Victoria’s boarding schools ranked from most to least expensive
From chef-prepared meals to indoor swimming pools, Victoria’s boarding schools can charge a hefty price for state-of-the-art facilities and exclusive programs. See which schools deliver bang for buck.
Education
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Victoria is home to more than 20 boarding schools, with some of them featuring a hefty price tag for state-of-the-art facilities and top educational development programs.
With costs ranging from about $11,000 to just over $80,000 per year in tuition and boarding fees, finding the right school for your children requires the right advice and planning.
Using available and current information from each boarding school’s 2024 Schedule of Fees, take a look at the total annual costs of Victoria boarding schools.
Some of the boarding schools feature chef-prepared meals, outdoor programs, leadership development and additional co-curricular cultural and social justice courses.
Geelong Grammar School
Year 12 Tuition fees: $32,760
One of the state’s most prestigious boarding schools, Geelong Grammar School houses students from years 7 to 12.
Pupils in year 7 become active members of Kunuwarra, girls boarding house, or Parrwang, boys boarding house with the flexibility of full boarding or weekly boarding.
Some of the standout features include in-house games hall with pool tables, table tennis tables, foosball table, in-house chess tables, lounge room with board games and reading corners, big-screen TVs, in-house libraries for quiet work and music practice rooms.
The boarding activities include weekend pizza nights, trips to the beach and mountain biking in the You Yangs.
Assumption College, Kilmore
Year 12 Tuition fees: $40,875
The school offers the option of both seven and five-day boarding.
Each house is home to 24 boarders and corresponding boarding staff, with personal spaces which have communal areas that encourage communication and enjoyment with boarding peers.
Some features include a traditional brick pizza oven for boarding barbecues and fun gatherings.
Toorak College, Mt Eliza
Year 12 Tuition fees: $33,224
The school offers boarders chef-prepared meals that cater to a range of dietary requirements, supervised study time and access to our tutoring program.
Boarders can also use school facilities, seven days a week.
Students have access to spacious bedrooms, a contemporary common room, an indoor/outdoor dining area and world-class academic and recreation facilities.
Peninsula Grammar, Mt Eliza
Year 12 Tuition fees: $33,044
The school’s boarding house offers a “personal approach” restricted to a maximum of 50 students ranging from years 7-12.
On school weekdays, breakfast and dinner are provided at the boarding house and lunch is provided at the school’s cafeteria. On weekends, breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided at the boarding house
The school provides extensive extra-curricular activities for boarders and an array of modern sporting facilities.
St Catherine’s School, Toorak
Year 12 Tuition fees: $36,000
St Catherine’s boarding house allows pupils to access comfortable living spaces, study areas, recreational facilities and communal dining areas where they can relax and socialise.
The boarding house offers sports competitions and creative workshops.
Students have access to designated study spaces, resources, and technology to aid their learning journey.
Genazzano FCJ College, Kew
Year 12 Tuition fees: $35,370
Genazzano’s Hopetoun Hall Boarding House accepts students from Year 7 upwards.
Boarders have access to outdoor activities and exclusive learning programs.
Casual boarding is also offered for short term stays at the boarding house, where families can select specific nights each week to board across a term.
Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Burwood
Year 12 Tuition fees: $36,372
This school offers a “holistic” boarding school approach.
It’s set on 16-hectares of parklike, spacious grounds.
Boarders have after-school access to the school’s aquatic centre, performing arts centre, art studios and many sporting facilities including a swimming pool and badminton courts.
Firbank Grammar
Year 12 tuition fees: $37,467
Set in extensive gardens on the Senior School Campus at Brighton, the boarding house is home to students from overseas, Victoria and interstate.
On weekends, boarders have supervised access to school facilities including a 25m heated indoor pool, gymnasium, tennis courts and playing fields.
Melbourne Girls Grammar
Year 12 tuition fees: $41,864
Melbourne Girls Grammar allows its boarding house students to excel in performing arts opportunities.
Students are given access to an extensive variety in the disciplines of drama, music, sport, and social events.
The school offers GSV sports in which many boarding school students compete.
Melbourne Grammar School
Year 12 tuition fees: $32,600
The school provides accommodation for about 120 boys from Years 7 to 12 in our boarding precinct, located just a few minutes’ walk from its senior school and Wadhurst campuses.
The school offers after-hour academic programs and support. It also provides all meals to students.
The precinct also houses recreational spaces, kitchenettes and study areas.
Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC)
Year 12 tuition fees: $38,790
Methodist’s Tiddeman boarding house has recently undergone renovations and offers living for 100 students from Years 7 to 12.
The boarding house is a three-storey building, with areas equipped with lounges, televisions and kitchenette facilities.
It also has an internal courtyard garden, art space and in-house gym.
Scotch College
Year 12 tuition fees: $40,386
Boarders at Scotch College are housed at one of three separate boarding homes, which collectively accommodates for 160 students.
Each boarding house has its own banking system which allows the male residents to access pocket money as needed.
Students also have access to recreation rooms, music practice rooms, chef-cooked meals, and welfare services.
Wesley College
Year 12 tuition fees: $40,053
More than 80 boarders stay at Wesley College’s learning in residence facilities, which includes eight two-storey residences for boys and girls, each housing up to 16 students an one staff member.
Each residence features a kitchenette with a microwave, kettle, sink and fridge, and students also have access to the sports centre, gymnasium, tennis courts, athletics track, sports oval and an indoor swimming pool.
Caulfield Grammar School
Year 12 tuition fees: $37,553
Year 12 students at Caulfield Grammar are allocated individual rooms, with singles, doubles and three-bedroom configurations offered to all other high-school aged students.
Students are also offered a myriad of co-curricular activities such as performing arts, sports, dance and photography.
Those students who enjoy the outdoors have access to hiking, skiing, horse riding and kayaking opportunities through the Duke Of Edinburgh scheme and other programs.
Xavier College
Year 12 tuition fees: $35,115
The boarding house facilities at Xavier College are smaller than other schools and are suitable for 22 boarders in year 9 and 10 and 40 boarders in years 11 and 12.
Each house has its own common room, kitchen and television room and students also have access to the school library, notebooks, the internet and facilities within the Xavier Sports Centre.
The Geelong College
Year 12 tuition fees: $34,480
Most boarders at The Geelong College come from country Victoria and NSW, while international students at the school have travelled from China, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The regional private school is quite structured and invites students to participate in sports training and study during the week and sporting games and house activities on the weekend. Students also have access to qualified academic tutors.
St Patrick’s College Ballarat
Year 12 tuition fees: $8520
St Patrick’s College Ballarat describes boarding at its campus as “fun, challenging, engrossing, busy, structured and dynamic”.
The all-boys school offers its boarders a monthly menu that covers breakfast, morning tea, lunch and dinner. It also expects those residing at the school to attend mass each weekend.
Gippsland Grammar
Year 12 tuition fees: $18,920
Gippsland Grammar offers a range of boarding options to its students including full-time, part-time, casual, day and late returns.
In addition to a number of on-campus facilities such as study rooms, a games library, a recreational area and sporting equipment, the school also has a bus which is available to transport students in and around Sale after school and on the weekend.
Ballarat Grammar
Year 12 tuition fees: $24,540
There are five boarding houses at Ballarat Grammar’s main Wendouree campus, which are located 3km from the school’s 50ha farm campus, giving students the opportunity to work with sheep, cattle and horses.
When they’re not busy studying, students are also offered the opportunity to engage in leisure activities including sporting events, services activities such as flood relief help, bike rides and surfing.
Ballarat Clarendon College
Year 12 tuition fees: $22,470
Ballarat Clarendon College offers boarding facilities to approximately 150 students across two vertical houses.
The college describes its boarding facilities as the “beating heart of the school” with boarders invited to participate in events and challenges between the two houses over the course of the year.
The Hamilton and Alexandra College
Year 12 tuition fees: $22,641
Boarding at the Hamilton and Alexandra College’s Myrniong Campus hosts 150 students and offers house mothers for junior boarders while senior pupils have access to smaller units that accommodate up to eight people.
In addition to on-site playing fields and sporting courts, boarders have access to the college Equestrian Centre – where they can agist a horse – and the neighbouring public golf course.
Monivae College
Year 12 tuition fees: $6,970
Monivae College offers boarding to a small intake of students, including full-time, weekly and casual stays.
Pupils who board at the school are given the opportunity to participate in outside activities such as after school jobs, sport or community activities.
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