The verdict in three sentences
For a private or international school in Vancouver, local agencies typically quote 10 000 to 45 000+ USD (2026 ballpark, usually invoiced in CAD) for a complete admissions website, while independent freelancers sit around 3 000 to 10 000 USD. Kolonell builds the same core, programme pages, admissions path, campus tour booking and enquiry forms, at a fixed 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900 USD, with a project manager available on Pacific mornings and native English or French copywriting. A local agency remains the better choice if you need on-campus photo and video shoots every term or a full Mandarin, Cantonese or Korean site produced in-house.
What does a school website cost in Vancouver in 2026?
There is no official price list. The ranges below are a prudent 2026 ballpark built from the public rate cards some agencies publish, the minimum project sizes shown on Clutch.co agency profiles and freelance platform rates (Upwork, Clutch listings). Prices are converted to USD for comparison and vary widely with the number of programmes, campuses and languages. Vancouver agency hourly rates are commonly in the 100 to 200 USD range.
| Option | Price (2026 ballpark) | Typical delay | Usually included | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service Vancouver agency | 20 000 to 45 000+ USD | 3 to 6 months | Strategy, design, CMS, photo shoot often extra | Paid retainer |
| Boutique Vancouver studio | 10 000 to 25 000 USD | 2 to 4 months | Design, build, basic SEO setup | Hourly or retainer |
| Freelancer | 3 000 to 10 000 USD | 1 to 3 months | Build on a theme, copy rarely included | Ad hoc |
| Kolonell Starter | 2 900 USD | 3 to 4 weeks | Core school pages, enquiry form, native copy | 3 months included |
| Kolonell Growth | 4 900 USD | 3 to 4 weeks | Full programme and admissions pages, news, tour booking | 3 months included |
| Kolonell Premium | 8 900 USD | 4 to 6 weeks, written schedule | Larger site, bilingual EN/FR, advanced animations | 6 months included |
With Kolonell, the domain is registered in the school's name and every access is handed over at launch. Payment is by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % to start and 50 % at delivery. Details of each plan are on our international website offer.
What does a Vancouver private or international school site need?
A school website is an admissions tool first. Parents compare several schools on their phone, often from abroad, and leave as soon as they cannot find the steps, deadlines or a way to visit.
- Programme pages: early years, elementary, middle and secondary, IB or other curricula, French immersion, only what the school actually offers.
- Admissions path: steps, deadlines, documents, tuition page with the figures the school publishes itself (we never invent fees), enquiry form and campus tour booking.
- International students: homestay, guardianship and a link to official Government of Canada study permit information rather than paraphrased rules.
- Existing software: the admissions or student information system you already use is embedded or linked; a custom integration is quoted on request.
- Languages: Kolonell writes English and French natively. Many Metro Vancouver families prefer to read in another language: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean or Farsi pages are supplied by the school or quoted separately.
- Child data and safeguarding: student photos only with written consent, minimal staff directories, forms that collect only what admissions needs. PIPEDA and British Columbia's own private-sector Personal Information Protection Act are the usual references, and WCAG 2.1 AA is the common accessibility benchmark. This is not legal advice: your school's counsel validates the final wording.
- Results: exam or university placement results only as the school officially publishes them, never rounded up.
How do you compare quotes from Vancouver agencies?
| Question to ask | Why it matters | Kolonell answer |
|---|---|---|
| Is the price fixed or estimated hours? | Hourly scopes drift during admissions season | Fixed price per plan |
| Who writes the copy? | Copy is often the slowest part of a school site | Native EN or FR copywriting included |
| Whose name is the domain in? | Changing agencies must not cost you the domain | Registered in the school's name |
| Which booking or admissions tool is used? | Rebuilding a working system wastes budget | Embed or link existing tool, custom integration quoted |
| What does support cover after launch? | Retainers can exceed the build cost over 3 years | 3 months included, 6 on Premium |
| Are translations included? | Mandarin or Korean pages change the budget | Client supplied or quoted separately |
Red flags: a quote without a page list, a mandatory monthly retainer tied to hosting, testimonials or results the agency proposes to write for you, and a CMS that only the agency can edit.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Illustrative example, not a real client: Helen runs admissions at a hypothetical K to 12 independent school in Kitsilano. A Vancouver agency quotes 28 000 USD plus a 300 USD monthly retainer, so 38 800 USD over 3 years. With Kolonell Premium at 8 900 USD, she adds 3 000 USD for a local photographer and budgets 200 USD a month for hosting and quoted maintenance after the 6 included months: 30 x 200 = 6 000 USD. Total: 17 900 USD, about 20 900 USD less over 3 years, with a bilingual EN/FR site and the domain in the school's name.
FAQ
Can a remote studio really run a school website project from outside Vancouver?
Yes, if the scope is clear. The team is based in Senegal (GMT), so Pacific mornings overlap with our afternoon, and you get a written weekly update plus Google Meet calls at a time that suits you. Delivery takes 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth.
Do you publish our tuition fees and admissions results?
Only the figures your school provides and approves. We never estimate fees or results, and a tuition page can be updated by your team in minutes after launch.
Can you connect our admissions software?
A standard embed or link to your existing admissions or information system is included. A custom integration, for example syncing enquiries into your SIS, is quoted on request.
Which plan suits a school with two campuses?
Growth at 4 900 USD usually covers one campus with full programme pages. Two campuses, bilingual EN/FR content or a larger page count point to Premium at 8 900 USD.
What happens after launch?
Support is included for 3 months, 6 on Premium. Maintenance after that and ongoing search work are quoted on request; you can request your free quote to see the full scope in writing.
Let's scope your project. A school site with programme pages, admissions and tour booking, Growth or Premium plan, live in 3 to 6 weeks. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.