Head-to-head · 2026

Immanuel Lutheran College vs Montessori International College

Side-by-side 2026 comparison: fees, ICSEA, sector, gender, programs and boarding. Both in Sunshine Coast. Sourced from each school's published schedule and ACARA MySchool. Verified 11 June 2026.

The Education Desk · Editorial team, schools + fertility + family services · Updated 11 June 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards

At a glance

The headline differences

  • Sector: Immanuel Lutheran College is Lutheran; Montessori International College is Independent (Montessori, IB World School).
  • ICSEA gap of 49: Immanuel Lutheran College draws from a more advantaged community.
  • Both schools are in Sunshine Coast, so catchment + commute considerations are similar.

Comparison

Side-by-side

Metric Immanuel Lutheran College Montessori International College
City / suburbBuderim, Sunshine CoastForest Glen, Sunshine Coast
SectorLutheranIndependent (Montessori, IB World School)
Genderco-educationalco-educational
Year levelsPrep-Year 12Pre-Kindergarten-Year 12
ICSEA11191070
Year 12 fee$13,860$14,694
Year 7 fee$12,720$14,060
BoardingDay schoolDay school
Founded19791995
ReligionLutheran Church of AustraliaNon-denominational independent

All fees verified 11 June 2026 against each school's published schedule. Excludes uniforms, technology, camps, capital + boarding (unless shown).

Immanuel Lutheran College

Standout strengths

  • Longest-serving independent school on Sunshine Coast (est. 1979)
  • 23-hectare rainforest campus with innovative mobile and online learning
  • Strong academic results and Christian community values

Lutheran co-educational school in Buderim, Sunshine Coast. Longest-serving independent school on Sunshine Coast (est. 1979).

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Montessori International College

Standout strengths

  • IB World School offering International Baccalaureate Diploma
  • 22-hectare biologically diverse forest campus in Asia-Pacific region
  • Restorative Practice and Montessori methodology integrated throughout

Independent (Montessori, IB World School) co-educational school in Forest Glen, Sunshine Coast. IB World School offering International Baccalaureate Diploma.

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Common questions

FAQs

Which is better, Immanuel Lutheran College or Montessori International College?

"Better" depends on family priorities. By ICSEA, Immanuel Lutheran College. By 2026 Year 12 fee, Immanuel Lutheran College is more affordable. Both are in Sunshine Coast. 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 Immanuel Lutheran College and Montessori International College?

Immanuel Lutheran College's 2026 Year 12 tuition is $13,860 (Year 7: $12,720). Montessori International College's 2026 Year 12 tuition is $14,694 (Year 7: $14,060). Both schools also charge additional levies (technology, camps, capital, uniform) typically adding 8-15% to headline tuition.

What are the ICSEA scores for Immanuel Lutheran College vs Montessori International College?

Immanuel Lutheran College has an ICSEA score of 1119; Montessori International College has 1070. 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, Immanuel Lutheran College or Montessori International College?

Immanuel Lutheran College is the older school (founded 1979 vs 1995 for Montessori International College).

Do Immanuel Lutheran College or Montessori International College offer boarding?

Immanuel Lutheran College: Day school only. Montessori International College: 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.

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