Mercedes College vs Saint Ignatius' College
Mercedes College (Springfield) and Saint Ignatius' College (Athelstone) are both catholic schools in Adelaide. Both are co-educational. Both teach R-12. Mercedes College has 1,111 students and Saint Ignatius' College has 1,421 (ACARA 2025). They are about 1155.7 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: Mercedes College: Photo: Michael Coghlan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr · Saint Ignatius' College: Photo: Ashton 29, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
See both schools’ full fees, ATAR results and cost to Year 12
Every year level’s fees from each school’s own schedule, the results each school publishes, and the total cost to Year 12, side by side.
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Key numbers
Students, ICSEA, students per teacher and girls/boys: ACARA My School 2025 (students per teacher is total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff; it isn’t class size).
Fees and results
Side by side
| Fact | Mercedes College | Saint Ignatius' College |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Springfield | Athelstone |
| Region | Adelaide - South | Adelaide - Central and Hills |
| Sector | Catholic | Catholic |
| Students | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Year levels | R-12 | R-12 |
| Religion | Catholic (Mercy) | Catholic (Jesuit) |
| Boarding | No | No |
| Senior years | SACE + IB Diploma | SACE |
| Facilities and sport (school site) | Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Volleyball, Badminton, Water polo | Early learning centre, Science / STEM labs |
| Distance apart | About 1155.7 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Students wanting the IB Diploma: Mercedes College lists it on its website; Saint Ignatius' College does not confirm it.
- Families choosing by faith: Mercedes College is Catholic (Mercy); Saint Ignatius' College is Catholic (Jesuit).
- Location: Mercedes College is in Springfield (Adelaide - South); Saint Ignatius' College is in Athelstone (Adelaide - Central and Hills).
- Size: Saint Ignatius' College is the larger school, with 310 more students.
- Listed by Mercedes College but not Saint Ignatius' College: Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Volleyball, Badminton and Water polo.
- Listed by Saint Ignatius' College but not Mercedes College: Early learning centre and Science / STEM labs.
History
Mercedes College
The Sisters of Mercy reached Adelaide in 1880 after leaving Buenos Aires during unrest there, and later ran a girls’ boarding school as part of St Aloysius in Angas Street. Looking for a healthier setting for their boarders, they bought a 20-acre property at Springfield, centred on Strathspey, the house Sir John Duncan built in 1899, and opened Mercedes College in 1954 with 80 boarders and 60 day pupils. “Mercedes” is Spanish for mercy, a nod to the order’s Argentine connection.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Saint Ignatius' College
Saint Ignatius’ opened on 13 February 1951 in Queen Street, Norwood, with 52 boys and six Jesuit fathers, after Archbishop Matthew Beovich encouraged more Catholic schooling in Adelaide. It is part of the worldwide network of Jesuit schools and is named for Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between Mercedes College and Saint Ignatius' College?
Both are co-educational. Both teach R-12. Mercedes College has 1,111 students and Saint Ignatius' College has 1,421 (ACARA 2025).
Is Mercedes College or Saint Ignatius' College co-ed?
Both are co-educational.
Which is bigger, Mercedes College or Saint Ignatius' College?
Saint Ignatius' College is bigger: 1,421 students against 1,111 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do Mercedes College and Saint Ignatius' College have?
Mercedes College has 12.0 students per teacher and Saint Ignatius' College has 11.2 (ACARA My School 2025: total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff).
Which is older, Mercedes College or Saint Ignatius' College?
Saint Ignatius' College is older. Mercedes College was founded in 1954 and Saint Ignatius' College in 1951.
Do Mercedes College and Saint Ignatius' College take boarders?
Neither takes boarders.
How far apart are Mercedes College and Saint Ignatius' College?
About 1155.7 km in a straight line: Mercedes College is in Springfield and Saint Ignatius' College is in Athelstone.
How do Mercedes College and Saint Ignatius' College fees compare?
Each school publishes its own fee schedule. Members see both schedules year by year, the results each school reports and the total cost to Year 12. Always confirm current fees with the school.
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School profiles
Get the full picture: fees, ATAR results and cost to Year 12
Every year level’s fees from each school’s own schedule, the results each school publishes, and the total cost to Year 12, side by side.
Compare these schools in full →A$9.99 a year, cancel anytimeSecure payment by Stripe
Source and date
Enrolment, ICSEA, students per teacher and girls/boys: ACARA My School 2025. Other facts: each school’s website, checked 21 October 2026. Distance is a straight line between the schools’ map points, not travel distance. Check details with the schools before deciding. Methodology