What do Swiss boarding school fees include?

Swiss boarding school fees are among the highest in the world, and for parents researching their options, the headline numbers can be startling. But the figure quoted is rarely the full picture in either direction. Understanding what is included and what is not is essential for any family making a genuine comparison between schools.

This article breaks down what boarding fees typically cover and what to watch for. For a complete guide to choosing a boarding school in Switzerland, our Parent's guide to choosing a boarding school in Switzerland is a useful starting point.

What full boarding fees typically cover

At the top end of Swiss boarding, comprehensive fees cover a substantial package. For the 2026-27 academic year, full seven-day boarding at Collège Champittet is CHF 112,000 per year. At that level the fee includes tuition across all subjects, all mandatory school trips and activities, accommodation in the boarding house, full board, weekly laundry, bedding and towels, the full extracurricular programme for boarders, supervised evening study, medical and accident insurance, the school nurse and WiFi across campus.

Beyond these essentials, the Champittet full boarding fee also covers the airport transfer from Geneva at the start of term, the residency permit for international students, weekend excursions and activities, three scheduled home weekends per year, ski outings during winter, the annual ski camp for students up to Grade 12 and an iPad for students up to Grade 8.

What is usually charged separately

Even a comprehensive all-in fee will have some items invoiced separately. Pocket money is managed through a separate school account. Private music or tennis lessons are additional. Optional trips are invoiced as they arise. Dental appointments and specialist medical appointments outside the school nurse are charged separately, as is the ski jacket.

This is standard practice and reflects a sensible principle: the core fee covers what every student needs, and the extras are genuinely optional.

Day school fees: a different structure

For day students, fees for 2026-27 range from CHF 12,750 per year for preschool half-day through to CHF 38,260 for Grade 14. Meals are not included in day fees and are charged separately, as are exam registration costs, transport and any language support required. 

Mandatory year-group activities are charged on top of tuition, with an activities fee ranging from CHF 500 to CHF 1,860 depending on the year group.

Enrolment fees and deposits

When a place is accepted, a non-refundable admission fee of CHF 2,500 applies. For boarding students, a refundable deposit of CHF 10,000 is required to confirm enrolment. This deposit is returned in full at the end of the student's time at the school, provided all financial obligations have been met.

How to compare fees between schools

When two schools quote similar headline boarding fees, the real comparison requires digging into what is and is not included. A school that charges CHF 5,000 less per year but invoices separately for ski camps, excursions, laundry and medical insurance may well cost more in total. Ask every school for a full breakdown of what the headline fee covers and what a realistic total annual cost looks like for a student in your child's year group. Most admissions teams will prepare a personalised fee summary on request.

What the fee buys beyond the numbers

The cost of Swiss boarding education reflects more than tuition and accommodation. It reflects the quality of teaching, the breadth of the extracurricular programme, the standard of pastoral care and the setting itself. A campus 200 metres from Lake Geneva, with access to ski slopes in winter and lake activities in summer, is not available everywhere. Neither is a dedicated on-site pastoral care team, a qualified school nurse and house parents trained specifically in the pastoral care of internationally mobile adolescents.

It is also worth considering where a Swiss education leads. Switzerland's higher education institutions are among the best in the world and, compared to universities in the UK or North America, offer outstanding academic quality at relatively modest tuition costs. EPFL, consistently ranked among the world's leading technical universities, and ETH Zurich, consistently in the world's top ten for science and engineering, charge a fraction of what equivalent programmes cost elsewhere. For families investing in boarding school, the university destination that a Swiss secondary education opens is part of the overall value calculation.

“My daughter is making extraordinary academic progress, as well as growing as a person. Living on campus, I believe, is accelerating her development.”  Parent, Collège Champittet

For a full breakdown of Champittet's day and boarding fees, visit our tuition fees page. To discuss fees in the context of your child's specific year group, contact our admissions team.

Our Parent's guide to choosing a boarding school in Switzerland covers everything else families need to consider when choosing a boarding school in Switzerland.

Frequently asked questions

How much does boarding school cost in Switzerland?

Full seven-day boarding at Collège Champittet for 2026-27 is CHF 112,000 per year. This is a comprehensive fee that includes tuition, accommodation, meals, activities, ski camp, airport transfer and medical insurance, among other items.

Are meals included in Swiss boarding school fees?

For boarding students, yes: full board is standard. For day students, meals are typically charged separately.

Is there an admission fee for Swiss boarding schools?

Yes. At Champittet, a non-refundable admission fee of CHF 2,500 applies when a place is accepted, with a refundable deposit of CHF 10,000 for boarding students.