Brisbane Boys’ College fees highlighted amide parents’ price gouging claims

Furious parents have accused a prestigious Brisbane private school of “price gouging”, following new school fee hikes despite facilities remaining “embarrassing”.

Brisbane Boys College in Toowong. Pics Tara Croser.

Furious parents have accused the prestigious Brisbane Boys’ College of price gouging over school fee hikes, while facilities remain “embarrassing”.

One father claimed the Toowong school was “bleeding us dry”, saying fees had jumped from around $25,000 to $35,000 in just three years.

“I know people don’t feel sorry for parents who can afford to send their kids to these schools, but we have emptied our bank account to send our sons to BBC and they are bleeding us dry, knowing we can’t move them without disrupting their lives massively,” he said.

“And I want to make it clear there is no added value for these increases. The facilities are embarrassing for the money we are paying. The sporting facilities in particular are the worst across all the GPS schools.

“It’s price gouging, pure and simple.”

The father, who contacted The Courier-Mail, said: “Hand on my heart, I would not recommend that school to anyone. Unless you are an international student who is focused only on academics and music, it’s a waste of money.”

Another parent said the school’s waiting until the end of the school year to inform parents of fee hikes was “disgusting”.

Brisbane Boys College, private school in Toowong. AAP Image/Steve Pohlner

“How can we consider taking our kids elsewhere when school is about to break up – we are essentially being held to ransom because the school knows trying to move our sons would be a one huge headache,” she said.

A parent of two students said a 10 per discount only applied to families with three or more sons.

“That rules out a lot of families, and just because you send your kid to a private school doesn’t mean you’re immune from the cost of living crisis,” she said.

BBC domestic student fees for 2025 are $34,500 for Years 7-12 (tuition $31,400, tech levy per student $1480 and campus development levy per family $1580).

Boarders’ parents pay an extra $34,900 – or $69,400.

Fees for international students are $53,850 (tuition $50,790 plus levies).

If those students board, add $40,260 – totalling $94,110.

These fees are exclusive of a non-refundable application fee of $550 for new domestic students or $665 for internationals, and a non-refundable confirmation fee of $2250 or $2900.

The school website states that for international students “on average, fees will increase by 3-7.5 per cent per annum”.

Originally published as Brisbane Boys’ College fees highlighted amide parents’ price gouging claims