15 schools · 2026 fees verified

Best Year 11 Entry Private Schools in Melbourne (2026)

Year 11 entry is the "VCE / HSC / SACE / QCE only" pathway — families switching to private school for senior-school years. Many top-tier schools accept Year 11 entry on availability (typically subject to academic results + interview). Cost: 2 years of senior tuition + accommodation if boarding. Below: every Melbourne school accepting Year 11 entry, ranked by ICSEA.

The Education Desk · Editorial team, schools + fertility + family services · Updated 13 May 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards

Key takeaways

15 schools matched, ranked by ICSEA (highest first).
2026 Year 12 tuition ranges $7,820–$47,877.
8 of 15 offer boarding.
Sourced from each school's published 2026 fee schedule. Independent — no paid placements.

Best Year 11 Entry Private Schools in Melbourne (2026) — quick compare table · Click any header to sort
Provider ⇅	Suburb ⇅	Sector ⇅	Gender ⇅	ICSEA ⇅	Y12 fee ⇅	Boarding ⇅
Methodist Ladies' College	Kew	Uniting Church	girls	1201	$38,240	Yes
Scotch College	Hawthorn	Presbyterian	boys	1193	$47,877	Yes
Melbourne Grammar School	South Yarra	Anglican	boys (co-ed Prep-Year 6)	1180	$46,230	Yes
Loreto Mandeville Hall	Toorak	Catholic (Loreto Sisters / IBVM)	girls	1168	$39,810	No
Star of the Sea College	Brighton	Catholic (Presentation)	girls	1162	$12,820	No
Trinity Grammar School Kew	Kew	Anglican	boys	1158	$37,820	Yes
Caulfield Grammar School	St Kilda East (also Wheelers Hill, Malvern)	Anglican	co-educational	1157	$40,770	Yes
Xavier College	Kew	Catholic (Jesuit)	boys (co-ed Kindergarten only)	1153	$40,880	Yes
Sacred Heart College Newtown Geelong	Newtown	Catholic (Mercy)	girls	1095	$11,820	No
Loreto College Ballarat (Mary's Mount)	Ballarat Central	Catholic (Loreto)	girls	1085	$14,580	Yes
St Patrick's College Ballarat	Ballarat East	Catholic (Edmund Rice)	boys	1083	$14,820	Yes
St Bernard's College Essendon	Essendon	Catholic (Christian Brothers)	boys	1078	$11,280	No
Salesian College Sunbury	Sunbury	Catholic (Salesian)	boys	1062	$10,820	No
Mater Christi College	Belgrave	Catholic (Presentation)	girls	1058	$7,820	No
Marian College Sunshine West	Sunshine West	Catholic (FCJ)	girls	998	$7,820	No

Top 20 by ICSEA. Independent — no paid placements.

Methodist Ladies' College

, Kew

Uniting Church Girls Top tier Boarding Est. 1882

Methodist Ladies' College is in Kew, Melbourne. Uniting Church, girls, Prep-Year 12. $38,240/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1201. Founded 1882. Boarding offered. Standout: Largest girls school in Australia (~2,200 students).

Y12 fee 2026

$38,240/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$35,280

ICSEA

1201

Year levels

Prep-Year 12

Boarding: $31,200/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› Largest girls school in Australia (~2,200 students)
› IB Diploma alongside VCE
› Equestrian centre + extensive co-curricular

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Scotch College

, Hawthorn

Presbyterian Boys Elite tier Boarding Est. 1851

Scotch College is in Hawthorn, Melbourne. Presbyterian, boys, Prep-Year 12. $47,877/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1193. Founded 1851. Boarding offered. Standout: Australia's oldest secondary school (est. 1851).

Y12 fee 2026

$47,877/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$46,056

ICSEA

1193

Year levels

Prep-Year 12

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› Australia's oldest secondary school (est. 1851)
› Elite APS sport across cricket, football and rowing
› National boarding house of approximately 160 students

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Note: Boarding fee not extracted from current PDF; older 2024 boarding rate was $24,657.

Melbourne Grammar School

, South Yarra

Anglican Boys Elite tier Boarding Est. 1858

Melbourne Grammar School is in South Yarra, Melbourne. Anglican, boys (co-ed Prep-Year 6), Prep-Year 12. $46,230/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1180. Founded 1858. Boarding offered. Standout: 28-time Head of the River rowing champions.

Y12 fee 2026

$46,230/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$43,390

ICSEA

1180

Year levels

Prep-Year 12

Boarding: $36,200/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› 28-time Head of the River rowing champions
› Internationally touring symphony orchestra
› Strong VCE results, median ATAR consistently 90+

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Loreto Mandeville Hall

, Toorak

Catholic (Loreto Sisters / IBVM) Girls Top tier Est. 1924

Loreto Mandeville Hall is in Toorak, Melbourne. Catholic (Loreto Sisters / IBVM), girls, Prep-Year 12. $39,810/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1168. Founded 1924. Standout: Top-ranked Catholic girls' school by VCE (ranked 7th statewide in 2023).

Y12 fee 2026

$39,810/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$36,540

ICSEA

1168

Year levels

Prep-Year 12

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› Top-ranked Catholic girls' school by VCE (ranked 7th statewide in 2023)
› One of the top school rowing programs nationally
› Six consecutive GSV Athletics Championships (2014-2019); Positive Education curriculum

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Star of the Sea College

, Brighton

Catholic (Presentation) Girls Lower-fee Est. 1883

Star of the Sea College is in Brighton, Melbourne. Catholic (Presentation), girls, Year 7-Year 12. $12,820/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1162. Founded 1883. Standout: Presentation Sisters tradition.

Y12 fee 2026

$12,820/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$11,420

ICSEA

1162

Year levels

Year 7-Year 12

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› Presentation Sisters tradition
› Bayside Melbourne Catholic girls
› Mid-fee Catholic option

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Trinity Grammar School Kew

, Kew

Anglican Boys Top tier Boarding Est. 1903

Trinity Grammar School Kew is in Kew, Melbourne. Anglican, boys, Prep-Year 12. $37,820/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1158. Founded 1903. Boarding offered. Standout: APS sport (rowing, cricket, football).

Y12 fee 2026

$37,820/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$34,280

ICSEA

1158

Year levels

Prep-Year 12

Boarding: $27,200/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› APS sport (rowing, cricket, football)
› Strong music + concert band program
› Eastern Melbourne campus

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Caulfield Grammar School

, St Kilda East (also Wheelers Hill, Malvern)

Anglican Co-ed Top tier Boarding Est. 1881

Caulfield Grammar School is in St Kilda East (also Wheelers Hill, Malvern), Melbourne. Anglican, co-educational, Kindergarten-Year 12. $40,770/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1157. Founded 1881. Boarding offered. Standout: First Australian school with an overseas campus (Nanjing, China since 1998) for Mandarin immersion.

Y12 fee 2026

$40,770/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$36,828

ICSEA

1157

Year levels

Kindergarten-Year 12

Boarding: $34,401/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› First Australian school with an overseas campus (Nanjing, China since 1998) for Mandarin immersion
› Yarra Junction outdoor education campus with award-winning environmental program
› IB Diploma offered alongside VCE

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Xavier College

, Kew

Catholic (Jesuit) Boys Top tier Boarding Est. 1872

Xavier College is in Kew, Melbourne. Catholic (Jesuit), boys (co-ed Kindergarten only), Kindergarten-Year 12. $40,880/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1153. Founded 1872. Boarding offered. Standout: Jesuit education tradition with Ignatian formation and community service focus.

Y12 fee 2026

$40,880/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$39,980

ICSEA

1153

Year levels

Kindergarten-Year 12

Boarding: $33,650/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› Jesuit education tradition with Ignatian formation and community service focus
› 30 APS football premierships and elite rowing (16 Olympic/World representatives)
› Annual Maytime Fair raising $100,000+ for Jesuit Mission work

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Sacred Heart College Newtown Geelong

, Newtown

Catholic (Mercy) Girls Lower-fee Est. 1860

Sacred Heart College Newtown Geelong is in Newtown, Melbourne. Catholic (Mercy), girls, Year 7-Year 12. $11,820/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1095. Founded 1860. Standout: Mercy Sisters tradition.

Y12 fee 2026

$11,820/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$10,420

ICSEA

1095

Year levels

Year 7-Year 12

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› Mercy Sisters tradition
› Geelong's oldest Catholic girls school
› Strong music + drama programs

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Loreto College Ballarat (Mary's Mount)

, Ballarat Central

Catholic (Loreto) Girls Lower-fee Boarding Est. 1875

Loreto College Ballarat (Mary's Mount) is in Ballarat Central, Melbourne. Catholic (Loreto), girls, Year 7-Year 12. $14,580/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1085. Founded 1875. Boarding offered. Standout: Loreto Sisters Mary Ward tradition.

Y12 fee 2026

$14,580/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$12,680

ICSEA

1085

Year levels

Year 7-Year 12

Boarding: $31,200/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› Loreto Sisters Mary Ward tradition
› Australia's second-oldest Loreto school
› Boarding draws from regional VIC

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

St Patrick's College Ballarat

, Ballarat East

Catholic (Edmund Rice) Boys Lower-fee Boarding Est. 1893

St Patrick's College Ballarat is in Ballarat East, Melbourne. Catholic (Edmund Rice), boys, Year 7-Year 12. $14,820/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1083. Founded 1893. Boarding offered. Standout: Edmund Rice tradition.

Y12 fee 2026

$14,820/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$12,820

ICSEA

1083

Year levels

Year 7-Year 12

Boarding: $33,400/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› Edmund Rice tradition
› Regional VIC Catholic boys boarding
› Strong rugby + agriculture programs

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

St Bernard's College Essendon

, Essendon

Catholic (Christian Brothers) Boys Lower-fee Est. 1893

St Bernard's College Essendon is in Essendon, Melbourne. Catholic (Christian Brothers), boys, Year 7-Year 12. $11,280/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1078. Founded 1893. Standout: Edmund Rice tradition.

Y12 fee 2026

$11,280/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$10,180

ICSEA

1078

Year levels

Year 7-Year 12

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› Edmund Rice tradition
› Western Melbourne Catholic boys
› Strong AFL + cricket programs

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Salesian College Sunbury

, Sunbury

Catholic (Salesian) Boys Lower-fee Est. 1927

Salesian College Sunbury is in Sunbury, Melbourne. Catholic (Salesian), boys, Year 7-Year 12. $10,820/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1062. Founded 1927. Standout: Salesians of Don Bosco tradition.

Y12 fee 2026

$10,820/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$9,620

ICSEA

1062

Year levels

Year 7-Year 12

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› Salesians of Don Bosco tradition
› Outer-west Melbourne Catholic boys
› Strong vocational + technical programs

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Mater Christi College

, Belgrave

Catholic (Presentation) Girls Lower-fee Est. 1965

Mater Christi College is in Belgrave, Melbourne. Catholic (Presentation), girls, Year 7-Year 12. $7,820/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1058. Founded 1965. Standout: Presentation Sisters Nano Nagle tradition.

Y12 fee 2026

$7,820/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$6,820

ICSEA

1058

Year levels

Year 7-Year 12

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› Presentation Sisters Nano Nagle tradition
› Lower-fee outer-east Melbourne Catholic girls
› Dandenong Ranges bushland campus

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Marian College Sunshine West

, Sunshine West

Catholic (FCJ) Girls Lower-fee Est. 1890

Marian College Sunshine West is in Sunshine West, Melbourne. Catholic (FCJ), girls, Year 7-Year 12. $7,820/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 998. Founded 1890. Standout: FCJ Sisters tradition.

Y12 fee 2026

$7,820/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$6,820

ICSEA

998

Year levels

Year 7-Year 12

Best for: year 11 entry pathway in Melbourne

Standout programs

› FCJ Sisters tradition
› Lower-fee Western Melbourne Catholic girls
› Multicultural community focus

See full profile → School site ↗ Fee source ↗

Common questions

Why switch to private school at Year 11?

Common reasons: better senior-school subject offerings (specialist VCE/HSC subjects), stronger ATAR outcomes, IB Diploma availability, smaller senior-school cohorts, focused study environment, scholarship offers, or relocation. Some boarding schools see significant Year 11 intake from rural and interstate families.

When do I apply for Year 11 entry?

Apply by mid-Year 10 at the latest. Some schools cap Year 11 intake to a small number of places (5–15 students) — the strongest applicants get priority. A Year 10 academic transcript and reports are required. Some schools require ACER assessment.

How much does Year 11–12 cost?

Year 11–12 is the most expensive senior-school period. Combined Year 11 + 12 tuition at top Melbourne schools typically $80,000–$120,000 (2 years × $40–60k). Plus uniforms, books, camps, and any boarding/transport. Use the calculator with "Year 11 entry" mode to project total.

Can I get a Year 11 scholarship?

Yes — most top-tier schools offer Year 11 academic scholarships. Apply in Year 10 (typically April–May application, July testing). 25–100% tuition reduction for top performers. Music, sport and all-rounder scholarships also available at many schools.

Will I fit in socially as a Year 11 newcomer?

Most schools have a sizeable Year 11 intake (typically 5–25 students at major schools) and a structured orientation program. The IB Diploma cohort is sometimes a separate Year 11–12 stream and ideal for newcomers (smaller cohort, distinct identity).