A Private or Public Education: How Much Do They Cost?

Education in Australia can be distinguished according to sources of funding and administrative structures. There are two broad categories of schools in Australia: public schools and private schools. But, what are the differences at the moment? How much do they cost today?

The Australian Scholarships Group organised a survey that showed parents of a child born this year who choose private education could expect to spend $504,742 in metropolitan Melbourne from preschool to year 12. In other words, that cost is $45,747 more than the national metropolitan average.

The Australian Scholarships Group is a member-based organisation that invests money on behalf of parents to offset education costs for their children.

The survey was based on 6900 responses from the group’s members. The figures show the “upper ranges” that parents can expect to pay. The survey includes costs such as school fees, transport, uniforms, computers, excursions and sports trips.

Also, this year, it estimates parents would spend up to $4730 on a child in a public high school, about $12,852 on a Catholic systemic school and $26,078 on an independent school.

Experts say the cost of education in Australia had risen by more than double the rate of inflation in the past decade. That is not surprising since we all know that education is a massive investment.