Top 10 most expensive schools in South Africa
With the new school year now in full swing, here is a comprehensive list of the most expensive schools in 2025 and by how much they increased.
Getting a private school education is becoming more and more inaccessible to ordinary non-wealthy South Africans.
Nelson Mandela famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. But judging by some of these exorbitant schools fees, it’s ridiculously expensive to obtain said weapon.
According to BusinessTech, the top 10 private schools in the country are limited to just four of the nine provinces in South Africa and all of those institutions have had an fees increase between 5.8% and 7.5% for the 2025 calendar year.
Gauteng has the most representatives on the list with four – Roedean School for Girls, St John’s, St Mary’s and St Alban’s – followed by KwaZulu Natal with three schools – Hilton College, Michaelhouse and Kearsney.
The next best represented province on the list is the Eastern Cape with two schools – St Andrew’s and Diocesan for Girls. And completing the top 10 is the Western Cape, which features via Bishops College.
The costs range between R420 729 (Hilton) and R345 630 (Diocesan School for Girls).
TOP 10 MOST EXPENSIVE SECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Here then, for 2025’s academic year, are the 10 most expensive private schools in South Africa.
| Rank | School | Location | 2024 fees | 2025 fees | % increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilton | Hilton, KZN | R397 660 | R420 729 | 5.8% |
| 2 | MichaelHouse | Balgowan, KZN | R368 000 | R392 000 | 6.5% |
| 3 | St Andrew’s College | Makhanda, EC | R363 879 | R387 531 | 6.5% |
| 4 | Roedean School for Girls | Johannesburg, GP | R360 087 | R387 093 | 7.5% |
| 5 | St John’s College | Johannesburg, GP | R352 612 | R376 589 | 6.8% |
| 6 | Kearsney College | Botha’s Hill, KZN | R350 130 | R374 330 | 6.9% |
| 7 | Bishops College | Cape Town, WC | R341 430 | R364 680 | 6.8% |
| 8 | St Mary’s | Johannesburg, GP | R335 470 | R358 665 | 6.9% |
| 9 | St Alban’s College | Pretoria, GP | R328 920 | R353 580 | 7.5% |
| 10 | Diocesan Girls School | Makhando, EC | R323 040 | R345 630 | 7% |
ARE YOU PLANNING ON SENDING YOUR CHILD TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL?
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