2024 school fees: How much it will cost to send a child to every private school in Geelong, Surf Coast

Many schools are increasing their fees in 2024, but some colleges are far more affordable than others. See the cost of every private school in the region.

Geelong Grammar School remains the region’s most expensive private school, and will increase its fees by eight per cent in 2024.

Parents of private school students are facing another cost of living hit for 2024 with fees set to increase.

Kardinia International College, located in Bell Post Hill, will increase its fees by nearly 6 per cent in 2024.

It will cost $18,733 for a year 11 or 12 student to attend the coeducational school in 2024 – a jump of $1045 from $17,688 in 2023.

Parents will pay $15,233 for a student in years 7-8; while those with children in years 9 or 10 will be charged $17,479 per year.

Kardinia is not the only private school increasing fees next year – Geelong Grammar, the country’s most expensive private school, will bump up its fees by eight per cent.

It’s understood about 80 per cent of students at the school’s senior campus are boarders, while 20 per cent are classed as day boarders who attend the school for a longer-than-usual day.

The annual fee for a day student in years 10-12 will jump to $49,720 – an increase of $3700 from 2023.

For a full boarder, Geelong Grammar will charge $80,160 in years 7 and 8, and $84,240 for in years 10, 11 and 12 for 2024.

Fees at The Geelong College, in Newtown, will also take a leap, increasing 5.95 per cent for 2024.

Clonard College will charge a flat fee of $4295 across all senior year levels in 2024. Picture: Supplied

The fee to send a year 12 child to attend the school will rise from the 2023 fee of $32,544 to $34,480 next year – a difference of $1936.

It will cost $29,424 to send a year 7 student to the school – a jump from $27,772 in 2023.

In a letter to parents, The Geelong College council chair Richard Page said the aim was to “maintain a close connection” with the education consumer price index of 5.2 per cent and overall inflation increase of 6 per cent.

However, Prof Page said the rising costs of staff salaries and other fixed expenses, a reduction in government funding and changes to payroll tax exemptions had forced the school to increase fees.

Christian College Geelong will also increase fees by 5.9 per cent, with the price for sending a year 12 to increase to $18,247.

Sacred Heart College Geelong will have the lowest percentage increase to fees, upping the fee by just 4.4 per cent, to $8770 for a year 12 and $8270 all other senior year levels.

An additional $500 is charged in Year 12 to cover the cost of the valedictory dinner, graduation mass and associated celebrations and Year 12-specific apparel.

Clonard College remains the region’s cheapest independent school, with a flat fee of $4295.

Originally published as 2024 school fees: How much it will cost to send a child to every private school in Geelong, Surf Coast