Parents in the Hunter Region are facing another significant hike in private school fees for the 2026 academic year, with average costs for senior students rising by nearly five per cent. The latest fee schedules reveal the ongoing financial pressure on families choosing independent and Catholic education pathways.
Major Schools Announce 2026 Fee Hikes
The majority of large independent schools have now released their tuition costs for 2026. On average, fees for students entering Year 12 have increased by 4.6 per cent. The rises are not uniform, with some institutions implementing considerably steeper jumps than others.
Leading the increases is Hunter Valley Grammar School in Ashtonfield, where Year 12 fees will climb by seven per cent to $25,500 annually. Fees for the younger cohorts, from Kindergarten to Year 2, start from $12,800.
Newcastle Grammar School retains its position as one of the region's most expensive options. Its Year 12 tuition is set to rise 5.5 per cent to $34,370, with an additional activity levy of $1,050. Sending a five-year-old to kindergarten there will cost $19,655 plus an $861 levy.
Other notable increases include St Philips Christian College Newcastle, where fees are up 4.9 per cent to $13,510 in tuition plus $2,760 in additional fees. At Maitland Christian School, Year 12 fees will reach $9,321, excluding a $779 activity levy, while Hunter Christian School's Year 12 cost is set at $10,412.
Wallsend's Macquarie College recorded the most modest rise, with fees increasing by just 0.9 per cent to $12,968 for Year 12.
School Leaders Cite Rising Costs and Teacher Wages
School principals point to a challenging financial landscape as the primary driver behind the fee adjustments. Hunter Valley Grammar School principal Rebecca Butterworth stated the board undertakes a "careful and considered" annual review, guided by long-term needs and current economics.
"This thoughtful planning allows us to support outstanding teachers, offer a broad range of learning pathways, maintain strong wellbeing programs and create rich academic, cultural, sporting, leadership and service experiences for our students," Ms Butterworth explained.
Newcastle Grammar's head of school, Matt Macoustra, acknowledged the strain of increased living costs on families. He said the fee rise was necessary to retain quality educators, invest in facilities, and maintain smaller class sizes. The school also introduced a new technology levy for Year 7 students to cover school-issued laptops. A school spokesperson confirmed that a new enterprise agreement for teachers, which included a pay increase, was a contributing factor.
A spokesperson for St Philip's Christian Colleges said the group worked to keep increases below five per cent. "Our group model enables us to realise economies of scale, which helps us offer exceptional opportunities and programs at a significantly lower cost than would be possible for us if we were a standalone school," they said.
Catholic and Regional Schools Follow the Trend
The rising cost of education is not confined to the independent sector. The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has also increased its fees for 2025. Tuition for Years 11 and 12 students will rise by more than seven per cent, from $3,245 to $3,488.
Costs for Kindergarten to Year 6 are set at $1,768, while Years 7 to 10 will cost $2,353. All families must also pay a $1,964 Diocesan Family School Building Levy, plus individual school resource and service fees.
Director of Catholic Schools Jacqueline Wilkinson said the changes reflected sector-wide cost pressures, including teacher salary improvements. "In practical terms, this means across all year levels, this equates on average to an increase of around $177 per year, or approximately $3.40 per week," Ms Wilkinson stated, adding that the diocese was mindful of cost-of-living pressures.
This pattern is reflected nationally. A 2025 report by education payment provider Edstart found that regional tuition fees rose by an average of 5.6 per cent, while national fees jumped by 6.03 per cent. The report, analysing 902 non-government schools, identified staff wages as a key driver.
Despite the increasing costs, demand for private education in the Hunter continues to grow. From 2019 to 2024, independent schools in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie saw an average annual growth of 4.3 per cent, with the Hunter Valley recording 4.5 per cent growth.
