When families talk about buying property in Brisbane, the conversation often starts with bedrooms, bathrooms and budgets. The important stuff, right?
In reality, the most successful long-term decisions are rarely about the property itself. That’s why our team at LJBA knows to focus more on the people who will live in it.
For parents, schooling is one of the biggest lifestyle drivers there is. It shapes daily routines, commute times, community ties, household budgets, and how long a home can truly work for a family. That’s why, in most cases, prioritising location over the build itself leads to better outcomes—especially when education costs are part of the equation.
Private school fees in Brisbane vary widely, and understanding what families can realistically expect to pay overtime is an essential part of planning. Considering schooling, housing and lifestyle as a collective gives you the best shot at a sustainable decision.
Now, let LJBA’s trusty property experts break down why education choices so often influence where families choose to live, and what Brisbane families really pay for private schooling.
Catholic VS independent school fees in Brisbane
Catholic school fees in Brisbane generally sit at the lower end of the spectrum, with many charging between $3,000 and $15,000 per year for secondary students. Some, like Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College and San Sisto College, have even introduced income-based fee structures, where families pay different amounts depending on their household income. Naturally, this makes them significantly more accessible for households balancing mortgages, childcare and multiple children.
Independent schools typically charge flat fees that are not means-tested, and these increase steadily with year level. Across Brisbane, independent secondary school fees commonly range from $15,000 to over $35,000 per year. Schools such as Brisbane Grammar, Brisbane Girls Grammar, Anglican Church Grammar School and Somerville House sit firmly in this higher-fee category.
Are private schools worth the cost in Brisbane?
Often yes, but not automatically!
Private schools can make sense when families value individualised learning, strong co-curricular offerings, consistent teaching quality, and clear values alignment—whether religious or philosophical. For those who deem private schools worth the cost, it’s their environment that matters most.
However, private schooling may not feel worth it when fees create ongoing financial stress or lifestyle trade-offs, or parents are paying for facilities or programs their child doesn’t use. It’s always important to consider if the child would thrive just as well in a strong public catchment.
Brisbane has several high-performing public schools in tightly held catchments, like Kelvin Grove State College. For some families, buying into the right area delivers just as much educational value without the annual fees.
What’s included in private school tuition fees (and what’s not)?
So, here’s the kicker. Private school tuition fees in Brisbane do cover core teaching and access to standard school facilities, but they don’t reflect the full cost of schooling. Many people (including this very author) are surprised to learn the extent of upfront ‘hidden’ costs, such as:
- Confirmation fees
- Acceptance fees
- Commencement / enrolment fees
- Specialist subjects / extension courses
- Co-curricular programs
- Technology levies
- School camps
- Excursions and incursions
- Uniforms
- Alumni membership fees
- Parent association levies
- Outside school hours care (OSHC)
- Student Accident Insurance
- NAPLAN administration
- Private transport (bus) to and from school
- Boarding fees
When comparing private schools in Brisbane, it’s important to look beyond the headline figure and consider the total, ongoing cost of attendance over the full schooling journey.
How school fees impact where families choose to live?
Brisbane private school fees and Brisbane suburb selection often go hand in hand when it comes to families choosing where to plant their roots.
As Brisbane property prices continue to rise, this balancing act has become especially pronounced. Many families find themselves weighing trade-offs between school proximity, mortgage repayments, transport time, and everyday living costs, rather than making decisions based on any single factor.
The distinction between Catholic and independent schools also plays a huge part. Families opting for Catholic education often have more flexibility in their housing budget due to lower or income-adjusted fees, allowing them to consider a wider range of suburbs or property types.
Families choosing higher-fee independent schools may deliberately adjust their housing spend, commute expectations, or dwelling size to accommodate substantial annual education costs.
Ultimately, schooling choices and housing decisions are deeply interconnected. Families who plan for both together—rather than separately—tend to feel more confident and financially comfortable over the long term.
It’s not just about where you live or where your child goes to school, but how the two work together to support a sustainable family lifestyle!
What will Brisbane private school fees cost me in 2026?
Enjoy LJBA’s comprehensive A-Z list of all private schools in our region, exclusively detailing the annual tuition fees for all year levels. Not included: aforementioned upfront ‘hidden’ costs.
2026 Brisbane Private School Fees
- All Hallows’ School
$17,500 for grades 5 to 10
$18,950 for grades 11 and 12 - Anglican Church Grammar School
$24,820 – $47,579
(varies by grade and program) - Brisbane Adventist College
$6,248 for prep to grade 2
$6,324 for grades 3 to 6
$8,968 for grades 7 to 10
$10,760 for grades 11 and 12 - Brisbane Boys’ College
$22,180 for prep
$29,436 for grades 7 to 12 (day)
$32,460 for grades 7 to 12 (boarders) - Brisbane Girls Grammar School
$29,316 for grades 5 and 6
$34,088 for grades 7 to 12 - Brisbane Grammar School
$30,360 for grades 5 and 6 (day)
$36,300 for grades 7 to 12 (day)
$28,600 for years 5 and 6 (boarders)
$35,660 for years 7 to 12 (boarders) - Brisbane Independent School
$10,972 for prep to grade 6 - Brisbane Montessori School
$10,964 for prep
$14,624 for grades 1 to 11 - Calvary Christian College
$5,850 for prep to grade 2
$6,000 for grade 3
$6,200 for grades 5 and 6
$7,800 for grades 7 and 8
$8,500 for grades 9-12 - Cannon Hill Anglican College
$12,820 for prep to grade 2
$14,860 for grades 3 to 6
$21,456 for grades 7 to 12 - Canterbury College
$9,864 for prep to grade 2
$10,398 for grades 3 to 6
$13,052 for grade 7
$13,808 for grades 8-12 - Carmichael College
$5,400 for prep to grade 5
$5,632 for grade 6
$6,980 for grades 7 and 8
$7,448 for grades 9 and 10
$8,192 for grades 11 and 12 - Citipointe Christian College
$11,420 for prep to grade 6
$14,740 for grade 7 to 9
$16,164 for grade 10 to 12 - Clayfield College
$11,424 for prep
$23,248 for prep to grade 2
$24,192 for grade 3 to 6
$52,440 for grades 5 and 6 (boarders)
$28,096 for grade 7 to 12
$56,344 for grade 7 to 12 (boarders) - Faith Lutheran College
$6,410 for prep to grade 2
$6,800 for grade 3 to grade 5
$7,450 for grade 6
$8,475 for grades 8 and 9
$10,145 for grade 10 to 12 - Hillbrook Anglican School
$19,900 for grades 7 to 12 - Islamic College of Brisbane
$2,402 for prep to grade 6
$2,668 for grade 7 to 9
$3,003 for grade 10 to 12 - John Paul College
$6,308 for kindergarten
$12,095 for prep to grade 2
$14,255 for grade 3 to 6
$18,703 for grade 7 to 12 - King’s Christian College
$5,440 for prep to grade 6
$6,516 for grade 7 to 9 - Loreto College Coorparoo
$15,100 for grade 5 to 12 - Lourdes Hill College
$12,210 for grades 5 and 6
$13,110 for grade 7 to 9
$14,020 for grade 10 to 12 - Marist College Ashgrove
$14,120 for grades 5 and 6
$16,890 for grade 7 to 10
$18,710 for grade 11 to 12 - Moreton Bay Boys’ College
$5,544.80 for kindergarten
$12,660 for prep to grade 3
$13,620 for grade 4 -6
$17,868 for grade 7 to 10
$18,192 for grades 11 and 12 - Moreton Bay College
$5,544.80 for kindergarten
$12,780 for prep to grade 3
$16,632 for grade 4 to 6
$22,380 for grade 7 to 10
$22,680 for grades 11 and 12 - Mt Alvernia College
$10,490 for grade 7 to 9
$12,045 for grade 10 to 12 - Mt Maria College
$8,290 for grade 7 to 9
$9,295 for grade 10 to 12 - Mt Maria College Petrie
$6,690 for grades 7 and 8
$6,672 for grades 9 and 10
$7,005 for grades 11 and 12 - Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College
Band 1: Combined gross household income over $80,000 per year
$3,150 for grade 7
$4,700 for grade 8
$4,800 for grade 9
$4,900 for grade 10
$5,300 for grade 11
$5,600 for grade 12
Band 2: Combined household income below $80,000 + above the School Card threshold
$2,480 for grade 7
$3,720 for grade 8
$3,800 for grade 9
$3,880 for grade 10
$4,200 for grade 11
$4,440 for grade 12
Band 3: Families approved under the Queensland School Card Scheme
$1,810 for grade 7
$2,740 for grade 8
$2,800 for grade 9
$2,860 for grade 10
$3,100 for grade 11
$3,280 for grade 12
- Ormiston College
$13,420 for prep to grade 4
$15,208 for grades 5 and 6
$18,212 for grade 7 to 12 - Padua College
$7,960 for grades 5 and 6
$9,560 for grades 7 to 9
$10,547 for grades 10 to 12
Prince of Peace Lutheran College
$8,322 for prep to grade 2
$8,949 for grade 3 to 5
$9,799 for grade 6
$13,026 for grades 7 and 8
$15,009 for grade 9
$13,244 for grade 10 to 12 - Rivermount College
$11,400 for kindergarten
$7,820 for prep to grade 6
$9,500 for grade 7 to 9
$9,800 for grade 10 to 12 - San Sisto College
$3,806 for all years
Somerville House
$23,620 for pre-prep
$24,400 for prep to grade 4
$27,020 for grades 5 and 6
$31,872 for grade 7 to 12 - St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School
$14,332 for kindergarten
$25,376 for prep to grade 3
$26,204 for grades 4 and 5
$29,920 for grade 6
$31,992 for grade 7 to 12 - St Edmund’s College
$6,900 for grades 5 and 6
$10,660 for grades 7 to 12 - St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace
$24,214 for grade 5
$22,091 for grade 6
$24,214 for grade 7 to 12 - St Laurence’s College
$10,460 for grades 5 and 6
$12,440 for grade 7 to 12 - St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
$15,436 for pre-prep
$25,764 for prep to grade 2
$27,316 for grade 3 to 5
$28,924 for grade 6
33,216 for grade 7 to 12 - St Mary’s College Ipswich
$4,105 for kindergarten (3 days)
$4,505 for prep to grade 2
$5,020 for grade 3 to 5
$6,955 for grade 6 to 8
$7,440 for grades 9 and 10
$6,690 for grades 11 and 12 - St Patrick’s College Shorncliffe
$11,405 for grades 5 and 6
$11,981 for grades 7 to 12 - St Peters Lutheran College
$17,856 for prep
$18,444 for grade 1 to 4
$22,144 for grades 5 and 6
$24,708 for grade 7
$26,012 for grades 8 and 9
$26,088 for grade 10 to 12 - St Paul’s School
$10,090 for pre to prep
$15,660 for prep to grade 6
$19,830 for grade 7 to 12 - The Lakes College
$9,886 for prep to grade 6
$11,803 for grade 7 to 9
$12,623 for grade 10 to 12 - Villanova College
$12,430 for junior school
$15,760 for middle school
$16,470 for senior school - Westside Christian College
$5,709 for prep
$6,531 for grade 1
$6,842 for grade 2
$6,987 for grade 3
$7,475 for grade 4
$7,553 for grade 5
$7,593 for grade 6
$8,552 for grade 7
$9,511 for grade 8
$10,488 for grade 9
$10,278 for grade 10
$10,984 for grade 11
$11,002 for grade 12 - West Moreton Anglican College
$8,836 for prep
$9,596 for grades 1 and 2
$9,784 for grade 3
$11,556 for grade 4 to 6
$14,096 for grade 7
$14,756 for grade 8
$15,476 for grade 9
$16,248 for grade 10
$16,936 for grade 11
$16,936 for grade 12