Head-to-head · 2026
Holy Spirit College vs The Illawarra Grammar School
Side-by-side 2026 comparison: fees, ICSEA, sector, gender, programs and boarding. Both in Wollongong. Sourced from each school's published schedule and ACARA MySchool. Verified 6 June 2026.
Looking for just one school's fees and full profile?
At a glance
The headline differences
- Sector: Holy Spirit College is Catholic systemic; The Illawarra Grammar School is Anglican.
- Gender: Holy Spirit College is co-ed; The Illawarra Grammar School is co-educational.
- Year 12 fees differ by $25,005: Holy Spirit College is more affordable.
- ICSEA gap of 82: The Illawarra Grammar School draws from a more advantaged community.
- Both schools are in Wollongong, so catchment + commute considerations are similar.
Comparison
Side-by-side
| Metric | Holy Spirit College | The Illawarra Grammar School |
|---|---|---|
| City / suburb | Bellambi, Wollongong | Mangerton, Wollongong |
| Sector | Catholic systemic | Anglican |
| Gender | co-ed | co-educational |
| Year levels | 7-12 | ELC to Year 12 |
| ICSEA | 1069 | 1151 |
| Year 12 fee | $2,885 | $27,890 |
| Year 7 fee | $2,150 | $24,850 |
| Boarding | Day school | Day school |
| Founded | 1983 | 1959 |
| Religion | Catholic | Anglican Church of Australia |
All fees verified 6 June 2026 against each school's published schedule. Excludes uniforms, technology, camps, capital + boarding (unless shown).
Holy Spirit College
Standout strengths
- ›International Baccalaureate (IB)
- ›CareerTools careers program
- ›Formed from the 1983 amalgamation of St Paul's College and Holy Cross College
Holy Spirit College is a Catholic systemic co-educational secondary school (Years 7-12) in Bellambi, in the Diocese of Wollongong. Formed in 1983 from the amalgamation of St Paul's College and Holy Cross College, it is a large school of roughly 1,250 students with an above-average ICSEA of 1069. Low-fee Catholic tuition with an International Baccalaureate offering.
See full profile →The Illawarra Grammar School
Standout strengths
- ›Wollongong's flagship independent Anglican K-12 school
- ›Strong academic results; private bus network across Illawarra
- ›$300 prompt-payment discount per student
Anglican co-educational school in Mangerton, Wollongong. Wollongong's flagship independent Anglican K-12 school
See full profile →Common questions
FAQs
Which is better, Holy Spirit College or The Illawarra Grammar School?
"Better" depends on family priorities. By ICSEA, The Illawarra Grammar School. By 2026 Year 12 fee, Holy Spirit College is more affordable. Both are in Wollongong. The most meaningful comparison is on culture, programs, transport and entry pathway for your specific child – visit open days and talk to current parents.
What are the 2026 fees for Holy Spirit College and The Illawarra Grammar School?
Holy Spirit College's 2026 Year 12 tuition is $2,885 (Year 7: $2,150). The Illawarra Grammar School's 2026 Year 12 tuition is $27,890 (Year 7: $24,850). Both schools also charge additional levies (technology, camps, capital, uniform) typically adding 8-15% to headline tuition.
What are the ICSEA scores for Holy Spirit College vs The Illawarra Grammar School?
Holy Spirit College has an ICSEA score of 1069; The Illawarra Grammar School has 1151. The Australian median is 1000. ICSEA measures the socio-educational advantage of the school community – it correlates with academic outcomes but does NOT measure teaching quality or value-add. ICSEA is published by ACARA on MySchool.
Which school is older, Holy Spirit College or The Illawarra Grammar School?
The Illawarra Grammar School is the older school (founded 1959 vs 1983 for Holy Spirit College).
Do Holy Spirit College or The Illawarra Grammar School offer boarding?
Holy Spirit College: Day school only. The Illawarra Grammar School: Day school only.
Next step
Model the 6-year cost for either school
Project Year 7-12 tuition with 4.5% annual indexation. Add boarding, levies and sibling discounts. Compare side-by-side.
Open calculator →