Education Qld: Government, Catholic and independent school costs revealed

The total cost of a state school education has risen $16,000 in a year – but it is still only a third of that of more expensive alternatives.

Karinya St Clair with sons Lawson, 3, and twins George and Fraser, 12. Picture: Lachie Millard

Parents sending their children to a state school in Brisbane are facing a 20 per cent increase in total costs over a 13-year period, but it is still the most affordable option.

And Brisbane families who choose to send their children to a Catholic or private school will fork out up to triple the amount of a public school, new data analysing long-term education costs has revealed.

For Brisbane families, state school’s are estimated to be the least costly route, with the city being crowned the most affordable in the country for a government education at $101,064 over a 13-year period.

This is despite a near $16,000 increase on the previous year.

The research by McCrindle, on behalf of Futurity Investment Group, found Brisbane to be Australia’s second most expensive city for a Catholic education, costing a whopping $202,485 over 13 years for a student starting Prep in 2025.

Despite a slight decrease on the previous year, this is close to $10,000 more than the national metropolitan average, and trails Canberra as the most expensive at $215,633.

It’s not just Catholic education emptying parents wallets, with the price of independent education in Brisbane surging by a third in the past year to an estimated total of $369,646 – 6 per cent up on the national average.

These totals include school fees and auxiliary costs such as electronic devices, outside tuition, camps, excursions, transport, uniforms and textbooks.

Futurity Investment Group’s Sarah McAdie said the costs associated with education are placing a substantial burden on many Australian families, however many felt quality education was a priority.

“Spiralling cost of living, rent and mortgage repayment pressures mean many households are under considerable pressure,” Ms McAdie said.

“With less discretionary money to spend, it is going to be a challenge for many families to pay for education, including school fees and voluntary contributions, which have all increased in the past year.”

In the face of soaring costs Mitchelton mother of four Karinya St Clair called her children’s education a priority, and has shared ways she keeps costs down while still forking out private school fees.

“I have three kids in private Catholic schools and a little one who is about to start preschool,” Ms St Clair said.

“There has been an increase in fees across all of their private schools.

“It’s something that my husband and I have talked about a lot, it’s tricky to keep in line with it along with the cost of living.”

But even with the increases their education, Ms St Clair said it was not something they were willing to sacrifice and took other steps to save such as buying second-hand uniforms.

It is a different story for regional and remote Queenslanders, with the state being the most expensive for non-metro government and Catholic educations, climbing up to 11 per cent above the national average.

Parents outside the metro areas are estimated to fork out more than $90,000 to send their child to a state school and nearly $158,000 for a Catholic school.

Originally published as Education Qld: Government, Catholic and independent school costs revealed