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

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.

A woman carrying books and an aerial view of Hilton College
Hilton College is the most expensive school in South Africa. Photo: @krakenimages.com, Freepik.com, @hiltoncollege1872 on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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.

Rank

School

Province

2024 fees

2025 fees

% increase

1

Hilton College

KwaZulu-Natal

R397 660

R430 054

5.8%

2

Michaelhouse

KwaZulu-Natal

R368 000

R392 000

6.5%

3

St Andrew's College

Eastern Cape

R363 879

R387 531

6.5%

4

Roedean School for Girls

Gauteng

R360 087

R387 093

7.5%

5

St John's College

Gauteng

R352 612

R376 589

6.8%

6

Kearsney College

KwaZulu-Natal

R350 130

R374 330

6.9%

7

Bishops College

Western Cape

R341 430

R364 680

6.8%

8

St Mary's, Waverly

Gauteng

R335 470

R358 665

6.9%

9

St Alban’s College

Gauteng

R328 920

R353 580

7.5%

10

Diocesan School for Girls

Eastern Cape

R323 040

R345 630

7.0%

11

St Andrew's School for Girls

Gauteng

R320 680

R341 525

6.5%

12

Kingswood College

Eastern Cape

R318 210

R338 910

6.5%

13

St Cyprian’s School

Western Cape

R305 300

R329 725

8.0%

14

St Stithians

Gauteng

R302 470

R323 635

7.0%

15

St David's Marist Inanda

Gauteng

R292 840

R314 880

7.5%

16

Crawford College North Coast

KwaZulu-Natal

R290 100

R313 060

7.9%

17

Somerset College

Western Cape

R265 600

R306 900

7.5%

18

Epworth High School for Girls

KwaZulu-Natal

R260 863

R278 850

6.9%

19

St Benedict's College

Gauteng

R281 854

R302 313

7.2%

20

Bridge House

Gauteng

R281 750

R304 430

8.0%

21

Durban Girls' College

KwaZulu-Natal

R274 200

R292 000

7.2%

22

Herschel Girls

Western Cape

R271 780

R293 400

7.9%

23

Wykeham Collegiate

KwaZulu-Natal

R268 600

R287 300

7.5%

24

Treverton College

KwaZulu-Natal

R263 996

R279 830

6.0%

25

Uplands College

Mpumalanga

R262 200

R270 540

3.2%

26

St Charles College

KwaZulu-Natal

R260 950

R279 200

6.9%

27

St Martin's College

Gauteng

R246 750

R261 400

5.9%

28

Woodridge College

Eastern Cape

R247 740

R268 798

8.5%

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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.

Rank

School

Province

2024 fees

2025 fees

% increase

1

Kearsney College

KwaZulu-Natal

R240 900

R257 510

6.9%

2

St John’s College

Gauteng

R206 768

R220 828

6.8%

3

Roedean School for Girls

Gauteng

R203 607

R218 877

7.5%

4

Bishops College

Western Cape

R199 650

R213 240

6.8%

5

St Mary’s, Waverly

Gauteng

R189 880

R204 140

7.5%

6

Crawford College

Gauteng

R189 570

R202 840

7.0%

7

King David High School

Gauteng

R188 160

R204 840

8.8%

8

St Alban’s College

Gauteng

R187 020

R201 060

7.5%

9

Clifton School

KwaZulu-Natal

R186 426

R206 306

10%

10

Kingsmead College

Gauteng

R181 440

R194 140

7.0%

11

Cedarwood School

Gauteng

R177 526

R189 065

6.5%

12

Crawford College La Lucia

KwaZulu-Natal

R175 730

R187 000

6.4%

13

St Stithians College

Gauteng

R174 410

R186 615

7.0%

14

St David’s Marist Inanda

Gauteng

R174 340

R187 400

7.5%

15

St Andrew’s for Girls, Senderwood

Gauteng

R172 990

R184 235

6.5%

16

Crawford College Lonehill

Gauteng

R172 530

R184 610

7.0%

17

SAHETI

Gauteng

R169 458

R179 625

6.0%

18

Crawford College Pretoria

Gauteng

R169 340

R180 000

6.3%

19

Beaulieu College

Gauteng

R168 714

R180 524

7.0%

20

Redhill School

Gauteng

R166 250

R177 650

6.9%

21

St Benedict’s College

Gauteng

R162 724

R174 114

7.2%

22

St Andrew’s College

Eastern Cape

R162 648

R173 220

6.5%

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The other expensive day schools in South Africa are:

Rank

School

Province

2024 fees

2025 fees

% increase

23

St Cyprian’s School

Western Cape

R160 100

R172 910

8.0%

24

Kingswood College

Eastern Cape

R162 210

R172 770

6.5%

25

Diocesan School for Girls

Eastern Cape

R161 849

R173 180

7.0%

26

Herzlia High School

Western Cape

R161 004

R169 056

5.0%

27

Brescia House

Gauteng

R157 645

R168 523

6.9%

28

St Charles College

KwaZulu-Natal

R153 500

R163 800

6.7%

29

Somerset College

Western Cape

R151 900

R163 300

7.5%

30

Bridge House

Western Cape

R151 800

R164 330

8.2%

31

Woodridge College

Eastern Cape

R151 347

R164 211

8.5%

32

Crawford College North Coast

KwaZulu-Natal

R151 230

R160 300

6.0%

33

Durban Girls’ College

KwaZulu-Natal

R151 000

R160 800

6.5%

34

Herschel Girls’ School

Western Cape

R148 400

R160 240

7.9%

35

St Peter’s College, Sunninghill

Gauteng

R146 912

R164 661

12%

36

Michael Mount Waldorf School

Gauteng

R142 075

R151 305

6.5%

37

Holy Rosary School

Gauteng

R140 050

R152 380

8.8%

38

Uplands College

Mpumalanga

R137 200

R141 860

3.2%

39

Oak Hill College

Western Cape

R136 565

R144 759

6.0%

40

Crawford College Ruimsig

Gauteng

R134 190

R142 910

6.5%

41

Epworth High School for Girls

KwaZulu-Natal

R134 112

R143 363

6.9%

42

Wykeham Collegiate

KwaZulu-Natal

R133 800

R143 800

7.5%

43

Treverton College

KwaZulu-Natal

R128 380

R136 080

6.0%

44

St Martins College

KwaZulu-Natal

R126 000

R133 500

5.9%

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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
An aerial view of Hilton College and Michaelhouse
Hilton College (L) and Michaelhouse (R) are the most expensive boys' private schools in South Africa. Photo: @hiltoncollege1872, @michaelhouse.org on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

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.

An aerial view of Diocesan School and Roedean School
Diocesan School (L) and Roedean School (R) are the most expensive girls' private schools in SA. Photo: @The Diocesan School for Girls - Makhanda, @RoedeanSchoolSA on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

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

Authors:
Peris Walubengo avatar

Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo has vast experience in search engine optimization through digital content generation, research, editing, and proofreading. She joined Briefly.co.za in November 2019 and completed the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.

Jackline Wangare avatar

Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Briefly.co.za, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Jackline finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.