Fees & Payments
St Mary's College 2026 fee schedule by year level, family discounts, capital levy and other charges, payment methods and instalment due dates (15 February, 15 May, 15 August, 15 November), CSEF and hardship support.
School fees fund roughly a quarter of what it costs to run St Mary's; the remainder comes from Commonwealth and Victorian government funding. We work hard to keep fees as low as a well-resourced Prep–12 college can, and we never want cost to be the reason a family leaves. This page sets out the 2026 fee schedule; 2027 fees will be published in November 2026 and are expected to rise by 3–4%.
Tuition fees 2026
Fees are per student, per year, and include all compulsory camps, excursions, incursions, textbooks (Junior) and the Learning Hub.
| Year level | Annual tuition | Per instalment (x4) | Direct debit (x10 months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prep – Year 2 | $4,850 | $1,212.50 | $485.00 |
| Years 3 – 6 | $5,150 | $1,287.50 | $515.00 |
| Years 7 – 9 | $9,300 | $2,325.00 | $930.00 |
| Years 10 – 12 | $10,450 | $2,612.50 | $1,045.00 |
Family discounts
Discounts apply to tuition fees only (not levies) and are calculated on the children with the highest fees first.
| Child | Discount |
|---|---|
| 1st child (highest fee) | Full fee |
| 2nd child | 10% off tuition |
| 3rd child | 25% off tuition |
| 4th and subsequent children | Tuition free |
Example: a family with children in Year 10, Year 7 and Year 3 pays $10,450 + $8,370 (Year 7, less 10%) + $3,862.50 (Year 3, less 25%) = $22,682.50 tuition, plus one capital levy of $650.
Levies and other charges
| Charge | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Capital levy | $650 per family per year | Funds building works (currently the court resurfacing and Penola shade sails). Not discounted. |
| Camp and excursion levy | Included in tuition | Covers Year 4 Camp Sunnystones, Year 5 Phillip Island, Year 6 Canberra, Year 7 Camp, Year 9 City Experience and Solidarity Camp, Year 12 Retreat. Optional tours (e.g. ski trip, overseas language tour) are quoted separately. |
| Prep stationery pack | $95 | Bulk-ordered; billed on the first instalment |
| Year 7 laptop (BYOD) | $1,100–$1,600 approx. | Purchased by the family; see Laptop Program |
| Instrument hire | $220 per year | For students learning a college-owned instrument |
| Instrumental lessons | $38 per 30-minute lesson | Billed per term (8–10 lessons) by the Music Office |
| VCE VET subjects | As quoted | External provider fees are passed on at cost, typically $400–$2,200 |
| College bus | $1,320 per year or $8 casual | Via Parent Portal |
| OSHC | $22 before / $34 after / $78 holiday day | Billed by Wattle Creek OSHC; CCS applies |
| Year 12 Valedictory Dinner | Approx. $135 per person | Thursday 26 November 2026, Leonda by the Yarra |
When fees are due
Annual fee statements are emailed in the last week of January and are available in the Parent Portal › Payments.
| Option | Due dates | How |
|---|---|---|
| Four instalments (default) | Sunday 15 February, Friday 15 May, Saturday 15 August, Sunday 15 November 2026 (payments falling on a weekend are accepted on the next business day) | BPAY, credit card or EFTPOS |
| Direct debit — 10 months | 15th of each month, February to November | Complete the direct debit form in the Portal by Friday 30 January; choose bank account (no fee) or credit card |
| Direct debit — fortnightly | 20 payments from Thursday 5 February 2026 | As above; popular with families paid fortnightly |
| Annual in advance | By Sunday 15 February 2026 | 2% discount on tuition if paid in full by the due date |
How to pay
- BPAY — Biller code and your family reference number are on your statement.
- Direct debit — bank account or Visa/Mastercard; no surcharge.
- Credit card online — Parent Portal › Payments (Visa/Mastercard; no surcharge).
- EFTPOS — at Reception, 8:00am–4:30pm Monday–Friday.
- Cash is not accepted for fee payments. Cheques are accepted but discouraged.
Concessions and support
- Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF): if you hold a valid Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or are a temporary foster parent, the Victorian Government pays $154 per primary student and $256 per secondary student directly to the college and it is credited to your account. Bring your card to Reception or upload it via the Portal by Friday 26 June each year. Applications for 2026 have closed; 2027 applications open in late January 2027.
- Fee concession (hardship): families experiencing financial difficulty — job loss, illness, separation, or simply a tight year — should contact the Business Manager, Mrs Annette Kowalski, on (03) 9555 0150 or accounts@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au. Conversations are confidential, need not involve teaching staff, and can result in a reduced fee, a payment pause or an alternative plan. Concessions are reviewed annually.
- Bursaries: the Mary MacKillop Bursary and Sisters of St Joseph Bursary provide substantial fee relief — see Scholarships & Bursaries.
Overdue accounts, refunds and leaving
Accounts more than 30 days overdue without an arrangement in place receive a reminder from Fees & Accounts; after 60 days the Business Manager will contact you to set up a plan. We do not exclude students from class, camps or sport because of unpaid fees, but we do ask families to talk to us early. If your child leaves the college, one full term's written notice to the Registrar is required, otherwise a term's fees are payable in lieu. Fees are refunded pro rata for the remainder of the term following notice. The $100 application fee is non-refundable; the $600 acceptance deposit is credited to your first instalment and is non-refundable if the place is declined after acceptance.
Our full Fees & Payment Policy covers these terms in detail.
Contact
Fees & Accounts — Mrs Annette Kowalski, Business Manager Phone (03) 9555 0150 · Email accounts@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au · Reception, St Joseph's Building · Monday–Friday 8:00am–4:30pm during term.