School database · Geelong

Top private schools in Geelong, 2026

Independent rankings of 8 of Geelong's most established private schools for 2026. Every fee figure is sourced from the school's official 2026 schedule (linked under each card). We rank on objective, publicly verifiable signals, primarily ICSEA, historic VCE/IB results, and breadth of standout programs, not paid placement.

8 schools ranked No paid placements 2026 fees verified Sorted by ICSEA
The Education Desk · Editorial team, schools + fertility + family services · Updated 1 June 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards

In short

Which is the best private school in Geelong?

Our top-ranked private school in Geelong for 2026 is Geelong Grammar School — Geelong Grammar School is one of Corio's most established anglican co-educational school. Runners-up: Kardinia International College and The Geelong College. All 8 providers in this guide serve Geelong and are ranked on verifiable credentials and information transparency, not paid placement.

Based on 8 providers profiled in Geelong, all cross-referenced against the relevant Australian regulator. Independent ranking, no paid placements, no first-party reviews.

Key takeaways

  • Highest ICSEA: Geelong Grammar School (1149), Corio.
  • 2026 Year 12 fees range $4,840–$55,380 across 8 schools (median $17,887).
  • 2 schools offer boarding; 5 are co-educational, the rest are single-sex.
  • 1 schools offer the IB Diploma alongside VCE.
  • Apply 12–24 months ahead for most schools; elite-tier (Melbourne Grammar, Scotch, Geelong Grammar) often need application at birth or by age 2 for Year 7 entry.

8 Verified Private Schools in Geelong, Ranked

1
Anglican Co-ed Elite tier Boarding Est. 1855

Geelong Grammar School is one of Corio's most established anglican co-educational school. Founded 1855. ICSEA 1149 (well above the national average of 1,000). Compulsory Year 9 'Timbertop' wilderness boarding campus (Mansfield). Tuition: $55,380/year (Year 12, 2026).

Y12 fee 2026

$55,380/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$45,740

ICSEA

1149

Year levels

ELC to Year 12

Boarding: $93,840/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Families who value a residential outdoor-education program

Standout programs

  • Compulsory Year 9 'Timbertop' wilderness boarding campus (Mansfield)
  • Founder of the Positive Education movement in Australia
  • Australia's most expensive school; one of Asia-Pacific's best-known boarding schools
2
Independent (secular) Co-ed Lower-fee Est. 1996

Kardinia International College sits among Bell Post Hill's top independent (secular) co-educational schools. Founded 1996. ICSEA 1119 (well above the national average of 1,000). IB World School: Primary Years Programme + IB Diploma alongside VCE. Tuition: $17,887/year (Year 12, 2026).

Y12 fee 2026

$17,887/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$13,947

ICSEA

1119

Year levels

ELC to Year 12

Best for: Academic families wanting an IB Diploma pathway

Standout programs

  • IB World School: Primary Years Programme + IB Diploma alongside VCE
  • Three campuses with school bus included in fees
  • More educationally advantaged than 96% of Australian schools
3
Uniting Church (formerly Presbyterian) Co-ed Top tier Boarding Est. 1861

The Geelong College, in Newtown, is a long-standing uniting church (formerly presbyterian) co-educational school. Founded 1861. Heritage co-ed boarding option founded 1861. Tuition: $38,540/year (Year 12, 2026).

Y12 fee 2026

$38,540/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$30,172

ICSEA

Year levels

ELC to Year 12

Boarding: $31,080/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Sport-focused families, especially rowing and water-sports

Standout programs

  • Heritage co-ed boarding option founded 1861
  • Strong rowing tradition (Head of the River)
  • Year 12 fees billed over three terms only
4
Christian (non-denominational) Co-ed Mid tier Est. 1980

Christian College Geelong (Highton) is recognised as a leading christian (non-denominational) co-educational school. Founded 1980. Five campuses across Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast. Tuition: $21,944/year (Year 12, 2026).

Y12 fee 2026

$21,944/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$16,404

ICSEA

Year levels

Prep to Year 12

Best for: Co-educational families looking for a broad, balanced curriculum

Standout programs

  • Five campuses across Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast
  • Devices and digital subscriptions included in tuition Years 4-12
  • 23-route private bus fleet across the region
5
Catholic Girls Lower-fee Est. 1860

Sacred Heart College Geelong is one of Newtown's most established catholic girls school. Founded 1860. One of Victoria's largest Catholic secondary schools for girls (~1,420 students). Tuition: $5,140/year (Year 12, 2026).

Y12 fee 2026

$5,140/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$4,615

ICSEA

Year levels

Year 7 to Year 12

Best for: Families seeking an established single-sex girls education

Standout programs

  • One of Victoria's largest Catholic secondary schools for girls (~1,420 students)
  • Sisters of Mercy heritage (founded 1860)
  • Edstart payment-plan partnership

Note: School publishes 2026 fees only inside a downloadable booklet not indexable. Figures last publicly cited 2023.

6
Catholic Boys Lower-fee Est. 1935

St Joseph's College Geelong sits among Newtown's top catholic boys schools. Founded 1935. Largest Catholic boys' school in regional Victoria. Tuition: $8,100/year (Year 12, 2026).

Y12 fee 2026

$8,100/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$8,100

ICSEA

Year levels

Year 7 to Year 12

Best for: Families seeking an established single-sex boys education

Standout programs

  • Largest Catholic boys' school in regional Victoria
  • Christian Brothers / Edmund Rice Education Australia tradition
  • Includes Notebook Computer hire in tuition fee
7
Catholic (Jesuit tradition) Co-ed Lower-fee Est. 1997

Saint Ignatius College Geelong, in Drysdale, is a long-standing catholic (jesuit tradition) co-educational school. Founded 1997. Bellarine Peninsula Jesuit-tradition Catholic college. Tuition: $7,300/year (Year 12, 2026).

Y12 fee 2026

$7,300/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$6,900

ICSEA

Year levels

Year 7 to Year 12

Best for: Families wanting a service-leadership and faith formation focus

Standout programs

  • Bellarine Peninsula Jesuit-tradition Catholic college
  • Year 7 students purchase MacBook ($1,900) for use through to Year 12
  • Years 8-12 charged at the same flat tuition rate
8
Catholic Girls Lower-fee Est. 1956

Clonard College Geelong (Herne Hill) is recognised as a leading catholic girls school. Founded 1956. Brigidine Sisters / Kildare Ministries heritage. Tuition: $4,840/year (Year 12, 2026).

Y12 fee 2026

$4,840/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$4,840

ICSEA

Year levels

Year 7 to Year 12

Best for: STEM-leaning students and families

Standout programs

  • Brigidine Sisters / Kildare Ministries heritage
  • Single flat annual tuition rate covering curriculum + IT + camps + excursions
  • Geelong's primary Catholic systemic girls' school option
Private Schools in Geelong, side by side · Click any header to sort
Provider Sector Gender Year 12 fees (2026) ICSEA Boarding
Geelong Grammar School AnglicanCo-ed$55,3801149Yes
Kardinia International College Independent (secular)Co-ed$17,8871119No
The Geelong College Uniting Church (formerly Presbyterian)Co-ed$38,540-Yes
Christian College Geelong Christian (non-denominational)Co-ed$21,944-No
Sacred Heart College Geelong CatholicGirls$5,140-No
St Joseph's College Geelong CatholicBoys$8,100-No
Saint Ignatius College Geelong Catholic (Jesuit tradition)Co-ed$7,300-No
Clonard College Geelong CatholicGirls$4,840-No

Pricing and availability data checked against public sources at time of publication. We do not host first-party reviews; star ratings have been removed from this directory pending a moderated review-collection process.

How we rank private schools in Geelong

We rank schools on objective, publicly verifiable data: 30% ICSEA score (the ACARA Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage, a strong correlate of academic outcomes), 30% historic VCE/IB results where school medians are publicly disclosed, 20% breadth of standout programs (academic, music, sport, outdoor, languages), 10% facility and pastoral care, and 10% transparency and access (published fees, scholarship availability, open day cadence). Fees in this guide come from each school's published 2026 schedule (linked under each card). Compare Private Schools does not accept payment to list or rank schools.

Common questions

FAQs: private schools in Geelong

Which is the highest-ranked private school in Geelong for 2026?

By ICSEA (the strongest publicly-available correlate of academic outcomes), Geelong Grammar School in Corio ranks first among Geelong private schools we cover, with an ICSEA of 1149. Year 12 fees for 2026 are $55,380. However, "best" is highly child-specific, fit, single-sex vs co-ed preference, religious orientation, and travel time matter as much as raw academic data. Visit at least 3 open days before deciding.

How much do Geelong private schools cost in 2026?

Geelong private school Year 12 tuition for 2026 ranges from $4,840 to $55,380 per year across the 8 schools we cover (median $17,887). Junior school fees are typically 30–40% lower than Year 12. Boarding adds a further $25,000–$45,000 per year on top of tuition. Don't forget capital levies, building fund contributions, IT, uniforms, camps, and music tuition, these can add $5,000–$15,000 per year.

When should I apply for a private school place in Geelong?

For mid-tier independent and Catholic schools, 12–24 months before entry is standard. For elite-tier independents (especially Year 7 boys' schools), waiting lists can be years long, many parents apply at birth or by age 2. Year 9 and Year 11 entry typically have more availability than Year 7. Always check each school's specific application deadlines on their website.

What is ICSEA and why does it matter?

ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is published by ACARA via MySchool.edu.au. It measures the socio-educational advantage of a school's student community on a scale where 1,000 is the national average. Most Geelong private schools score 1,150–1,210. ICSEA is a strong correlate of NAPLAN and ATAR outcomes, but it measures the family advantage students bring to the school, not the school's teaching quality. Use it as one input alongside ATAR results, programs, culture and fit.

How much do private schools cost in Australia in 2026?

Elite independent schools (Geelong Grammar, Sydney Grammar, Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College): $42,000-$55,000/year for Year 12. Mid-tier independents: $25,000-$38,000/year. Catholic systemic schools: $4,000-$10,000/year. Boarding adds $25,000-$45,000 on top. Year 7-9 fees typically 30-40% lower than Year 12. Total K-12 cost: $400,000-$650,000 for elite schools, $40,000-$120,000 for Catholic systemic. Add $5,000-$15,000/year for uniforms, IT, camps, music tuition.

When should I apply for a private school?

Elite schools (Scotch, Geelong Grammar, Sydney Grammar): apply at birth or before age 2 for Year 7 entry. Waiting lists at top schools are 1,000+ children. Mid-tier independents: apply 2-4 years before entry year. Catholic systemic: 12-24 months before entry year. Most competitive entry points: Reception (limited places open most spots), Year 7 (start of secondary, biggest intake), Year 11 (VCE/HSC start). Apply to 4-8 schools simultaneously to maximise options.

What's ICSEA and how does it relate to school quality?

ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) measures the socio-economic background of a school's community. Average is 1000. Elite private schools typically score 1180-1230. ICSEA correlates strongly with academic outcomes, but it measures family advantage, not school teaching quality. To assess teaching quality, look at "value-added" data (how much the school improves students above their starting point), Education Department websites publish this. A school with ICSEA 1200 should produce strong results; a school with ICSEA 1100 producing strong results is doing more impressive teaching.

Are private school scholarships realistic to get?

Top elite schools: 5-15 academic scholarships per year for Year 7 entry, 200-500 applicants. Highly competitive, typically requires top 1% performance on ASCAS test plus interview. Mid-tier schools: easier scholarships available, often 30-50% fee reduction. Music scholarships at most schools: less competitive than academic, requires 5+ years instrument experience and grade 6-7 AMEB level. Sport scholarships: rare, mostly for boarding. Financial assistance (means-tested): 5-30% of places at most schools. Apply to 3-5 schools simultaneously to maximise chances.

Catholic vs Independent, which should I choose?

Catholic systemic schools (parish-funded): $4,000-$10,000/year, generally similar academic outcomes to mid-tier independents, religious instruction (Catholic but increasingly inclusive), community-focused, lower socio-economic mix. Independent schools (privately governed): $25,000-$55,000/year, broader extracurricular options, smaller classes, more international students, stronger university preparation, higher ATAR outcomes. Catholic congregational schools (Loreto, Xavier, Mary MacKillop College, etc.) bridge the two, Catholic ethos but independent governance, fees $20,000-$35,000. Many families choose Catholic for primary, independent for secondary.