U.S. college tuition and fees have increased 1,120 percent since records began in 1978. Maybe American students should consider colleges outside our borders.
Japan
Average Education costs: $11,865
GDP Per Capita: $36,900
Highest ranked university: University of Tokyo (30)
Number of universities in the top 100: 6
Mexico
Average Education costs: $5077
GDP Per Capita: $15,600
Highest ranked university: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (146)
Number of universities in the top 100: 0
Germany
Average Education costs: $933
GDP Per Capita: $39,700
Highest ranked university: Technische Universität München (TUM) (53)
Number of universities in the top 100: 4
USA
Average Education costs: $13,856
GDP Per Capita: $50,700
Highest ranked university: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (1)
Number of universities in the top 100: 31
Australia
Average Education costs: $7,692
GDP Per Capita: $43,300
Highest ranked university: Australian National University (24)
Number of universities in the top 100: 6
Canada
Average Education costs: $5,974
GDP Per Capita: $43,400
Highest ranked university: McGill University (18)
Number of universities in the top 100: 3
Great Britain
Average Education costs: $5,288
GDP Per Capita: $37,500
Highest ranked university: University of Cambridge (2)
Number of universities in the top 100: 18
New Zealand
Average Education costs: $3,118
GDP Per Capita: $30,200
Highest ranked university: University of Auckland (83)
Number of universities in the top 100: 1
Netherlands
Average Education costs: $3,125
GDP Per Capita: $42,900
Highest ranked university: University of Amsterdam (62)
Number of universities in the top 100: 4
Finland
Average Education costs: $1,243
GDP Per Capita: $37,000
Highest ranked university: University of Helsinki (78)
Number of universities in the top 100: 1
Sweden
Average Education costs: $600
GDP Per Capita: $41,900
Highest ranked university: Lund University (71)
Number of universities in the top 100: 2
France
Average Education costs: $585
GDP Per Capita: $36,100
Highest ranked university: École Normale Supérieure de Paris (ENS Paris) (34)
Number of universities in the top 100: 2
Denmark
Average Education costs: $530
GDP Per Capita: $38,300
Highest ranked university: University of Copenhagen (51)
Number of universities in the top 100: 2
Norway
Average Education costs: $596
GDP Per Capita: $55,900
Highest ranked university: University of Oslo (111)
Number of universities in the top 100: 0
FACT: Average annual undergraduate tuition fees in the top 10 are up to a record high of around US $34,000, nearly double the 2007 average of $18,500.
Annual undergraduate tuition fees at the world’s top universities:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
$36,000
Harvard University
$38,891
University of Cambridge
$14,000
University College London (UCL)
$14,000
Imperial College London
$14,000
University of Oxford
$14,000
Stanford University
$42,690
Yale University
$43,100
University of Chicago
$45,324
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
$39,990
Princeton University
$40,170
Some countries in which post-secondary education is free.
Kenya
Uruguay
Morocco
Scotland
Spain
Norway
Turkey
Finland
Greece
Egypt
Argentina
Schools with Free Tuition
Some schools are breaking the tuition trend and allowing students to attend for free, but how do they make up for all of that money?
College of the Ozarks –
A private university, founded in 1906. The College of the Ozarks allows students to attend, tuition free, so long as they work a minimum of 15 hours a week in one of the various campus programs, such as the school’s museum, clinic, or dairy farm. Between the work and scholarships, students completely bypass the $18,330 tuition.
Deep Springs College –
Founded in 1917, and with a student body size of about 26, Deep Springs College is yet another university that allows students to attend for free. Students are required to work a minimum of 20 hours on the college’s ranch or farm. Standard positions have included cook, irrigator, butcher, groundskeeper, and cowboy.
Across the Globe
Finding tuition free colleges is far easier when going abroad as an international student. Countries like Germany, Norway, and Sweden all have programs that allow international students to attend for free.
Sources:
- http://www.businessinsider.com/tuition-costs-by-country-college-higher-education-2012-6?op=1
- http://www.ireg-observatory.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=292&Itemid=1
- http://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/student-finance/tuition-fees-worlds-top-universities
- http://www.ireg-observatory.org/pdf/HESA_Global_Higher_EducationRankings2010.pdf
- http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/slideshows/12-tuition-free-colleges/8
- http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/slideshows/12-tuition-free-colleges/3
- http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/college-of-the-ozarks-2500
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Springs_College
- http://www.scholars4dev.com/4031/list-of-european-countries-with-tuition-freelow-tuition-universities-colleges/
Related Resources:
- Top 20 Online Colleges with High Return on Investment
- 5 Advantages of Gap Years
- 5 Keys to an Honest College Admissions Process
- 5 Keys For Finding Balance as a Non-Traditional Student
- 5 Organizations Offering Excellent Volunteer Opportunities For College Students
- How Do I Find Out My College’s Return On Investment?
