29 Countries with Free College Tuition – No Loan Forgiveness Needed
29 Countries with Free College Tuition – No Loan Forgiveness Needed
Getting buried under student loan debt doesn’t have to be your future. Instead of staying in the U.S. to get a college degree that could take decades (or the rest of your life!) to pay off, we’ve found 29 countries with free college tuition, or at a low cost. Some require foreign citizenship and long-range planning, but others are open to all. Find out the requirements in these countries who’ve figured out how to set kids up for success.
Argentina
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Argentina’s offers free college tuition for its citizens.
Austria
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Austrian citizens can get their college tuition waived, but foreigners don’t pay much either.
Brazil
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Brazil’s offering free college education to all, provided you can speak Portuguese.
China
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While it’s not free like some countries, China’s costs for higher education tend to run lower than the United States’ figures. Tuition ranges from $4,700- $46,000.
Czechia / Czech Republic
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Can you speak Czech? If so, you can come here and get your college education for no cost.
Denmark
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Got EU citizenship? Denmark’s got your college tuition covered.
Egypt
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Got Egyptian citizenship? If yes, then you qualify for a free college education, courtesy of your fellow taxpayers.
Greece
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Greece welcomes all to pursue higher education within its borders. Classes will be taught in Greek, so plan accordingly.
Finland
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Finland used to invite international students from across the globe to accept its offer of free college education. You can even take classes in English. Today, only citizens can take advantage of this program.
France
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Need another reason to move to Paris? France offers tuition-free college for citizens of the European Union.
Germany
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Germany’s committed to the wellbeing of all nations. That’s why it offers free college education to all countries; yes, you can take classes in English.
Iceland
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If you’re willing to brave the cold weather and high cost of living, Iceland wants you to get your college education here at no cost for tuition. You can even learn in English.
India
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India’s tuition ranges from $350 to $5,500.
Italy
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Tuition in Italy ranges from $1200 – $7500.
Kenya
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Kenya invites international students to accept its offer of free college tuition, provided their performance meets educational standards. They’ll even educate you in English.
Luxembourg
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One of the smaller European nations, Luxembourg invites international students from around the world to accept their offer of free college. You can even study in English while you’re there.
Malaysia
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Malaysia offers a free college education to its citizens and their dependents. International students are welcome to attend, too; tuition for universities around Kuala Lumpur ranges from $2,000 – $4,500.
Mexico
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The U.S.’s biggest trade partner welcomes Americans and other international students to its universities for study. Expect to pay $400 – $16,000 for your tuition here.
Norway
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Come and enjoy your complementary college education among the Northern Lights in Norway. Don’t worry about learning Norwegian first; they’ll teach you in English, too.
Panama
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Along with its lower cost of living, high-quality healthcare, and no-conversion currency (they use the US dollar), Panama also offers free college tuition to international students worldwide. You can even study in English.
Poland
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Polish citizens have access to a free college education, courtesy of the federal government.
Slovenia
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This eastern European country invites you to get dual citizenship with an EU country and use its free college education.
South Africa
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While a college education in South Africa isn’t exactly free, it’s still immensely more affordable than the U.S. education system. Tuition starts as low as $36 and runs as high at $3,500.
Spain
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Aside from being stunningly beautiful and welcoming to expats, Spain also offers free college for EU citizens.
Sweden
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Sweden believes in equity for all its citizens. That philosophy extends to all citizens of the European Union countries seeking a free college education.
Taiwan
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Universities in Taipei City, Taiwan more invite international students to study here without the crippling student loan debt in the U.S. Tuition rates vary between $1,600 – $2,500.
Thailand
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Universities located in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and other cities are admitting American expats every year. Tuition rates vary widely, ranging from $1,600 – $27,000—still less than many top-dollar U.S. institutions.
Turkey
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If you’ve got citizenship in Turkey, then you have free access to higher education. No student loans needed!
Uruguay
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Aside from being a bastion of progressive values in South America, Uruguay also waives college tuition for its citizens.
2023 Guide to Studying Abroad
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Our nine recommendations for studying in another country.
➤ 2023 Guide to Studying Abroad
Want to Move to Europe? Here Are 16 In-Demand Jobs and How to Apply.
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Can you guess the most in-demand jobs in Europe? At least 15 countries reported shortages in these 16 fields, and there are more than four and a half million jobs listed on this portal.
➤ Want to Move to Europe? Here Are 16 In-Demand Jobs and How to Apply.
Guide to Expat Jobs, Digital Nomad Jobs, & Working Abroad
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For most of us looking to move abroad, finding our new home country is only half the battle. Luckily, the job market for expats has shifted over the last several years. Digital nomad jobs and remote work opportunities really exploded in the wake of 2020, allowing more chances than ever to work from wherever you choose to live. So how can you earn a living once you leave the US?
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Jen Barnett is the co-founder of Expatsi, a company that's helped thousands of Americans on their moving abroad journeys. She created the Expatsi Test, an assessment that recommends countries for aspiring emigrants based on lifestyle data. Jen has an MBA from Emory University with concentrations in marketing and innovation. Prior to Expatsi, she created Freshfully and Bottle & Bone—two businesses in the local food space—and spoke at TEDx on being brave. She lives in Mérida, Yucatán, along with her husband and co-founder Brett, pitbull mix Squiggy, and two rotten cats. How can she help you move abroad?
