Revealed: The most expensive schools in South Africa for 2022

A new report suggests that South Africa’s most expensive day school costs more than R200 000 for a Grade 12 year, with the remainder of the schools that make up the top ten over R160 000.

The most expensive schools in South Africa for 2022

According to the report from Business Insider, Kearsney College – a medium high school for boys in a small town situated between the provincial capital of Pietermaritzburg and Durban – is still the most expensive school in South Africa.

Due to its 4.9% fee increase this year, parents must pay R209 000 in tuition fees alone.

Meanwhile, St John’s College, Roedean School, and Bishops Diocesan College round out the top four with fees over R170 000 per year – a ranking that remains unchanged from 2021. 

Private day schools vs Tertiary education

In South Africa, tertiary education can cost around R50 000 to R70 000 a year in some cases. This means that a year of Grade 12 at one of these private day schools costs roughly the same as an undergraduate degree in law, commerce, or the arts at some universities in South Africa.

What’s more, while a lot of schools opted to increase fees slightly or not at all last year, most in the top ten of 2022 have increased fees by between 4% and 7.9%. 

Also Read: Schools can no longer force parents to buy uniforms from a specific supplier

An increase in fees

The lowest fee increase in the top ten was at St John’s College, which raised fees by 4%.

However, several schools, including Bishops Diocesan College, and Crawford College Sandton, chose to increase fees by 7% or more.

In rand value, the highest year-on-year fee increase came at Bishops, who now charges R11 900 more for Grade 12 tuition than it did last year.

The publication reminds readers that when comparing fees, it should be noted what is and is not included.

In some cases, several schools require admission and other fees and may require separate payments for IEB exams. Some extra-curricular activities also attract fees for equipment or excursions.

The top 10 most expensive schools in SA

Here you can see the list of the most expensive day schools in South Africa for 2022:

1. Kearsney College – R209 000
2. St John’s College – R179 000
3. Roedean School – R176 204
4. Bishops Diocesan College – R170 520
5. Clifton College – R167 798
6. Crawford College Sandton – R164 470
7. St Alban’s College – R163 650
8. St Mary’s School – R163 550
9. Reddam Waterfall / Helderfontein – R162 495
10. St Stithians College – R162 110