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The monetary cost of attending a modern college, university, or other institute of higher learning can often be prohibitively high. Tuition fees in the United States, for example, averaged $10,000-$38,000 per year (US$) in 2021-22, with many private universities exceeding $50,000. Housing and living expenses add to that total. Grants and scholarships can help offset tuition costs, but typically fall short. As a result, many students—particularly minorities, who earn a disproportionately low income in many countries—cannot afford to attend college. Those students who do attend must often take out massive student loans, saddling themselves with significant debt that can take decades to repay.
To address these concerns, a number of countries have made college/university tuition free for their citizens. In these systems, higher education is available to most students at little to no cost (often requiring only a small administrative fee) regardless of limiting factors such as income level or social status. Most of these countries are developed nations and many are democratic socialist states in which the government also provides other essential services such as universal or single payer health care.
A number of countries further extend the offer of free (or minimal cost) tuition to international students as well. This enables students from the United States and other countries with high college tuition costs to study abroad while also obtaining their education with minimal cost. However, it should be noted that classes in many countries are taught in that country's native language—universities in Greece, for instance, teach most classes in Greek rather than English—which could introduce a language barrier. Also, most of these countries are European, and may require extra fees from students from outside the European Union (EU) and/or European Economic Area (EEA). A full list of countries that offer free tuition to nationals and/or internationals can be seen below.
Country | College Tuition (International) | Additional Details |
---|---|---|
Cuba | Standard (med excepted) | Full fees, but international medical students with Bachelor's or equivalent may get scholarship |
Mexico | Standard | Full fees |
Egypt | Standard | Free for citizens, although system is in need of reform |
Philippines | Standard | Free to Filipinos |
Morocco | Standard | Full fees |
Sri Lanka | Standard | Full fees. Free to nationals who score in top 15%-17% (approximate) on aptitude tests. |
New Zealand | Standard | Full fees. Slowly phasing in three years' free instruction for New Zealanders as well as Australians... |
Uruguay | Standard | Full fees |
Trinidad and Tobago | Standard | Full fees |
Mauritius | Standard | Full fees |
Fiji | Standard | Full fees |
India | Nominal fees | Nominal fees for international students, but students are not allowed to work while attending |
Turkey | Nominal fees | Nominal fees |
Argentina | Nominal fees | Nominal fees |
Poland | Nominal fees | Free for EU/EAA students, nominal fees for internationals. Many programs in English |
Taiwan | Nominal fees | Nominal fees for internationals. Scholarships available. Classes may be in Mandarin |
Lebanon | Nominal fees | Nominal fees |
Estonia | Nominal fees | Nominal fees for internationals. Scholarships available. PhD programs free. 150+ programs taught in ... |
Luxembourg | Nominal fees | Nominal fees. Most classes taught in English, German, or French |
Russia | Limited | Free to Russians and Belarusians with adequate grades. International slots are limited (15,000). Cla... |
Brazil | Language-dependent | Free, but must know Portuguese |
Czech Republic | Language-dependent | Free for classes taught in Czech. Courses in English have fees |
Iran | Free w obligation | Free, but grads must serve government for as many years as were needed to get degree |
Cyprus | Free for undergraduates | Undergraduate college students in Cyprus and EU students pay no tuition fees at public universities. |
Germany | Free | Free for undergrads from any country; may have small fee. Many courses in English, but some German-o... |
Kenya | Free | Free w high scores on on aptitude exams. Limited availability |
Saudi Arabia | Free | Citzens of Saudi Arabia can attend public universities for free. |
United Arab Emirates | Free | UAE citizens can attend government institutions free of charge. |
Norway | Free | Free w/ one year completed or strong placement test score. Minimal fees. Most undergrad courses taug... |
Slovakia | Free | Public universities are free for residents and students from the EU. |
Kuwait | Free | Provides free higher education to Kuwaiti citizens at public universities. There are also scholarshi... |
Panama | Free | Free to all. Spanish proficiency is helpful |
Lithuania | Free | Citizens of Lithuania and the EU can attend public universities for free. |
Brunei | Free | Offers free education at all levels, including higher education, for its citizens. |
Iceland | Free | Free for all nationalities except for minor registration fee. Most undergrad classes taught in Icela... |
France | EU-dependent | Free w minimal fees for EU/EEA. Fees for non-Euros rising, but scholarships available. Many courses ... |
Italy | EU-dependent | Nominal fees (€900 and €4,000) for EU students |
Spain | EU-dependent | Free for EU, nominal fees for non-Europeans |
Belgium | EU-dependent | Minimal fees for EU/EEA. Nominal fees for non-Europeans |
Sweden | EU-dependent | Free for EU/EEA and Switzerland. PhD programs free for all. Many scholarships available |
Greece | EU-dependent | Free for EU/EEA (most programs), nominal fees for non-Europeans. Must speak Greek |
Austria | EU-dependent | Free for EU/EEA for two semesters. Nominal fees for non-Europeans |
Denmark | EU-dependent | Free for EU/EEA & Switzerland. Notable fees for non-Euro undergrads. PhD programs free for all. Non-... |
Slovenia | EU-dependent | Free for EU and many Eastern Europeans, nominal fees for internationals |
Malta | EU-dependent | Free for EU students and Maltese citizens, nominal fees for non-EU students |
Finland | EU- and Language-dep. | Free for EU/EEA, Switzerland, & speakers of Finnish or Swedish. PhD programs free for all. Some clas... |