US Students Look to Europe for Cheaper College Education

Britain, Netherlands Among Countries Seeing Rise in Number of Applications

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NEW YORK - As the sticker price of an education at top US colleges pushes towards six figures at US$100,000 (S$134,000), a growing number of students are packing their bags in search of more bang for their buck.

European universities often charge less for tuition and offer degrees in under four years, adding to the savings. In Britain, the number of applications from US students doubled in the past decade, while the Netherlands has seen a nearly 50 per cent rise in the last five years. Spain and France are also seeing more interest, according to consultants.

The growing allure of European colleges comes as millions of US students struggling to pay off their education loans and families increasingly question whether high-priced degrees are worth it, particularly at less renowned schools. And at a time when acceptance rates at Ivy League schools and other elite colleges have plunged, there is often less stress when applying to overseas universities.

Mr Jamie Beaton, co-founder of college consulting company Crimson Education, said Britain is particularly popular among his clients these days and that a lot of interest is coming from students who are "travel savvy".

"It's a rapidly growing minority, especially given how competitive US college admissions are," he said.

Studying abroad full-time remains a niche path. There were nearly 23,000 Americans enrolled in British universities in 2024, up from roughly 17,000 in 2019 - that compares with about 60,000 undergraduate students who attend Ohio State University.