Cost of College by Country [2024]: Average Tuition Fees

Report Highlights. In tuition alone, America is among the top 3 most expensive countries for international students.

10 of the 17 countries surveyed by OECD charge more in tuition and fees for international students than they do national students.
Public institutions in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand charge international students twice the amount or more what they charge national students.
7 nations generally do not charge international students more than domestic students. These nations include Chile, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway, and Spain.

This report covers the approximate cost of an undergraduate degree by year. Actual costs may vary per university or college, the region or city, inflation, and current exchange rates. Fees for health insurance, visa, and university applications may be additional.

Estimated Annual Average Cost of Undergraduate College by Country
Country	Tuition (International)	Living Expenses
Argentina	Free to $20,000	$2,500 to $4,500
Australia	$13,700 to $30,800	$14,400 to 15,650
Brazil	$2,000 to $10,000	$10,800
Canada	$14,800 to $22,230	$15,500 to $17,800
Sweden	$9,000 to $17,000	$12,100
Germany	Free to $21,900	$11,300
Denmark	$6,570 to $19,710	$13,500
Spain	$820 to $21,900	$7,900 to $15,770
United Kingdom	$10,950 to $41,610	$11,830 to $18,360
China	$2,100 to $30,000	$6,600 to $10,200
France	$3,390 to $21,900	$11,280 to $16,200
Japan	$4,500 to $9,000	$7,560
India	$3,300 to $7,800	$3,950
Russia	$1,750 to $12,570	$3,600 to $4,800
South Korea	$11,600 to $13,000	$12,900
Italy	$1,100 to $5,480	$11,830 to $17,080

Europe

The EU (European Union) and the EEA (European Economic Area) collaborate closely on higher education initiatives. While there many agreements in place dedicated to establishing student mobility, exchanging information and cultural experiences, higher education policies and systems are ultimately determined by the Member States or countries themselves. The Erasmus+ program is the European Union’s education, scholarship, and training program for students at undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.

Traineeships (internships, cooperation opportunities, work placements, etc.) are available for students in Erasmus programs and recent graduates in Program Countries.
Students may study abroad (away from their home country) in other Program Countries.
The United States (Region 12) is considered a Partner country, not a program country in the Erasmus+ program.
The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship is available to individuals from all countries provided they meet the requirements.

Case Study: Germany

Germany offers free tuition at its public universities, even for those outside the EU/EEA countries. Private universities however charge tuition. There are 425 accredited universities in Germany.

For those students coming from outside the EU, a residence permit is required.
While most universities offer some programs entirely in English, many require academic German language proficiency. This can represent an additional expense for the prospective student.
The University of Heidelberg for example requires German language proficiency through either a certified test at level DSH-2 or completion of a German-language university degree at a German university.
Extensive documentation is required for admission, including proof of language proficiency, health insurance, transcripts, academic qualifications, and proof of financial resources to cover other expenses, and visa application documents.
Nearly 7,600 students from the United States attend university in Germany.
Most scholarships are available to graduate-level students.

Semester (Semesterbeitrag) Fee

Most universities offer free tuition but do require the Semester (Semesterbeitrag) fee, which is usually about what a US student would pay for one textbook in a semester at a US university. The Semester Fee usually covers a public transportation pass for the student.

The Winter 2023-2024 Semesterbeitrag Fee for the University of Koln costs 320.05 EUR.
202 EUR goes towards the North Rhine-Westphalia public transportation pass for the semester.
100 EUR of the fee goes towards the Cologne Student Union.
10 EUR goes towards the General Students’ Committee.
2.50 EUR goes towards faculty assignment and another 1.75 EUR goes towards student sports.

Approximate Cost of Attendance: University of Koln (Cologne) for Undergraduate US Students
Expense	Cost
Tuition (Undergraduate)	Free
Semester Contribution (Semesterbeitrag)	$350 (per semester)
Health Insurance	$1,575
Rent & Utilities	$5,800
Food	$2,630
Books/Course Materials	$260
Personal	$900

Case Study: Sweden

With 39 universities and colleges to choose from, tuition in Sweden is free to EU/EEA citizens. The Swedish Institute has a database of programs and courses in English and provides a broad overview of the country’s higher education system.

Studying in Sweden beyond 90 days requires a residence permit.
Most scholarships available to non EU/EEA students are for masters programs.
Students must be proficient in English.

Approximate Cost of Attendance : Undergraduate Students in Sweden
Expense	Cost
Tuition (Undergraduate, International)	$9,000-17,000
Rent & Utilities	$5,510
Food	$3,170
Travel Expenses (local)	$650
Personal	$2,770

Case Study: Denmark

The top universities in Denmark include University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, Technical University of Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, and Aalborg University. Most Danish citizens also speak English, but academic Danish is required for completion of some degrees and programs.

Students from Switzerland, EU and EEA countries do not pay tuition, and students outside these countries can expect to pay between $6,570 to $19,710 per year in tuition.
Tuition is also free for students who have a permanent residence or are participating in an exchange program.
Non EU/EAA students are required to apply for a Danish residence permit.

Case Study: France

In France, there are more than 3,500 institutes dedicated to higher education. 72 of these institutes are universities. Classes presented in French require foreign students to present a document attesting to their proficiency in French.

The government expenditure in France on education (% of GDP) was 5.5% in 2020.
Tuition rates at public institutions in France for undergraduate students are among the lowest, with an average of $3,030 per year for non-European students to complete an undergraduate degree.
There are lower rates for European students.

United Kingdom

After secondary school, students in the UK can either attend vocational training or a 2-year program leading to an A level exam before university.

Undergraduate degrees under this system take 3 years vs. the 4 years in the U.S.
Tuition and fees in England do not have to be repaid until students are earning a minimum income (before tax and other deductions).
Plan 1 Student Loan: £423 a week, £1,834 a month or £22,015 a year.
Plan 2 Student Loan: £524 a week, £2,274 a month or £27,295 a year.
Plan 4 Student Loan: £532 a week, £2,305 a month or £27,660 a year.
Plan 5 Student Loan: £480 a week, £2,083 a month or £25,000 a year.
Masters/Doctorate Programs: £403 a week, £1,750 a month or £21,000 a year.
Student loans are written off at various times, depending on the loan, such as turning 65, or 30 or 40 years after the student was due to begin repayment, or for persons unable to work due to illness/disability.
As of 2021-22, undergraduate tuition fees for home students (UK nationals) are capped at £9,250 (USD $13,054) per year.
Beginning in the 2021-2022 academic year, EU nationals, foreigners, and non UK/Irish national students will not be eligible for home fee status and most universities will begin charging international rates for tuition and fees.
Financial aid for international students is limited, especially for EU students.
Some universities in the UK, including the University of Cambridge, accept US Federal Loans (but not Pell Loans or Grants).
Graduate students from the US may apply for Marshall Scholarship.

Case Study: University of Cambridge (England)

The University of Cambridge is one of the top-ranked institutions in the world. Fee status at the University of Cambridge depends on immigration, nationality, and country of residence.

U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Cambridge as 8th in the world.
The University has 31 Colleges, 6 Schools, and over 100 Departments, Faculties, and Institutes.
Cambridge has over 300 postgraduate courses.
The acceptance rate at the university is 21%.
The highest percentages of applicants to the University were from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the United States, and India.

Approximate Cost of Attendance University of Cambridge: Management Studies (Undergraduate)
Expense	Home Students (UK/Irish residents)	International Students
University Tuition	£9,250	£33,178
College Fees	–	£9,275-£12,950
Living Expenses (in Cambridge)	£10,950	£10,950
Study Abroad	15% of full fee	50% of full fee

Case Study: University of Glasgow (Scotland)

University of Glasgow ranks 74th on US News’ rankings for international universities, and 8th in the United Kingdom. Roughly 95.9% of graduates from the University of Glasgow find employment or go into higher education within 6 months of graduation.

Students from over 140 countries attend the University of Glasgow, with over 1,000 of them from the United States.
In 2022-2023, 34,340 students (undergraduate and graduate) were in attendance.
15% of the student body are international students.

Approximate Cost of Attendance University of Glasgow: Management Studies (Undergraduate)
Expense	Home Students (Scottish residents)	Home Students (Rest of UK)	International
University Tuition	£1,820	£9,250	£21,600
Room & Board	£4,722- £8,812	£4,722- £8,812	£4,722- £8,812

American Students in the University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow accepts over 1,000 American students every year. It has study abroad and exchange programs with over 80 American universities.

The University of Glasgow also has 3 strategic partnerships with the University of Connecticut, the University of Maryland, and Columbia University.
The University of Glasgow has a US Federal Aid Support officer and FAFSA code.
University of Glasgow also participates in the Veterans Affairs Benefits (GI Bill).

Approximate Cost of Attendance: University of Glasgow for Undergraduate US Students
Expense	Cost
Tuition (International)	£21,600
Rent & Utilities	£550 – 800
Food	£2420
Travel Expenses	£610
Books/Course Materials	£200
Personal	£1920

Australia

Tuition fees for both public and private institutions in Australia are among the highest for undergraduate degrees, however 9 of the world’s top 100 universities are in Australia. There are roughly 42 universities in Australia.

Undergraduate degrees typically take 3 years, similar to programs taught in the United Kingdom.
The Australian government offers over $200 million in scholarships to foreign students.
Australia’s government expenditure on education (% of GDP) was 6.2% in 2020.
Students in Australia graduate with an average debt of $19,820.
There are many awards and scholarships available to both domestic and international students in Australia, such as those offered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Latin America

Many countries in Latin America offer free or very discounted tuition at their public universities. Under the Program for Partner Undergraduate Students (PEC-G program), students from other Latin American, African, or Caribbean countries with a certificate of proficiency in Portuguese can enter Brazilian universities.

There are 48 National universities in Argentina.
The University of Buenos Aires has an open admissions policy.
International students may pursue undergraduate degrees for free at several universities in Latin America under the tuition free policy.
Undergraduate courses taught in Latin America are primarily taught in Spanish or Portuguese.
Half of college-age students in Argentina are enrolled in higher education.
The government expenditure in Argentina on education (% of GDP) was 5.0% in 2020.
Universidade de Sao Paulo is the top university in Latin America.
Brazil’s government expenditure on education (% of GDP) was 6.0% in 2019.

China

Most of the 3,000 universities and colleges in China are under the Ministry of Education and include research universities, traditional universities, and vocational and professional training colleges. There are 180 institutions that admit international students.

In China, 9.67 million students graduated from college in 2022.
In 2024, nearly 12 million students will graduate from college in China.
Students may qualify for full or partial tuition scholarships that cover tuition and part of their living expenses offered by both colleges and the Chinese government.
Tsinghua University and Peking University appear in the top 40 world university rankings.
China is also the world’s largest producer of scientific research, surpassing the United States.

Approximate Cost of Attendance: Peking University for Undergraduate Students
Expense	Cost
Tuition	$3,946/year
Rent/Accommodation	$8,455/year
Living Expenses	$2,960/year

Financial Aid & Tuition Assistance

Financial aid and tuition assistance varies from nation to nation. The United States offers some financial aid, scholarships, and grants for international students. 15 countries in Europe offer free tuition.

At least 80% of national students in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United States receive public financial support (loans, grants, or scholarships).
In 2019-2020 (most recent data), the nations offering the highest number of student loans (to national students) were the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the United States.
In 2019-2020, the nations offering the highest number of grants and scholarships were Sweden, Denmark, the United States, Finland, and Lithuania.
In Austria, Belgium, Latvia, and Switzerland, only 20% or less are receiving financial support.

Average Cost of College By Country