Study finds the cost of SA regional education is set to be one of the highest in Australia

The cost of putting your children through school differs dramatically based on where you live, a new report shows, with some South Australians getting a raw end of the deal.

The cost of regional and remote education in South Australia will be significantly higher than the national average for new students, a study has revealed.

The average cost to put a child through 13 years of independent schooling in regional and remote areas of the state, starting in 2024, is 14 per cent higher than the national average at more than $252,000 (compared to $221,501).

And public schooling outside metropolitan areas is also above the national figure.

It will cost parents, on average, eight per cent more ($86,677) than the national cost of $80,303.

The latest Investment in Education Index report released by Futurity Investment Group indicated that while the cost of public schooling rose almost $5000, Adelaide still ranked as one of Australia’s most affordable cities for education.

The data for the Futurity report, collected by McCrindle, was the result of a survey of more than 1500 Australian parents, with additional field reporting to determine the cost of education.

In addition to school fees, the report also considered transport, outside tuition and uniforms among other factors.

Schooling in regional areas in South Australia costs more than the national average but education in metropolitan Adelaide is cheaper.

The cost to put a child through 13 years of schooling Adelaide is below the national average, despite an increase on 2023 figures.

The average cost of education at a government school in Adelaide was $88,186 for a child starting school in 2024, a figure that is five per cent lower than the national average ($92,710).

In Melbourne, the average fee for sending a child to a government school was more than $20,000 higher ($108,879) than in Adelaide, and in Sydney the cost was $94,819.

The average for independent schooling in Adelaide was $288,586, a cost more than $15,000 higher than in 2023 but nine per cent lower than the national average.

In August, The Advertiser revealed that the total cost of putting a child through schooling at St Peter’s College was almost $330,000 (when only considering school fees), the highest in the state.

But even this figure was lower than the average cost of independent schools in Sydney at almost $380,000.

In Adelaide, outside tuition was forecast as the second highest cost to parents behind school fees.

Catholic education in Adelaide was the only area above the national average (by one per cent) at $197,000.

Outside tuition was forecast to be the most expensive component of Catholic education for children in non-metro areas.

Futurity Investment Group chief executive Sam Sondhi said school expenses are set to skyrocket in the next 10 years.

“It’s forecast school fees and a host of major school expenses … will increase upwards of 14 per cent in the next five years, and by almost 30 per cent in the next decade,” Mr Sondhi said.

He warned that parents should plan and save for their children’s education as they will be “in a better position” in the future.

Originally published as Study finds the cost of SA regional education is set to be one of the highest in Australia