International School Fees in Amman: 2026 Cost Guide for Expat Families

Quick answer: How much do international schools cost in Amman? Expect roughly JOD 3,000 to 6,000 a year in primary and JOD 5,000 to 12,000 in secondary at the established campuses, with IB Diploma years at the top of the range. Registration, bus, books and examination entry typically add 15 to 25 per cent to the headline tuition figure.

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

Amman is one of the better value international school markets in the region, and families arriving from the Gulf are often pleasantly surprised. The city has a deep bench of established campuses, several with decades of history, and fees that sit well below Dubai or Doha for comparable provision.

That said, the headline number on a school website is rarely what you end up paying. This guide sets out what international school fees in Amman actually look like in 2026, which extras appear on the invoice, and how to compare two schools that quote very different figures for what looks like the same thing.

One useful piece of context for budgeting: the Jordanian dinar has been pegged to the US dollar at roughly 0.709 dinars per dollar since 1995. If your salary is paid in dollars, your school fees are effectively fixed in your own currency, which is a stability most regional markets cannot offer.

Tuition bands in 2026

Amman splits fairly cleanly into three tiers, and knowing which tier a school sits in tells you more than any single number.

The premium tier, made up of the long established campuses offering the IB Diploma or a full American accredited programme, runs roughly JOD 7,000 to 12,000 a year in secondary and JOD 4,500 to 7,000 in primary. The mid tier, typically British or American curriculum schools with solid but less lavish facilities, runs roughly JOD 4,000 to 7,000 in secondary and JOD 2,500 to 4,500 in primary. Below that sits a large group of bilingual private schools serving Jordanian families, at roughly JOD 1,500 to 3,500.

Early years provision generally starts around JOD 2,000 at the mid tier and JOD 3,500 at the premium campuses. Fees rise year on year through the school, and the jump into the Diploma years is the steepest single step most families face.

The extras that are not in the headline figure

Registration and assessment fee, roughly JOD 50 to 300, not refundable
Seat or enrolment deposit, often JOD 300 to 1,000, usually credited against the first instalment
Bus, roughly JOD 400 to 900 a year depending on district, and a real cost given how spread out west Amman is
Books and materials, commonly JOD 150 to 500, billed separately in Jordan
Uniform, roughly JOD 100 to 250 for a full set with sports kit
Examination entry for IGCSE, A Level, AP or the IB Diploma, frequently quoted in pounds or dollars and payable in the final two years
Learning support, charged as a separate monthly fee at several campuses

Why two Amman schools quote such different numbers

When you line up fee schedules side by side, the spread can look irrational. It usually is not. Three things explain most of it.

First, accreditation and examination boards cost money. A school running the full IB continuum carries authorisation fees, mandatory teacher training and smaller class sizes, and that flows into tuition. Second, teacher recruitment. Campuses that hire internationally pay relocation, housing and flights, which can be 20 to 30 per cent on top of salary. Third, land and facilities. A campus with a swimming pool, theatre and full sports fields in west Amman carries a capital cost that a school in a converted villa does not.

None of this tells you which school is better for your child. It does tell you what you are paying for, which is the question to put to each admissions office.

Five Amman campuses and where they sit

Amman Baccalaureate School

One of the region's established IB names, and a useful benchmark for the top of the Amman market. If you are comparing fees, price this campus first and measure everything else against it. See the Amman Baccalaureate School profile on International School Advisor.

American Community School

A long standing North American programme serving the diplomatic and expatriate community. Ask what the fee includes in terms of activities and trips, which varies more than tuition does. See the American Community School profile on International School Advisor.

Modern American School

An American curriculum campus with a substantial Jordanian intake alongside international families. Typically sits below the premium tier on fees while offering a comparable examination pathway. See the Modern American School profile on International School Advisor.

International Community School in Amman

A British curriculum option worth pricing carefully, since IGCSE and A Level entry fees are charged separately and can add meaningfully in the final years. See the International Community School in Amman profile on International School Advisor.

International School of Choueifat Amman

Part of the SABIS network, with a distinctive and highly structured academic system. Families either take to the model or do not, so visit before you judge it on fees alone. See the International School of Choueifat Amman profile on International School Advisor.

How to compare offers properly

Ask every school on your shortlist for the same thing: a full first year invoice for a child in your target year group, with every line item. Not the fee page. The invoice.

Then check three specific clauses. The payment schedule, because some Amman schools offer a discount of 3 to 5 per cent for annual payment in advance while others charge a surcharge for termly instalments. The sibling discount, which is common here and often 10 per cent on the second child, but sometimes applies only to tuition and not to the extras. And the withdrawal terms, which determine what you lose if your posting ends early.

Finally, ask what the fee increase has been for each of the last three years. A school that has raised fees 4 per cent annually is a different financial proposition over six years from one that has raised them 9 per cent, and the difference compounds well past the headline gap you are comparing today.

Budgeting advice for families moving to Amman

Confirm what your allowance actually covers. Education allowances in Jordan packages are frequently capped per child and often exclude registration, bus and examination fees. Get the cap and the exclusions in writing before you shortlist, because they may decide the question for you.

Factor in the geography of west Amman. Most international campuses sit in the western districts, and housing there is priced accordingly. A cheaper school in a further out area can cost more overall once you add bus fees and a longer commute.

Plan for the Diploma years now. The final two years of school are the most expensive by a wide margin, between higher tuition bands, examination entry and university application costs. Families who budget on the Year 7 figure get an unpleasant surprise five years later.

Compare Amman schools before you budget

To see how these campuses sit against the rest of the city, browse the best international schools in Amman.

More guides to schools in Amman

Frequently asked questions

Are international school fees in Amman cheaper than in the Gulf?

Considerably, for comparable provision. A premium IB campus in Amman typically costs less than half what an equivalent school charges in Dubai or Doha. The local cost base, lower land prices and a smaller expatriate salary premium all contribute. Facilities at the top end are good rather than extravagant.

Do Amman schools offer sibling discounts?

Most established campuses do, commonly around 10 per cent on the second child and sometimes more on the third. Check whether the discount applies to tuition only or to the full invoice, because bus, books and examination fees are frequently excluded and those are where a large family feels the cost.

Should we pay annually or by term?

It depends on the school. Several Amman campuses offer a discount of 3 to 5 per cent for payment in full before the year starts, while others add a handling charge to termly instalments. Ask for both figures in writing and compare, since on a secondary fee the difference is worth several hundred dinars.