A study by the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) has found that for a child born in 2015, the total education costs in regional NSW could add up to $54,421 for public schooling, $161,231 for systemic schooling and $343,385 for private schooling.

The regional figures, along with those accounted for in metropolitan areas has left NSW as one of the most expensive states to educate a child with $71,406 for public schools, $234, 887 for systemic schools and $343,385 for a private school education.

The numbers were based on 2015 dollar costs adjusted by an average CPI figure and do not consider economic factors which could drive costs higher.

The ASG calculated in 2015 parents living in regional areas would be paying $2292 a year for a child in a public preschool, $3843 in a systemic preschool and $5956 for a year in a private preschool.

A year in regional primary education totaled $2998 in a public school, $5455 in a systemic school and $9363 in a private school.

The cost for a year in regional secondary education adds up to $3926 in a public school, $9377 in a systemic school and $19,170 in a private school.

Dubbo mother Sarah Kiley said the decision to enroll their eldest daughter, Emma, in Kindergarten at Macquarie Anglican Grammar School (MAGS) this year did not come from a financial motivation.

Originally from the central coast, Mrs Kiley moved to Dubbo three years ago from Broken Hill.

Mrs Kiley said the main reason the family had settled on MAGS was not because she and her husband believed that spending more money on education would benefit their children in the long run.

"We found the school promoted similar values to our family," Mrs Kiley said.

The main crux of it was small community environment MAGS offered, she said.

Mrs Kiley said Catholic schooling was not an option and they were particularly impressed with how MAGS emphasised no specific undertone in their religion classes.

"My husband and I want our children to have a worldly view," she said.

Mrs Kiley said she thought the school fees for MAGS were quite reasonable, but it was the school's community vibe which won them over.

The ASG chief executive, John Velegrinis, said parents needed to plan financially for schooling from the moment a baby is born.

"Education is one of life's major investments - in some instances it's an even bigger investment than the family home," Mr Velegrinis said.

"By putting a little bit away, parents are more likely to achieve the goals and aspirations they have for their children."

The ASG Planning for Education Index was compiled by the member owned organisation.

It measured a range of variables including school fees, transport, uniforms, computers, school excursions and sporting trips to determine the cost of education.