Private education in South Africa has entered a new price bracket in 2026, with a growing number of elite schools charging fees that would have seemed unthinkable a decade ago.
According to data, at least 13 private schools now charge more than R350 000 a year for tuition and boarding, while several have exceeded the R400 000 mark.
How expensive are private schools in 2026?
At the top of the list, which was compiled by BusinessTech, is Hilton College in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
For 2026, the school’s boarding and tuition fees have risen to R451 557, following a 5.0% increase from the previous year. That cements Hilton’s position as the most expensive school in the country.
When BusinessTech first began tracking private school fees in 2014, Hilton College stood alone as the only institution charging more than R200 000 a year.
Twelve years later, its fees have more than doubled, and it is no longer an outlier.
The R400 000-a-year club grows
Hilton is now joined in the R400 000-plus category by several other well-known schools.
Michaelhouse, Roedean School for Girls in Johannesburg, and St Andrew’s College in Makhanda have all moved into this elite pricing tier, while Kearsney College in KwaZulu-Natal and St John’s College in Johannesburg are close behind at just under R400 000.
What stands out in 2026 is how widespread high fees have become.
All major boarding schools now charge well above R200 000 a year, and even some day schools are approaching or exceeding that level.
This highlights just how dramatically private education costs have shifted over the past decade.
The top 10 most expensive boarding and day schools in South Africa in 2026
Note: The fee information below is based on figures published on individual school websites and collated by BusinessTech. Fees typically reflect annual tuition and/or boarding costs and may exclude once-off charges, levies, or discounts. Figures shown are for the highest grade offered, up to Grade 12. Not all private schools have publicly released their 2026 fee schedules, so the lists are not comprehensive.
Private boarding school prices
| Rank | School | Location | 2026 Fees | Annual Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilton College | Hilton, KZN | R450 893 | 5.0% |
| 2 | Michaelhouse | Balgowan, KZN | R417 000* | 6.5% |
| 3 | Roedean School for Girls | Johannesburg, GP | R413 095 | 6.7% |
| 4 | St Andrew’s College | Makhanda, EC | R409 815 | 5.8% |
| 5 | Kearsney College | Botha’s Hill, KZN | R399 740 | 6.8% |
| 6 | St John’s College | Johannesburg, GP | R397 302 | 5.5% |
| 7 | Bishops College | Cape Town, WC | R386 300 | 5.9% |
| 8 | St Mary’s School | Johannesburg, GP | R382 215 | 6.5% |
| 9 | Diocesan School for Girls | Makhanda, EC | R368 100 | 6.5% |
| 10 | St Andrew’s School for Girls (Senderwood) | Johannesburg, GP | R364,570 | 6.7% |
*Michaelhouse fees are based on the highest payable matric fee structure available at the time of publication.
Private day school prices
| Rank | School | Location | 2026 Fees | Annual Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kearsney College | Botha’s Hill, KZN | R275 000 | 6.8% |
| 2 | Roedean School for Girls | Johannesburg, GP | R233 104 | 6.5% |
| 3 | St John’s College | Johannesburg, GP | R232 974 | 5.5% |
| 4 | Bishops College | Cape Town, WC | R225 900 | 5.9% |
| 5 | St Mary’s School, Waverley | Johannesburg, GP | R218 425 | 6.9% |
| 6 | Clifton School | Durban, KZN | R213 822 | 3.6% |
| 7 | Crawford College Sandton | Johannesburg, GP | R211 900 | 4.7% |
| 8 | Kingsmead College | Johannesburg, GP | R207 535 | 6.9% |
| 9 | St David’s Marist Inanda | Johannesburg, GP | R201 455 | 7.5% |
| 10 | Cedarwood School | Johannesburg, GP | R200 409 | 6.0% |
