Have you ever realised that South Africa’s most expensive schools are all private, full-time boarding schools located in elite suburbs or small wealthy towns? To shock you, the average annual fee for the top 10 private schools in 2026 is well above R390,000. That is the same amount that can afford you a brand new car or a full year of international university tuition.
However, on the other side, the top 10 most expensive public schools are charging between R66,000 and R78,000, which is still high, but nowhere near private school territory. As compared to Hilton College or Michaelhouse, where the projected 2026 fees are over R441,000 and R411,000, it can leave you wondering how come schools under the same national education system can charge such wildly different amounts.
What many parents do not realise is that education costs in South Africa have been rising faster than salaries for years. According to Old Mutual, the average education inflation rate sits around 2.5% to 3% higher than the standard CPI, which means that even if your salary increases each year, it is still not enough to keep up with the actual cost of schooling.
At public schools, the situation is different, but not always easier. Research from the University of Johannesburg shows that quintile 4 and 5 schools (which are expected to charge fees) are receiving inadequate funding from the state and are forced to rely on parents’ fees to maintain school quality. This means that the most expensive public schools are simply trying to fill the gaps left by underfunding. Raj Mestry, who led the study, argues that governing bodies at these schools are under pressure to manage funds effectively, or else risk declining infrastructure and teaching standards. This puts extra responsibility on parents and school leadership to make public schooling work in the face of financial strain.
On this page, we go into the details to explain the 2026 school fees, projected increases, and how the most expensive schools in South Africa compare (public versus private). From location and academic performance to what you actually get for the price, this article will help you make sense of it all before you start planning next year’s budget.
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Top 10 Most Expensive Private Schools in South Africa (2026)
If you are budgeting for top private education for your child in 2026, you must not be shocked bythe numbers below, which keep on continuing their upward climb year after year. Every school on the list below has pushed up their fees again, with increases ranging from 5% to as high as 7.5%. These high amounts of school fees usually include boarding, meals, academic support, and extra-curricular activities. But even with all those extras, the cost can feel out of reach for most South African families.
At the top of the list is Hilton College in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. With a projected fee of R441,765 in 2026, it remains the most expensive school in the country, making it the only most expensive private school consistently priced above R400,000 mark. Close behind is Michaelhouse, which is expected to charge around R411,600 in 2026. Both schools are full-time boarding institutions, which somewhat explains their high price amounts.
Then you have schools like St Andrew’s College, Roedean School for Girls, and St John’s College, which have pushed their annual fees above the R390,000 mark. As a means to justify their expensive school fee figures, these schools claim and promise top IEB results, sports academies, music departments, international exposure, and high-end facilities.
But most parents can agree that price alone does not guarantee quality. Yes, some of these schools deliver outstanding academic results and university placements. But others simply rely heavily on their historic reputation and facilities to justify their extra ordinary school fee costs. What parents need to watch out for is whether the value of education aligns with the price being charged.
Below is a summary of the top 10 most expensive private schools in South Africa, using confirmed 2024 and 2025 data, and adding the projected 2026 fees based on an average increase of 5%.
Projected 2026 Fees – Most Expensive Private Schools in South Africa:
| School (Location) | Fees 2025 | Projected Fees 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton College, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands | R420,729 | R441,765 |
| Michaelhouse, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands | R392,000 | R411,600 |
| St Andrew’s College, Makhanda (Eastern Cape) | R387,531 | R406,908 |
| Roedean School for Girls, Parktown (Johannesburg) | R387,093 | R406,448 |
| St John’s College, Houghton (Johannesburg) | R376,589 | R395,418 |
| Kearsney College, Botha’s Hill (KwaZulu-Natal) | R374,330 | R392,046 |
| Bishops Diocesan College, Rondebosch (Cape Town) | R364,680 | R382,914 |
| St Mary’s School, Waverley (Johannesburg) | R358,665 | R376,598 |
| St Alban’s College, Lynnwood Glen (Pretoria) | R353,580 | R371,259 |
| Diocesan School for Girls, Makhanda (Eastern Cape) | R345,630 | R362,912 |
That being said, let us take a look at the most expensive public schools in South Africa for 2026 studies, in the next section.
Top 10 Most Expensive Public Schools in South Africa (2026)
While private schools easily break the R400,000 mark , as seen explained above, some public schools in South Africa are also following the trend of the top private schools, especially those in former Model C categories. These are government-funded schools that still charge annual fees to cover extra services like school maintenance, advanced academic programmes, sports facilities, and learner support systems.
For 2026, the top-end public schools are projected to charge between R63,000 and R78,855 per year. However, this is still far lower than private institutions but significant enough to impact household budgets, especially for families with more than one child.
Leading the pack of the most expensive public schools in South Africa is Pretoria Boys’ High School, expected to charge around R78,855 of annual school fees in 2026. This school, known for its long-standing academic tradition and sporting achievements, consistently maintains its place at the top of the fee structure for public education. Others like King Edward VII School (KES) and Rondebosch Boys’ High School are expected to exceed R73,000 in school fees, which make them unaffordable for many middle-income households in South Africa.
The public Schools in Gauteng and the Western Cape dominate the list of most expensive public schools, particularly high-performing boys’ schools in Johannesburg and Cape Town. These schools claim to offer quality education and solid academic results, but parents are often expected to make extra contributions beyond the set fees (e.g. fundraising, additional sports equipment, uniforms, or tours).
Unlike private schools, public school fees are regulated, and many offer fee exemptions or reductions for families who apply and qualify. But even with those systems in place, the gap between low-fee and high-fee public schools remains wide.
Projected 2026 Fees – Most Expensive Public Schools in South Africa:
| School (Location) | Fees 2025 | Projected Fees 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Pretoria Boys’ High School, Pretoria (Gauteng) | R75,100 | R78,855 |
| King Edward VII School, Johannesburg (Gauteng) | ~R70,000 | R73,500 |
| Rondebosch Boys’ High School, Cape Town (WC) | ~R70,000 | R73,500 |
| Grey College, Bloemfontein (Free State) | ~R70,000 | R73,500 |
| Parktown Boys’ High School, Johannesburg (Gauteng) | ~R68,000 | R71,400 |
| Jeppe High School for Boys, Johannesburg (Gauteng) | ~R68,000 | R71,400 |
| Wynberg Boys’ High School, Cape Town (WC) | ~R68,000 | R71,400 |
| South African College High School (SACS), Cape Town | ~R68,000 | R71,400 |
| Parktown High School for Girls, Johannesburg (GP) | ~R63,000 | R66,150 |
| Rustenburg Girls’ High School, Cape Town (WC) | ~R63,000 | R66,150 |
Even at these prices, public schools remain significantly more accessible than private institutions, which now charge five to seven times more per year. However, the rise in public school fees is a reminder that even state-supported education is becoming harder to afford without careful planning.
How Much Should You Be Earning to Afford These Schools?
Looking at the figures discussed above, it is clear that school fees in South Africa is a second-largest monthly expense after housing. And if you are aiming to send your child to one of the top private schools in 2026, you are going to need a very strong income to make it work without debt.
Take Hilton College for example. With projected 2026 fees of R441,765 per year, you would need a monthly income of at least R245,000 to afford it comfortably. Remember, that is based on the financial rule that says no more than 15% of your annual income should go toward school fees. That means your household would need to be earning close to R2.94 million per year just to afford Hilton.
For Michaelhouse at R411,600 in 2026, the required salary would still be around R2.74 million per year, or about R228,000 per month. Even for “lower-cost” private schools on the list charging around R376,000 to R390,000, you are still looking at needing R2.5 million per year just to keep up.
Let us compare that to the most expensive public schools on the list above. If your child attends Pretoria Boys’ High School, with projected 2026 fees of R78,855, then your household income would need to be around R525,000 per year or roughly R43,750 per month. Which is still very high for many, but nowhere near the millions required for private boarding.
These numbers also do not include all the extras such as school trips, uniforms, textbooks, devices, transport, or sports fees, which can easily push your real spend towards your children’s education to 30% to 40% higher.
FAQs
What happens if you cannot pay school fees at a private school in South Africa?
If you fall behind on school fees at a private school, you could face legal action, including being handed over to debt collectors or lawyers. Private schools operate as independent businesses, and unlike public schools, they are allowed to deny learners access to reports, registration for the next year, or even school entry if fees are unpaid. Some schools may offer a payment arrangement or financial assistance, but this depends on the school’s policy. It is always better to speak to the school before fees become overdue.
What are the consequences of not paying school fees?
At public schools, especially fee-paying ones (quintile 4 and 5), parents can apply for a fee exemption or partial reduction based on their income. However, if you do not qualify and still fail to pay, the school may hand over the debt to collections, and this can result in judgement listings or garnishee orders on your salary. Schools cannot legally expel or withhold academic reports for non-payment, but the financial pressure can still be serious, especially where additional costs are concerned.
Average Private School Fees in South Africa
In 2026, the average fee for the top 10 most expensive private schools is now sitting above R390,000 per year, including boarding and tuition, based on the insights shared in this article. These are elite full-time boarding schools with international-level facilities, dual academic streams, and a long history of prestige. Think of Hilton College and Michaelhouse in KwaZulu-Natal, St Andrew’s College in the Eastern Cape, or Roedean School for Girls and St John’s College in Johannesburg, where everything from meals to sports to academic support is included in the price.
But they are not the only private schools in the country.
Many mid-range private schools, especially day schools in cities like Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, and Durban, charge between R120,000 and R220,000 per year. Schools like Redhill School, Trinityhouse High (Randpark Ridge), Crawford College Sandton, Abbotts College, and Curro Aurora fall into this range. These schools offer modern classrooms, strong academic support, and a good balance between academics and extra-curriculars, usually following the IEB or Cambridge curriculum, but without the full boarding lifestyle.
Then there are the more affordable private schools, where annual fees can range from R40,000 to R80,000, depending on the grade and services offered. These include schools like Alberton Christian Academy, Prestige College in Hammanskraal, Glen Austin High, and some Curro Academy branches in townships and peri-urban areas. These schools focus more on core subjects and academic performance, with limited extras and leaner infrastructure.
Across the board, private school fees have been increasing by around 5% to 7% every year, which is much faster than the average salary.
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