College Education Costs in the US Versus Foreign Countries

Choosing the right college or university depends on a number of factors such as location, area of study, reputation, and of course, money. For millions of people, the biggest challenge is a lack of financial means, which is why today, over nine million people in the United States depends on Pell grants. Of course, along with government grants, financial aid is also available in the form of scholarships, private money, and students loans, and more.

One thing that many students have begun to do is compare the cost of a college education in the United States versus foreign countries. Although for many the first choice would be one of the top schools in the United States but in trying to cut down on the cost of earning a degree but without sacrificing on the quality of education, the other option is to look at different schools in a variety of countries overseas.

The thing to remember is that whether earning a college degree in America or another country, you will find a wide range of tuition price ranges. To determine if it is possible to save money on a college education by looking at colleges and universities outside of the United States, we have provided some helpful information to make the decision easier.

North America

The cost of college tuition in the United States averages between $5,000 and $30,000 annually. However, the cost would not only depend on the factors mentioned above but also whether you were an in or out-of- state resident. For instance, as an in-state resident, you would pay on average $9,000 a year to earn a college degree whereas for being an out-of-state student, cost would increase. Then, the amount of tuition for international students increases to about $20,000 a year. Keep in mind, when looking at the cost to attend college in the United States, Australia, and Canada, tuition is lowest in Canada. For this North American country, you would pay about $9,000 as a Canadian resident or resident of North America, but $25,000 as an international student.

Europe

Europe has long been known for its high taxes, which has-lead country officials to start working on a resolution that would make college more affordable. As an example, in Germany, six states are going to the parliament to get some legislation eliminated whereby college students would not pay for tuition. In Austria, a major debate is occurring to determine the right way to handle tuition. Although European countries have always been considered affordable for people wanting to earn a degree, most countries are now establishing a tuition fee, which ranges on average from 500 to 5,000 euros.

United Kingdom

Currently, tuition for college in the United Kingdom for European students is on average £3,145 annually. This amount of tuition is the most European students can be charged. In addition, tuition in the United Kingdom does increases but only on a small-scale to coordinate with the rising cost of living. For students from the UK, the average cost each year to earn a college degree is £3,000 and £9,000 for students outside of the country.

Ireland

Another foreign country to consider is Ireland, which has excellent schools. In this case, the average cost of tuition on an annual basis is €12,000.

France

With a monumental number of high-ranking universities, it is no wonder that more than 1.5 million students choose France to attend college. Each of the 82 universities in this country is public with no tuition. However, undergraduate students do pay a small fee of €165. Interestingly, universities in France cannot be selective when it comes to students who make admission. For this reason, none of these educational institutes is listed among the top 40 in the world.

Germany

You could also consider colleges and universities in Germany. Today, the average cost per year for enrolling is €1,000. For this country, the cost of tuition would be the same whether you are from Europe or another country.

Australia

Finally, Australia is another option and until 1988, a popular choice because no tuition was charged. However, today colleges and universities in Australia do have tuition but it is still very affordable with averages of AUD 10,000 to 20,000 per year.

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