The most expensive private schools in the country

Clarence Ford speaks with Barbara Friedman about this and other stories trending online.

Listen to the interview in the audio below. Skip to 02:47.

The cost of private schools in South Africa is exorbitant, with one school costing close to R400 000 for a single year.

With the latest price increase six schools cost now cost more than R350 000 for a year of boarding and tuition.

The most expensive school in the country remains Hilton College in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, with an annual fee of R397,660 for a year of boarding school.

According to Business Tech, this is almost double what it cost 10 years ago.

“That is a lot of money a year for your kid to go to Hilton.”

- Barbara Friedman

In 2024, MichaelHouse, St Andrew’s College in Makhanda, Roedean School for Girls, St John’s College, and Kearsney College all cost more than R350 000 for a year with boarding.

It is not only boarding schools that are costing a fortune, prices at day schools have also gone up.

The most expensive day schools in the country are the following:

Kearsney College in Botha’s Hill - R240 900 per year

St John’s College in Johannesburg - R206 768 per year

Roedean School for Girls in Johannesburg - R203 607 per year

Bishops College in Cape Town - R199 650 per year

St Mary’s, Waverly in Johannesburg - R189 880 per year

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.