive private schools in Pretoria. The school's annual tuition fee is more than R300 000 (boarding) and over R180 000 (day students).

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What is the most expensive girl school in South Africa?

Roedean School for Girls is the most expensive girls' boarding school in SA. Its tuition fee ranges from R114 214 to R218 877 per annum, depending on the grade the child is in. This is exclusive of R168 216 annual boarding fees and other extra charges.

What is the most expensive day school in South Africa?

Kearsney College in Botha's Hill is the most expensive day school in South Africa. Its annual tuition fee in 2025 is R257 510.

How much are the school fees at Crawford Ruimsig College?

The annual tuition fees at Crawford International Ruimsig College vary by grade level, but on average, the fees range from R122 000 to R142 910 annually.

How much is a private school in South Africa?

The average tuition fees of a good private high school in SA range between R50,000 and R136,000 per year, exclusive of additional costs for boarders.

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How much is a state school in South Africa?

A government high school can cost around R36,000 per year, with the most expensive ones reaching up to R65,000 annually depending on the location and school quality; nonetheless, there are also no-fee state schools in each province.

Why are private schools so expensive in South Africa?

Unlike public schools, private schools in SA receive no government subsidies, yet they invest in extracurricular activities, modern technology, and advanced facilities to keep up with the competitive market. They rely solely on tuition fees to cover high operational costs.

The most expensive schools in South Africa are also among the most exclusive, with some limiting the number of students to a few hundred. These institutions are at the top of the country's education system and offer unrivalled tuition structures, learning facilities, co-curricular facilities, and general student experiences.

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Source: Briefly News