College is expensive in the USA, so much so that many students have to take a loan. According to a survey, over 40 million students have debt and nearly 14% owe over $50,000. According to the study by OECD, United Kingdom has the highest average tuition fee than the rest of the world at $12,000 avg. In an average, the tuition fee of a college in the USA is over $8,000. Some countries such as Denmark and Finland don’t charge any tuition fee at all, and countries such as Italy and the Netherlands have an average tuition fee of just $4000.
What is the Average Cost of Colleges & Universities Around the World? The lowest average cost of college is $0 in countries such as Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany etc. and the highest average cost of college is $12,400 in the UK.
Average Cost Of College In Various Countries
Here’s the average cost of college in various countries according to the OECD report
| Country | Tuition fee per year |
| Denmark | $0 |
| Estonia | $0 |
| Finland | $0 |
| Germany | $0 |
| Norway | $0 |
| Poland | $0 |
| Slovak Republic | $0 |
| Slovenia | $0 |
| Sweden | $0 |
| Turkey | $0 |
| France | $210+ |
| Mexico | $500+ |
| Hungary | $700+ |
| Austria | $900+ |
| Luxembourg | $900+ |
| Switzerland | $1,100+ |
| Italy | $1,600+ |
| Portugal | $1,800+ |
| Spain | $1,800+ |
| Netherlands | $2,400+ |
| Israel | $3,000+ |
| New Zealand | $4,200+ |
| China | $4,500+ |
| Korea | $4,500+ |
| Australia | $4,700+ |
| Canada | $4,900+ |
| Japan | $5,200+ |
| Latvia | $5,200+ |
| Chile | $7,600+ |
| United States | $8,200+ |
| United Kingdom | $12,400+ |
Other College Cost in Various Countries
- Denmark offers free higher education to students from the European Union and Switzerland. However, for international students, the tuition fee may cost between $7,000 to $19,000 per year.
- In Estonia, natives can study for free but courses offered in English cost between $2,000 to $9,000 per year.
- In Finland, EU students can study for free but American students have to pay between $4,500 to $16,000 per year.
- Germany provides free education, but they do pay an administration fee between $170 to $300 per semester.
- In the Netherlands, students outside from EU have to pay nearly $7,000 per year for college.
- College is free in Poland, but international students pay around $2,300 per year for college.
- College is free in Slovenia, but students outside the EU pay nearly $2,300 for tuition fee.
- Higher education in Sweden is free, but non-EU students pay nearly $9,000 per year.
- In the USA, tuition fee for private schools can go as high as $21,000 per year.
High college cost has forced most students to seek education loan, and the total student loan debt is increasing staggeringly.
The Average Student Loan in Major Countries
- USA – $37,100+.
- U.K – $30,800+
- Australia – $22,500+
- Canada – $21,000+
- Sweden – $21,000+
- Germany – $2,600+
Average Tuition Fee in the Top Universities of the World
University College London, UK
- Undergrad – £9,250 or $11,985 for domestic students and £25,960 or $33,600 for international students.
- Postgrad – £12,380 or $16,040 for domestic students and £25,880 or $33,500 for international students.
University of Chicago, USA
- Undergrad – $55,400 for both domestic and international students.
- Postgrad – $57,900 per year for both domestic and international students.
Imperial College London, UK
- Undergrad – £9,250 or $11,985 for domestic students and £29,000 or $37,500 for international students.
- Postgrad – £14,000 or $18,100 for domestic students and £30,500 or $39,500 for international students.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
- Both Undergrad and Postgrad costs around $1,400 per year, making it the most affordable best university in the world.
University of Cambridge, UK
- Undergrad – £9,250 or $11,985 for domestic students and £30,500 or $39,500 for international students.
- Postgrad – £11,700 or $15,100 for domestic students and £31,500 or $40,800 for international students.
University of Oxford, UK
- Undergrad – £9,250 or $11,985 for domestic students and £31,500 or $40,800 for international students.
- Postgrad – £10,700 or $13,800 for domestic students and £23,000 or $29,800 for international students.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech), US
- Undergrad – $52,360 for both domestic and international students.
- Postgrad – $49,780 for both domestic and international students.
Harvard University, US
- Undergrad – $46,340 for both domestic and international students.
- Postgrad – $46,380 for both domestic and international students.
Stanford University, US
- Undergrad – $50,700 for both domestic and international students.
- Postgrad – $54,000 for both domestic and international students.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US
- Undergrad – $51,500 for both domestic and international students.
- Postgrad – $51,500 for both domestic and international students.
Top 10 Countries Preferred by Students for their Best Education System
01. Germany
Germany is one of the few countries that provide free higher education to both domestic and international students. Moreover, students get a world-class education, which is why many international students flock to Germany for college. According to a survey, the number of foreign students studying in Germany is more than 250,000. Student debt average is also low in Germany with 50% of borrowers with a debt of less than $4500.
- Best University – Technical University of Munich
- Avg. annual tuition fee – $0 or less than $300
- Population with a Bachelor’s degree – 15%
- The population of students – ~ 3 million
02. France
Many degree-granting programs in France is for 3 years with an average tuition fee of $216 offered by Public universities. That said, tuition fee at a private university is higher with an average annual tuition fee of between $3,400 to $11,300. More than 350,000 foreign students chose France for college; although most of the programs are taught in French.
- Best University – École normale supérieure, Paris
- Avg. annual tuition fee – $210+
- Population with a Bachelor’s degree – 10%
- Population of students – ~ 2.5 million
03. Switzerland
Most of the universities in Switzerland are Public Institutes and have a low tuition fee of just $1,100 on average. Although Switzerland’s world-class education and low tuition fee invite a lot of foreign students, the cost of living is higher making education expensive. Switzerland has the second highest cost of living in the world and is over 30% more expensive than New York. According to the survey only over 2000 American choose to study in Switzerland in 2016.
- Best University – ETH Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
- Avg. annual tuition fee – $1,100+
- Population with a Bachelor’s degree – 20%
- Population of students – ~ 294K
04. Netherlands
The Netherlands has a low tuition fee of $2,400 avg. at public colleges. That said, the country is facing a debt challenge with a collective student debt of €17.6 billion. The avg. graduate owes over €14,000. However, students with lower earning than the full-time minimum wage are not needed to pay the student loan. Plus the repayment terms are longer up to 35 years.
- Best University – University of Amsterdam
- Avg. annual tuition fee – $2,400+
- Population with a Bachelor’s degree – 21%
- Population of students – ~ 842K
05. China
The average tuition fee at a Public college is between $3,000 to $9,000 per year. The best part is most of the prestigious universities in China are public. High schoolers must pass the Gaokao entrance examination which is held once a year. There are over 2,000 universities with a total students population of nearly 44 million. However, the population of international students in China in lower; in 2016 only 11k Americans went to study in China.
- Best University – Tsinghua University
- Avg. annual tuition fee – $3,000 to $9,000
- Population with a Bachelor’s degree – 4%
- The population of students – ~ 44 million
06. South Korea
The tuition fee is relatively high, where public colleges charge over $4,500 per year and private colleges charge over $8,200 per year. However, Korean students can get government-backed grants and loans or work-study from KOSAF (Korea Student Aid Foundation). That said, KOSAF financial aid based on the merit of the student. Moreover, the interest rate for moat KOSAF student loans doesn’t go higher than 2.7% and some with no interest at all. South Korea has one of the best education systems but the high cost of college makes for fewer college enrollment.
- Best University – Seoul National University
- Avg. annual tuition fee – $4,500
- Population with a Bachelor’s degree – 34%
- Population of students – ~ 565K
07. Australia
Australia provides world-class education but has a high tuition fee. Average public college fee is nearly $4,700 and that of private college is $8,800. Its high tuition fee is one of the reasons why by average an Australian student graduates with an over $23,000 in debt. That said, the graduates don’t have to pay until their earning reaches $40,000 per year. Moreover, federal student loans in Australia don’t come with interest; even if the loan amount is increased, they don’t’ accrue interest before or during payment.
- Best University – Australian National University
- Avg. annual tuition fee – $4,700 to $8,800
- Population with a Bachelor’s degree – 25%
- The population of students – ~ 2.9 million
08. Canada
Canada has nearly 1 million full-time students and over 290K part-time students. Tuition fee at a public college is nearly $4,900. However, students here do face some debt challenges. In Avg. a Canadian student graduates with over $21,000 in debt. But, it does have a universal income-based repayment system where students don’t have to pay until their income is C$25,00 per year. There are other schemes from the government that help students clear their debt in 15 years; but, foreign students face debt challenges, which is why few American students opt to study in Canada.
- Best University – McGill University
- Avg. annual tuition fee – $4,900
- Population with a Bachelor’s degree – 21%
- The population of students – ~ 1 million
09. United States
The U.S. once held the top spot for having the highest tuition fees in the world. But, then again, it does house some of the world’s best universities. More than half of the top 25 universities are in the US. The average tuition fee at a public college is nearly $8,200 whereas private college fee is nearly $21,100. Students looking for a degree from a prestigious university opt for private institutes and are willing to take the burden of a student loan. This has also led to a student debt crisis with average total student debt to be nearly 1.5 trillion.
- Best University – MIT University
- Avg. annual tuition fee – $8,200 to $21,100
- Population with a Bachelor’s degree – 23%
- Population of students – ~ 19.5 million
10. United Kingdom
Today, UK holds the top spot for the highest tuition fee of $12,100 per year in a public college. That said, students in U.K. are graduating with a debt of $43,200. Today, the country’s outstanding student loan debt is nearly £100.5 billion. However, repayment is small i.e. just £25 per month for someone with a wage of £21,000 per year. The good news is if students have a remaining balance after 30 years of repayment, it is forgiven by the U.K. government.
- Best University – University of Cambridge
- Avg. annual tuition fee – $12,400
- Population with a Bachelor’s degree – 23%
- Population of students – ~ 2.3 million
Related Questions
Can You Study at Harvard for Free? Yes, Harvard’s financial aid programs pay 100% of the tuition fee along with room and board for families earning less than $65,000 per year.
Can International Students Get Scholarship? No, for the most part, international students are not applicable for a scholarship or financial aid programs. However, check with the college or university website to learn more.
Which Country is the Best for International Students? Germany, Canada, Taiwan are the top 3 best countries for international students.
Conclusion
Education is surely been rising for that past few years, still, some countries manage to keep education cost lower and some even $0. The above-mentioned countries are highly-valued for their education system and are opted by students around the world. However, USA is the world’s most opted country for higher education in spite of having a high avg. tuition fee and the high cost of living.
