2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING CHEAPEST UNIVERSITIES IN THE WORLD
Finding the Cheapest Universities in the World for International Students
Finding the cheapest universities in the world for international students might often feel like a battle you cannot win. With so many universities to choose from, where does one even begin?
At times, cheap universities feel like a thing of the past. Tuition prices continue to rise, acceptance rates continue to dip, and getting accepted into affordable universities seems like little more than a pipe dream. But they’re not.
Throughout this article, we will discuss the cheapest universities in the world for international students and why you should apply to each of them. Our list of cheapest universities takes into account several factors, including acceptance rates, the percentage of international students, and the grants that are available.
As you can see in the title, this article is intended for international students to find low-tuition colleges. Several of the schools you see below will not be the most affordable universities for American students.
Award Emblem: Top 6 Most Affordable Colleges for International Students
For instance, Princeton and Harvard are certainly not affordable colleges for American students who do not qualify for grants and scholarships. In fact, tuition for both schools is more than $40,000 per year.
With that being said, however, we can categorize all of these schools as universities with low tuition fees for international students. In order to attract more international students, many of the cheapest universities in the world offer lower tuition prices and more grant and scholarship money.
Throughout this article, we will be answering several of the most commonly answered questions including the following:
- What is the cheapest college tuition for international students?
- What is the percentage of international students enrolled at the cheapest universities in the world?
- Are the cheapest universities in the world for international students reputable schools?
The answer to the last question, of course, is yes. While we could discuss the most affordable colleges based purely on tuition, we are taking into account the students’ successes after graduating.
Remember that time is money. To simply say that the cheap universities are those with the lowest tuition would not take into account the amount of hours spent in the classroom studying. While the cheapest college tuition helps, we also want to make sure you are getting the best education possible.
Essentially, we hope to get you started on your search for the cheapest universities in the world. Good luck!
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of Top 6 Most Affordable Colleges
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the most affordable colleges below to go directly to the detailed review section for that college):
- Binghamton University
- California Institute of Technology
- Harvard University
- Princeton University
- University at Buffalo–SUNY
- Yale University
Top 6 Most Affordable Colleges | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Cheap Colleges | Location | Percentage of Int’l Students | Avg. Tuition (After Grants/ Scholarships) |
| Binghamton University | Binghamton, NY | 11% | $11,535 |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | 11% | $11,775 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 11% | $2,538 |
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 11% | $7,416 |
| University at Buffalo–SUNY | Buffalo, NY | 16% | $8,573 |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | 10% | $5,603 |
Table: Top 6 Most Affordable Colleges | Above list is sorted alphabetically
Detailed Overview of What to Look for in the Most Affordable Colleges
Before you choose which of the cheapest universities in the world for international students is right for you, it will be imperative that you consider the pros and cons of these low-tuition colleges. Keep in mind that the cheapest universities have a wide range of different features.
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Therefore, when you decide which of the cheapest universities in the world you want to pursue, consider the following components:
- Available grants
- Available scholarships
- Graduation rates
- Percentage of international students enrolled
- Post-college life and jobs
While there isn’t one right way to decide which of the most affordable colleges to pursue, you should consider which factors are more important than others. Ask yourself a few questions. Are universities with low tuition fees for international students the most important? Or are cheap colleges with a high percentage of international students the driving force?
Affordable colleges that do not accept many international students are not mentioned throughout this article. We have focused our efforts on finding the cheapest universities in the world for international students based on a college’s willingness to accept a large percentage of students from outside the United States of America.
While this might not seem to be very important, affordable universities that accept a lot of international students typically have a series of grants and scholarships intended for those from foreign colleges. This is part of the reason we consider them the most affordable universities.
As we mentioned earlier, you should also consider your chances of getting a job after graduation from one of the cheapest universities in the world. Are you going to have a “leg up” on the competition? Or are you going to be just another applicant?
All the cheap universities we’re covering have a high success rate after graduation. When you continue your search for the cheapest universities in the world for international students, however, you will want to make sure you are getting the education you deserve.
Even though you might find the cheapest college tuition at a university that we have not mentioned, be sure to get a sense of how successful you will be once you walk out those doors.
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Detailed Overview of What Separates Some of the Most Affordable Colleges from Others
If you are wondering which features are most important when deciding which of the affordable universities are right for you, consider the following points:
- Reputation: Remember that you should choose a school that is not only affordable but that will give you a head start in life. None of the most affordable colleges that we have mentioned offer free tuition. Therefore, you will have to pay your way through even the most affordable universities. Make sure that your time, effort, and money pay off in the long run.
- Tuition Price After Grants/Scholarships: Many of the cheap colleges we have mentioned are not cheap unless you qualify for a grant or scholarship. With that being said, the cheapest universities in the world for international students offer ways to lower the tuition drastically. Universities with low tuition fees for international students will not only save you money while you’re enrolled, but they often tend to work with you to ensure you are successfully working toward your degree. The cheapest universities in the world for international students are those that care about your success.
- Overall Happiness: College is supposed to be one of the best times of your life. Therefore, don’t just choose one of the cheapest universities in the world to save money. Choose one that will help you enjoy yourself. Four years is a long time to be unhappy. Make sure that the affordable colleges you apply to are in a location you want and offer the proper balance of work and social life.
Overall, apply to the cheapest universities in the world based on what you want to gain from your education. Look at the majors and minors, the social activities and extracurriculars. Don’t just settle for the low tuition colleges simply because they’re cheap.
The final decision will ultimately be up to you. Continue reading for more details on the cheapest universities in the world for international students.
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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
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Detailed Review—Top Ranking Cheapest Universities in the World for International Students
Below, you will find a detailed review of each of the cheapest universities in the world for international students. We will focus on some of the most important factors that make these the most affordable colleges that you could pursue in 2017.
Binghamton University Review
Located in Binghamton, New York, Binghamton University is one of the cheapest universities and best colleges for international students to attend. With 11% of its student body coming from outside the country, Binghamton currently has students from Turkey, Germany, Australia, Morocco, and elsewhere.
Part of the reason we consider this one of the cheapest universities in the world for international students is because of the tuition rates. While out-of-state tuition is $18,464, grants and scholarships help reduce the tuition for international students to around $11,500.
While Binghamton is not as prestigious as some of the most affordable colleges like Harvard and Princeton, it offers several overseas and exchange programs to give students the most bang for their buck. Additionally, it is frequently listed as one of the best public universities in the country.
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California Institute of Technology Review
Compared to Binghamton University, California Institute of Technology is one of the cheapest universities in the world for international students simply based on the size of its grants. While the tuition costs are $41,538 per year, the average international student only pays $11,775 after grants and scholarships.
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The university offers several clubs and organizations to help students build their resume while in college. Additionally, they focus on many international events, including an International Spouses Club, Intercultural Discussion Group, and an International Education Week.
Affordable universities don’t always have to be big. The California Institute of Technology has a much smaller student body than many of the cheapest universities you will find, but it still has students from 10 to 15 countries.
Harvard University Review
While Harvard University may be the most well-known college in the world, it is also one of the most affordable colleges for international students. Although this might surprise some of you, we can safely categorize it as one of the most affordable universities because of the amount of money it brings in from alumni and donors every year.
Thanks to its large endowment, Harvard is able to reduce its tuition from $42,292 to $2,538 for international students on average. Even the cheapest universities and state schools would have a difficult time offering tuition that low.
Students come from more than 130 countries, and Harvard has established an initiative to bring more and more voices from across the world. While cheap colleges like Harvard are difficult to get into, they will give you the education, the money, and the help you need once you do.
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Princeton University Review
Similar to Harvard, Princeton University is one of the cheapest universities in the world because of its large endowment. Tuition costs per year are reduced from $40,170 to $7,416 on average for international students.
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Princeton remains one of the best low-tuition colleges each year because of its ability to help students graduate free of debt. Its goal is to have most students graduate without any loans or fees to be paid off later. Even the most affordable colleges have a hard time promising no loans post-graduation, but Princeton has gotten close.
Students come from all over the world, and Princeton remains competitive with Harvard for most countries enrolled at the university.
University at Buffalo–SUNY Review
The University at Buffalo–SUNY reduces its out-of-state tuition from $20,151 to $8,573 on average for international students. While that is not as much of a reduction as cheap universities like Harvard and Princeton, it does accept a larger percentage of applicants.
In many ways, we should look at the cheapest universities in the world as those that will actually accept a decent percentage of students. Although it is still very difficult to get into, the average student will, for many reasons, have a better chance of getting accepted here than in an Ivy League university.
Plus, cheap colleges like this one have a total enrollment composed of 16% international students. Situated near the Canadian border, students come from 115 countries.
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Yale University Review
Yale University, which boasts the highest tuition of any of these affordable universities before grants and scholarships are factored in, has a similar endowment to Princeton and Harvard. While tuition begins at $44,000, international students attend for an average of $5,603 per year.
Although only 10% of the undergraduate student body comes from foreign countries, 18% of the total student body, including graduate and professional students, are international.
We consider Yale to be one of the cheapest universities in the world for international students because of its desire to work with students from all across the globe and to offer them the most possible money while they are there.
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Conclusion—Top 6 Most Affordable Colleges
Ultimately, deciding which university you want to attend is up to you. The cheapest universities in the world for international students may appeal to some of you and not to others. You should determine exactly what you are looking for before applying to any college, regardless of price.
Remember that the most affordable colleges are the ones that help you get the job of your dreams once you graduate. Don’t settle for the cheapest college tuition simply to save money while in college. Consider how happy you will be once you receive the degree you’re pursuing.
While this article is a good way to begin your search for the cheapest universities in the world, there are thousands of colleges to choose from. Where do you want to live for four years? Which professors do you want to know?
Once you have the answers to at least some of these questions, narrow down your list of affordable colleges. Since you will have to pay application fees, we do not recommend applying to every school in the world.
With that being said, however, we know that the perfect college for you is out there. Now all you have to do is apply.
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