Finding affordable higher education is a dream for many international students. The good news is that several universities around the world offer high-quality degrees at surprisingly low tuition fees. In 2026, the cheapest universities can be found in countries like Germany, Norway, India, and parts of Eastern Europe. In this guide, we’ll take you through the 100 most affordable universities in the world for 2026, ranked from lowest to highest tuition.
Whether you’re looking for tuition-free institutions in Europe or extremely low-cost options in Asia and Latin America, this list answers your question directly and helps you make informed choices.
| # | University | Country | Typical annual tuition (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Buenos Aires (UBA) | Argentina | $0–$200 | Tuition-free; small admin fees. |
| 2 | National University of La Plata (UNLP) | Argentina | $0–$200 | Tuition-free; admin fees only. |
| 3 | National University of Córdoba (UNC) | Argentina | $0–$200 | Tuition-free; admin fees only. |
| 4 | Universidad de la República (Udelar) | Uruguay | $0–$300 | Tuition-free public system; small fees. |
| 5 | University of São Paulo (USP) | Brazil | $0–$300 | Federal/state public unis are tuition-free. |
| 6 | University of Campinas (Unicamp) | Brazil | $0–$300 | Tuition-free; small contributions. |
| 7 | Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) | Brazil | $0–$300 | Tuition-free; admin fees only. |
| 8 | National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) | Mexico | ~$100–$400 | Very low charges. |
| 9 | Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) | Mexico | ~$150–$500 | Low state-public fees. |
| 10 | Universidad de Guadalajara (UdG) | Mexico | ~$200–$600 | Low state-public fees. |
| 11 | University of Vienna | Austria | ~$1,600–$1,800 | Non-EU ~€726/sem + fees. |
| 12 | Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) | Austria | ~$1,600–$1,800 | Similar non-EU tariff. |
| 13 | University of Innsbruck | Austria | ~$1,600–$1,800 | Similar non-EU tariff. |
| 14 | University of Ljubljana | Slovenia | ~$3,000–$4,000 | Low for many programs. |
| 15 | Comenius University in Bratislava | Slovakia | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Low for Slovak-taught. |
| 16 | Charles University | Czechia | $0 (Czech) / $2,000–$5,000 (EN) | Free in Czech. |
| 17 | Masaryk University | Czechia | $0 (Czech) / $2,000–$5,000 (EN) | Same policy. |
| 18 | University of Zagreb | Croatia | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Low public fees. |
| 19 | University of Belgrade | Serbia | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Low for internationals. |
| 20 | University of Sarajevo | Bosnia & Herzegovina | ~$1,000–$2,500 | Low public fees. |
| 21 | University of Tartu | Estonia | ~$2,000–$4,000 | Low in EU; some free. |
| 22 | Vilnius University | Lithuania | ~$1,800–$4,000 | Low for many fields. |
| 23 | University of Latvia | Latvia | ~$2,000–$4,000 | Low for many programs. |
| 24 | University of Porto | Portugal | ~$1,500–$3,500 | “Propinas” modest. |
| 25 | University of Coimbra | Portugal | ~$1,500–$3,500 | Similar to Porto. |
| 26 | University of Minho | Portugal | ~$1,500–$3,500 | Similar range. |
| 27 | University of Paris-Saclay | France | ~$3,000–$4,200 | Non-EU ~€2,770–€3,770. |
| 28 | University of Lorraine | France | ~$3,000–$4,200 | As above. |
| 29 | University of Montpellier | France | ~$3,000–$4,200 | As above. |
| 30 | University of Szeged | Hungary | ~$1,500–$3,500 | Some low-cost. |
| 31 | University of Pristina (Kosovska Mitrovica) | Serbia (Kosovo)* | ~$1,000–$2,000 | Low fees. |
| 32 | Istanbul University | Türkiye | ~$500–$2,000 | Public, inexpensive. |
| 33 | Middle East Technical University (METU) | Türkiye | ~$1,000–$2,500 | Low tuition. |
| 34 | Hacettepe University | Türkiye | ~$1,000–$2,500 | Low tuition. |
| 35 | University of Alexandria | Egypt | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Modest fees. |
| 36 | Cairo University | Egypt | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Similar range. |
| 37 | University of Khartoum | Sudan | ~$500–$2,000 | Very low fees. |
| 38 | University of the Western Cape | South Africa | ~$1,500–$3,500 | Among lowest in SA. |
| 39 | University of Fort Hare | South Africa | ~$1,500–$3,000 | Low tuition. |
| 40 | University of Namibia (UNAM) | Namibia | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Low regional fees. |
| 41 | University of Dhaka | Bangladesh | ~$300–$1,500 | Very low. |
| 42 | University of Chittagong | Bangladesh | ~$300–$1,200 | Very low. |
| 43 | University of the Punjab | Pakistan | ~$300–$1,500 | Very low. |
| 44 | University of Karachi | Pakistan | ~$300–$1,500 | Very low. |
| 45 | University of Delhi | India | ~$400–$1,500 | Low by global standards. |
| 46 | University of Calcutta | India | ~$300–$1,200 | Very low. |
| 47 | Vietnam National University, Hanoi | Vietnam | ~$800–$2,000 | Low fees. |
| 48 | Vietnam National University, HCMC | Vietnam | ~$800–$2,000 | Similar to Hanoi. |
| 49 | University of Sarajevo School of Science & Tech | Bosnia & Herzegovina | ~$1,500–$2,500 | Low fees. |
| 50 | University of Maribor | Slovenia | ~$2,000–$4,000 | Low in EU context. |
| # | University | Country | Typical Annual Tuition (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of Granada | Spain | ~$1,500–$3,500 | Public uni, low “matriculation” fees. |
| 52 | University of Barcelona | Spain | ~$1,500–$3,500 | Public; moderate fees for non-EU. |
| 53 | University of Salamanca | Spain | ~$1,500–$3,500 | Lower end of Spain’s public system. |
| 54 | University of Seville | Spain | ~$1,500–$3,500 | Accessible public fees. |
| 55 | Bogotá’s National University (UNAL) | Colombia | ~$200–$600 | Very low tuition for all. |
| 56 | University of Antioquia | Colombia | ~$200–$600 | Low public-university fees. |
| 57 | Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Manizales) | Colombia | ~$200–$600 | Same public rate. |
| 58 | Universidad de Costa Rica | Costa Rica | ~$1,000–$2,000 | Public fees modest. |
| 59 | University of Havana | Cuba | ~$50–$100 (admin) | Tuition effectively free; minimal fees. |
| 60 | University of the West Indies (UWI) | Caribbean | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Low regional public fees. |
| 61 | University of Ghana | Ghana | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Public fees reasonable. |
| 62 | University of Nairobi | Kenya | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Low public fees. |
| 63 | Makerere University | Uganda | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Very modest public tuition. |
| 64 | University of Dar es Salaam | Tanzania | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Low public fees. |
| 65 | University of Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Modest public fees. |
| 66 | University of Lagos | Nigeria | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Low public tuition. |
| 67 | Obafemi Awolowo University | Nigeria | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Inexpensive by international standards. |
| 68 | University of Johannesburg | South Africa | ~$1,500–$3,500 | Public fees reasonably low. |
| 69 | University of Pretoria | South Africa | ~$1,500–$4,000 | Public fees moderate. |
| 70 | University of Western Australia (UWA) | Australia | ~$10,000–$15,000 | One of the more affordable Australian unis. |
| 71 | University of Adelaide | Australia | ~$10,000–$15,000 | Public but cost-conscious. |
| 72 | University of Tasmania | Australia | ~$10,000–$15,000 | Among lower Australian fees. |
| 73 | University of Auckland | New Zealand | ~$15,000–$20,000 | Lower end among NZ major unis. |
| 74 | University of Canterbury | NZ | ~$15,000–$20,000 | Similar to Auckland. |
| 75 | University of the Philippines (UP Diliman) | Philippines | ~$300–$600 | Subsidized by national government. |
| 76 | Ateneo de Manila University | Philippines | ~$1,000–$2,500 | Private, but low by regional elite standards. |
| 77 | Chulalongkorn University | Thailand | ~$1,500–$3,500 | Public, accessible international fees. |
| 78 | Mahidol University | Thailand | ~$1,500–$3,500 | Public uni, moderate fees. |
| 79 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore | ~$8,000–$12,000 | Lowest of Singapore’s top-tier options. |
| 80 | Nanyang Technological University (NTU) | Singapore | ~$8,000–$12,000 | Comparable to NUS. |
| 81 | University of Malaya | Malaysia | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Public fees low. |
| 82 | University of Indonesia (UI) | Indonesia | ~$500–$1,500 | Very affordable public uni. |
| 83 | Gadjah Mada University | Indonesia | ~$500–$1,500 | Low public fees. |
| 84 | University of the Andes (Uniandes) | Colombia | ~$2,000–$5,000 | Lower private fees. |
| 85 | Pontificia Universidad Javeriana | Colombia | ~$2,000–$5,000 | Modest private cost. |
| 86 | Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) | Chile | ~$4,000–$6,000 | Lower-tier private cost. |
| 87 | University of Chile | Chile | ~$2,000–$4,000 | Public fees moderate. |
| 88 | Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec de Monterrey) | Mexico | ~$1,500–$3,000 | Private but comparatively low. |
| 89 | Istanbul Technical University (ITU) | Türkiye | ~$1,000–$2,500 | Public, low rates. |
| 90 | Ankara University | Türkiye | ~$1,000–$2,500 | Public, low tuition. |
| 91 | King Saud University | Saudi Arabia | ~$5,000–$8,000 | Free tuition for many programs; admin fees apply. |
| 92 | King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) | Saudi Arabia | ~$5,000–$8,000 | Same policy. |
| 93 | American University of Beirut (AUB) | Lebanon | ~$7,000–$10,000 | Tuition lower than many U.S. privates. |
| 94 | American University of Sharjah (AUS) | UAE | ~$7,000–$10,000 | Modest by Gulf private standards. |
| 95 | University of Jordan | Jordan | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Public university, affordable fees. |
| 96 | University of Tehran | Iran | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Public tiers accessible. |
| 97 | Amirkabir University of Technology | Iran | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Public; technical degrees affordable. |
| 98 | Tehran University of Medical Sciences | Iran | ~$1,500–$3,500 | Still lower than many comparable med schools. |
| 99 | Shahid Beheshti University | Iran | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Public; modest fees. |
| 100 | University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine | Serbia | ~$1,000–$3,000 | Still on the affordable side for med faculties. |
Also Check:
Very Affordable U.S. Colleges for International Students
Does FAFSA Cover Study Abroad? Everything You Need to Know
10 Cheapest and Most Affordable Colleges in Florida