7 most expensive schools in the world are all in Switzerland, fit for royals and racing drivers – but what do you get for your money?
The playground for the rich and famous starts at the world’s most expensive schools which offer small, multicultural classes and everything from sailing to mountaineering
There are few better investments than a good education. That perhaps explains why the very best schools in the world are so expensive these days, with the most premium ones costing up to six figures each year.
What might surprise is the fact that these pricey places of learning are all concentrated in Switzerland rather than a traditional bastion of private education like Britain.
Their geographical location aside, here are the seven most expensive schools in the world and a small idea of what you get for your money.
Institut Le Rosey Where: Rolle, Switzerland Cost: US$129,192 per year
What do the highest school fees in the world get you? How about a medieval château for a main campus, a winter retreat in the picturesque ski resort of Gstaad and a sailing centre along Lake Geneva. As well as having fabulous facilities, Le Rosey is truly international. A quota system ensures no more than 10 per cent of the student body comes from any one country.
Collège Alpin Beau Soleil Where: Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland Cost: US$129,328 per year
Often considered one of the world’s most exclusive schools, Beau Soleil has an enviable list of alumni that includes the likes of French actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg, two princes of Luxembourg, Princess Marie of Denmark, and former Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. Eye-watering though the fees are, that is not the end of the story. The uniform package costs an extra 6,000 Swiss francs (US$6,200) as on Mondays pupils must wear a more fancy uniform compared to their standard one.
Aiglon College Where: Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland Cost: US$120,463 per year
This school, which sits high in the Swiss Alps, 1,250 metres above Lausanne, is modelled on traditional British boarding schools. It was founded in 1949 by John C Corlette, who had experience teaching at Gordonstoun, the Scottish independent school now famous for educating Prince Charles. Gordonstoun emphasises outdoor activities and that is something Corlette brought with him to Switzerland too – students must undertake expeditions every term, with activities including camping, hiking, rock-climbing, mountaineering and kayaking.