South Australia’s cheapest private schools in 2025

The state’s most affordable private schools are charging less than $2000 a year – and fees at one school have even gone backwards. See the full price list.

Parents at one of Adelaide’s most affordable private schools face a fee increase of almost $1000 to put a child through year 12 this year – while the cost at another campus has gone backwards.

Analysis of almost 40 independent and Catholic schools charging less than $10,000 for year 12 has revealed at least 11 have frozen fees at 2024 rates.

In a surprise move, Mary MacKillop College in Kensington will charge parents less across all year levels in 2025.

Anthony Martini and his daughters Ella, 12, and Ava, 15, who attend Mary MacKillop College. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Jessica and Anthony Martini, whose daughters Ava, 15, and Ella, 12, are enrolled at the college said the fee relief was “an unexpected and welcome surprise” amid the rising cost of living.

“It means we can add more value into other areas of our lives such as travel and additional extra-curricular activities for the kids,” Mr Martini, 50, said.

Fees at the all-girl school have been reduced in years 10, 11 and 12 from $9400 to $9200.

Parents paid $8900 for year 7, 8, and 9 tuition last year.

This year the fee was halved for year 7 (to $4500), year 8 was discounted to $6500 and year 9 cut to $8700.

Principal Sonia Nelson said parents making the shift from primary school “were finding it more difficult” to cover fees at that “entry point” to high school and the significant fee relief in year 7 “could be a real gamechanger in their thinking about secondary education”.

“We want our school to be accessible to everyone,” she said.

FULL COST OF SCHOOL UNIFORMS REVEALED

Artist impressions of the recent $10m development at Mary MacKillop College. Picture: Supplied

Increases at other schools ranged from 1.2 per cent to 7.7 per cent, with one outlier of more than 40 per cent at Garden College.

The school with campuses in Parafield Gardens and Davoren Park last year charged a flat fee of $2100 for years 7 to 12.

In 2025 it has split the fee, charging $2500 for years 7 to 9 and $3000 for years 10 to 12.

The cheapest school among those surveyed was Horizon Christian School’s Clare campus ($1665), which began offering Year 12 classes for the first time in 2024.

Australian Islamic College Adelaide in West Croydon increased its 2024 fee by just $10, to $1900.

IQRA College teacher Afroza Sultana teaches a class in O'Halloran Hill. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

No other school among those analysed is charging less than $2000.

In total 11 schools have set fees at less than $5000 in 2025, including IQRA Islamic College ($2780), Horizon Christian School’s Blaklava campus ($3240), Pinnacle College ($3788) and Caritas College in Port Augusta ($4700).

Caritas College in Port Augusta West. Picture: Tom Huntley

Fees at a number of Catholic schools have been frozen, including two special schools, and special assistance school Compass Catholic Community remains fee free.

In contrast, The Advertiser has revealed that SA’s most expensive schools are charging more than $32,000 for Year 12 in 2025.

Many independent schools have imposed increases of around five per cent in 2025.

Originally published as South Australia’s cheapest private schools in 2025