Catholic, private, public: The true cost for 13 years of education in Queensland

Brisbane parents are forking out $20,000 more a year than families in Sydney to put their children through the Catholic education system, but the state still ranks as one of the nation’s cheapest for education. Here’s what 13 years of school will cost.

The full cost of 13 years of education in Queensland has been revealed.

Brisbane parents will fork out nearly $200,000 to put a child through 13 years education in the Catholic system, costing $20,000 more than families in Sydney.

A new Futurity Investment Group Cost of Education Index report comparing state by state overall schooling expenses has ranked Queensland as one of Australia’s most affordable.

The Index report estimated a Brisbane public school education would set back parents $80,419 (below the national average) and $262,531 (well below national average) for independent education.

However, it would cost parents a predicted $193,235 (up from $154,341 in 2021) for a Catholic education in Brisbane at figures of 5 per cent above the national average and the second highest in the country behind Canberra.

The report forecast outside tuition to be the most expensive component of a Catholic education for a child starting school in Brisbane this year, at $2979, followed by school fees ($2693), electronics ($863), musical instruments ($787) and transport ($534).

Futurity Investment Group executive Kate Hill said the total cost of education had spiked by nearly double the rate of inflation over the past decade.

“School fees, outside tuition, school camps, transport, uniforms, electronics and sporting equipment are demanding a far greater share of the family budget than in the past,” Ms Hill said.

“The costs associated with education are placing more of a burden on Australian families, who are already stretched by the spiralling cost of living and rising interest rates.”

Ms Hill said parents who planned ahead and saved for education would be better placed in the long run and be able to explore and afford a choice for a school.

Gold Coast mum Natalia Gorbacheva said paying school fees amid an overall cost of living crisis was a major stretch on her budget.

Her sons Daniel, 12 and Yvan, 6, attend Kings Christian College where fees are between $6000-$10,000 across primary and secondary school.

“School fees have been rising every year, each year increasing, and for high school it’s even more, it’s pretty hard,” Ms Gorbacheva said.

“I have an account just for school fees and when I pay the first term, I’m then saving for the second.”

Gold Coast mum Natalia Gorbacheva with sons Daniel, 12, and Yvan, 6.

While Kings covers school camps and the cost of a tablet, the likes of uniforms, sports and swimming lessons and outside tuition all add up.

“Uniforms are expensive too. They keep growing every year obviously,” she said.

In the public system, Brisbane parents are set to spend $80,419, an increase of about $7000 compared to 2021, considerably more affordable than Melbourne ($102,807) and Sydney ($89,500).

Further, Brisbane public school parents are expected to spend $1448 on outside tuition, $796 on musical instruments, $681 on transport, $569 on electronics and $426 on school camps, the report predicted.

For a private education in Brisbane, parents are predicted to fork out $262,531 for a child starting school this year, far below the likes of Sydney ($357,931) and Melbourne ($307,508).

It forecast school fees at $5273 to be the most expensive part of a private education, ahead of outside tuition ($1767), electronics ($804), school camps ($388) and musical instruments ($325).

In regional and remote Queensland, the total cost of public schooling is a predicted $68,597, $154,661 for Catholic and $196,876 for private.