What Countries Offer Free College (and Who Really Pays)? (2023)

FAQs

What countries give free college? ›

Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Lebanon, Turkey, Sri Lanka and Uruguay provide free education at all levels, including college and university for citizens.

So, out of the 22 countries that offer free college, just over half of them offer free college to at least some international students. Several other countries are working on expanding their public education programs to also offer free college.

1971 Germany's Social Democrats develop system of state financial assistance that effectively rids universities of tuition fees. 1976 Legislation introduced that legally prohibits the charging of tuition fees.

Free college will not only worsen the quality of American universities, currently the best in the world, and mean fewer resources for students, it would also be more regressive and would deepen inequality compared with a system where students pay or take out debt.

All kids living in the United States have the right to a free public education. And the Constitution requires that all kids be given equal educational opportunity no matter what their race, ethnic background, religion, or sex, or whether they are rich or poor, citizen or non-citizen.

The policy is funded by government, tuition is free. Schools still charge miscellaneous fees. Senior secondary school (grade 10 to 12) and college education are not compulsory and free in China.

Tuition and Scholarships in Japan

Tuition fees at Japanese public universities are 535,800 yen, or $6,500. Academic fees for the first year generally consist of admission fee, tuition fee, and facility and equipment usage fee, but in Tsukuba, the regular entrance fees and first year tuition fees have been waived.

In 2014, Germany's 16 states abolished tuition fees for undergraduate students at all public German universities. This means that currently both domestic and international undergraduates at public universities in Germany can study for free, with just a small fee to cover administration and other costs per semester.

Tuition fees for universities vary depending on the program and school you choose. On average in Canada, university tuition costs around: $6,800 per year for international undergraduate students (Statistics Canada, 2022) $21,100 per year for international graduate students (Statistics Canada, 2022)

Can a US citizen go to college in Germany for free? ›

Everyone can study in Germany tuition-free!

That's right: Germans, Europeans, and all non-Europeans can study in Germany free of charge - without tuition fees. It does not matter if you are from the EU or EEA. This applies to almost all study programmes at public universities.

There are 20 US states that provide tuition-free community programs for eligible students. These are Arkansas, Boston, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New York, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Seattle, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.

Free College Would Drive Economic Growth

In different types of economies, as college students graduate without debt, this would give them the ability to earn, save and spend immediately, which could stimulate the economy.

Nordic countries are known for being the cheapest places to study abroad. Norway offers free tuition fees for both international and domestic students. Also, there are many English-taught courses available for international students to choose from.

1. The United States of America. The American education system is known for its practical learning and offers a wide array of educational choices to international students.

A lack of investment in education and educators is one of the 10 reasons the U.S. education system is failing. Simply put - educators as professionals are undervalued, and by extension, students are missing out on improved educational outcomes, predominantly affecting low-income students.

What country has the best free college? ›

Norway. Norway offers free college tuition at all of its public universities for both Norwegians and international students. The Norwegian government funds these universities to help degree-seekers graduate with less debt.

Most universities offer free tuition for Europeans, but cost around 5,000 euros per year for other international students.

Students can study for free because the government pays everything from tuition fees, airplane tickets, resettlement allowance, health insurance, stipend, living allowance, medical insurance, and Korean language courses.

U.S. students may apply directly to Japanese undergraduate universities and colleges. These two- or four-year programs are immersive, with students directly incorporated into the Japanese higher education system. In addition, students will receive a certificate or degree from the university.

Amazingly, all public colleges in Iceland are free for American students. International students make up 5% of all students in the country. The University of Iceland, located in the capital Reykjavik, is one of the largest in Iceland and does not charge any tuition fees.

Germany is the 1st Country that offers Free Education to all international students. Germany is called Tuition-Free Country & all the Universities in Germany are Tuition Free Countries. It means you do not have to Pay for your tuition Fee. Germany is good for Part-time Jobs.

There are two levels of tuition fees at publicly funded UK universities: home student fees (including EU students) and international student fees. For home students, institutions in England can charge up to a maximum of £9,250 (~US$13,050) per year for undergraduate degree programmes.

Everyone can study in Germany tuition-free!

That's right: Germans, Europeans, and all non-Europeans can study in Germany free of charge - without tuition fees. It does not matter if you are from the EU or EEA. This applies to almost all study programmes at public universities.

Is college in Mexico free? ›

Tuition at public universities and technological universities and institutes is free to Mexican citizens; however, there may be fees which can be as high as $US 150 per semester.

Student Aid from the U.S. government is available for many people who are interested in studying abroad. The Federal Student Aid website has a list of all of the European colleges that participate in the program, and you can also learn more about the loan application process through the site.

In some countries such as Uganda, Haiti, Kenya and the Philippines, 30% of families have to borrow to afford their children's education. The report calls for governments to keep to their promise of providing 1 year of pre-primary and 12 years of primary and secondary education free for all.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected area with over 32 million children of primary school age remaining uneducated.

Public healthcare is considered free because patients are not required to pay any fees to receive medical attention at a healthcare facility. However, public healthcare in Canada is funded by tax paid by Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Canada has a universal health care system funded through taxes. This means that any Canadian citizen or permanent resident can apply for public health insurance. Each province and territory has a different health plan that covers different services and products.

Undergraduate costs to study in Germany

Although you can study for free at public German universities as an undergraduate, there is a charge per semester for enrolment, confirmation and administration. This is typically no more than €250 (~US$290) per semester, but varies depending on the university.

Germany offers high-quality education at low or no cost at all. Public universities in Germany require no tuition fees, but students must pay an administrative fee per semester, typically no higher than 250 EUR/semester.

3. Sweden. Only students pursuing research-based doctoral degrees get free tuition in Sweden; some programs of study even offer stipends to international students. Nevertheless, students should be aware that Sweden's high cost of living may put them over budget, even when they pay nothing to earn their degrees.