International School Fees in Bogota: 2026 Cost Guide for Families

Last reviewed: September 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

International school fees in Bogota are low by the standards of Asia, the Gulf or Europe, yet they still represent a serious commitment in Colombian terms, and the way they are structured surprises many newcomers. Schools bill monthly rather than termly, one-off bonds or admission fees can equal a full year of tuition, and the Ministry of Education regulates how much any private school may raise its fees each year. This guide sets out what the main international and bilingual schools in Bogota charge in 2026, what the extras add, and how to read a Colombian fee schedule.

Why Bogota fees work the way they do

Most of the schools that expatriate families consider sit in the north of the city, from Usaquen and Chico up to the Autopista Norte corridor and beyond the city limits in Chia, Cota and La Calera. Campuses outside the city are large and green, but the daily commute from Chico or Rosales can exceed an hour each way at peak times, and school buses are a fixed part of most families' budgets. The international schools follow calendario B, running from August to June like schools in North America and Europe, while most Colombian schools follow calendario A from late January to November. Mid-year joiners at calendario B schools pay pro rata for the remaining months.

Colombia classifies private schools into fee regimes, and the Ministry of Education issues an annual resolution capping how much each school may raise its tuition, typically tied to inflation plus a margin linked to quality indicators. That means fee increases in Bogota are predictable, usually in the range of 8 to 12 percent a year in recent years, and schools publish approved schedules before the new year begins. It also means schools sometimes recover costs through one-off charges rather than tuition.

Curricula available in Bogota

• International Baccalaureate (IB): Bogota has one of the largest concentrations of IB schools in Latin America, several offering the full continuum from PYP to Diploma.
• British curriculum: IGCSEs and A Levels at British-founded schools in the north of the city, often combined with the Colombian bachillerato.
• American curriculum: a US high school diploma with Advanced Placement courses at schools with US accreditation.
• Colombian bilingual bachillerato: Spanish-English bilingual schools that award the Colombian diploma and often the IB Diploma alongside it, popular with Colombian and long-term expatriate families.

International schools in Bogota: what families can expect to pay

Colegio Anglo Colombiano

The Anglo, founded in 1956 in the north of Bogota, is a bilingual IB continuum school that awards both the Colombian bachillerato and the IB Diploma. It is one of the most sought-after schools in the city for Colombian and international families alike, and its fees sit in the upper band, with monthly tuition approaching COP 5 to 6 million at senior level plus a substantial one-off admission bond.

The English School

The English School in the north of the city is a bilingual IB continuum school with a British heritage and a large campus. It combines the Colombian bachillerato with the IB Diploma and has strong sports and arts provision. Fees are in the upper-middle range for Bogota, and the school charges a one-off admission fee alongside monthly tuition.

Colegio Gran Bretaña

CGB is the British international school in Bogota, teaching the English National Curriculum through IGCSEs and the IB Diploma to a predominantly international community. It is a natural choice for families on short assignments who want continuity with a UK or international system, and its fees are at the top of the Bogota market, with admission fees and monthly tuition both above the bilingual Colombian schools.

Knightsbridge Schools International

KSI Bogota offers the IB continuum in English to a mixed international and Colombian community on a campus in the north of the city. It is smaller than the long-established schools, which some families prefer, and its fee structure is somewhat more moderate, with a lower one-off admission fee than the Anglo or CGB.

Gimnasio Vermont

Gimnasio Vermont is a Colombian bilingual school on a large campus in the north of Bogota that awards the Colombian bachillerato and the IB Diploma. It is popular with Colombian professional families and long-term expatriates who want their children fully integrated into Colombian life. Fees are lower than at the international schools, with monthly tuition in the COP 3 to 4.5 million range.

International school fees in Bogota: 2026 ranges and extras

Figures below are indicative annual ranges for 2026-27 in Colombian pesos, converting the usual ten or eleven monthly instalments into an annual total.

• Pre-school and early years (ages 3 to 5): roughly COP 25 to 45 million per year.
• Primary (ages 6 to 11): roughly COP 30 to 55 million per year.
• Secondary and IB Diploma (ages 12 to 18): roughly COP 35 to 65 million per year.
• Colombian bilingual schools: roughly COP 20 to 45 million per year across all ages.

On top of tuition, expect the following:

• Application and assessment fee: COP 300,000 to 1 million, non-refundable.
• Admission fee or bond: the largest one-off cost. Some schools charge a non-refundable admission fee of COP 10 to 30 million; others require a bond of COP 30 to 60 million that is refunded, without interest, when the child leaves. Ask which model applies.
• Annual enrolment or matricula: a yearly charge equal to roughly one month's tuition, paid before the school year starts.
• School bus: COP 6 to 10 million a year, essential for schools in Chia, Cota or La Calera.
• Lunches: COP 4 to 7 million a year where meals are compulsory.
• Uniforms and books: COP 1.5 to 3.5 million in the first year.
• Examination fees: IB Diploma or IGCSE registration adds roughly COP 2 to 4 million in the final years.

The hard fact to remember for 2026 is the regulatory one: private school fee increases in Colombia are capped each year by Ministry of Education resolution, so a school cannot raise tuition arbitrarily mid-contract. Bonds and one-off admission fees fall outside that cap, which is why they carry so much of the cost at the most popular schools.

Practical tips for families budgeting in Bogota

Ask whether the bond is refundable and on what terms. The difference between a COP 40 million refundable bond and a COP 25 million non-refundable admission fee is significant over a three-year posting. Get the refund conditions, notice period and any deductions in writing before you pay.

Budget in pesos but think in your home currency. The peso has been volatile against the dollar and euro, and fees are set in pesos. Families paid in foreign currency have seen the real cost swing by 20 percent or more in a single year, in both directions.

Factor in the bus before choosing a campus outside the city. The large green campuses in Chia and Cota are a genuine advantage for children, but the bus is not optional for most families in the north of Bogota, and a young child on a bus for an hour each way changes daily life.

Compare Bogota schools side by side

Use the ranking of the best international schools in Colombia on International School Advisor to compare Bogota schools by curriculum, location, reviews and published fees.

More guides to schools in Bogota

• Bilingual schools in Bogota: 2026 guide for international families
• Ranking of international schools in Colombia

Frequently asked questions about school fees in Bogota

How much does an international school in Bogota cost per month?

Monthly tuition at the leading international and bilingual IB schools in Bogota runs roughly COP 3.5 to 6 million, billed over ten or eleven months, giving an annual total of COP 35 to 65 million. Colombian bilingual schools charge less, roughly COP 2 to 4.5 million a month. An annual enrolment fee equal to about one month's tuition is added on top.

What is a school bond in Bogota and is it refundable?

A bond is a one-off payment of roughly COP 30 to 60 million required by several of the most popular schools at admission. At most schools it is refunded without interest when the child leaves, subject to notice. Other schools instead charge a non-refundable admission fee of COP 10 to 30 million. Always confirm which model applies and get the terms in writing.

Can Bogota schools raise fees during the year?

No. Private school fee increases in Colombia are capped annually by Ministry of Education resolution, and schools publish their approved schedule before the year begins. Increases have typically been 8 to 12 percent a year recently. One-off bonds, admission fees and services such as buses and lunches fall outside the cap and can change more freely.