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Tuition and living costs for a whole bachelor's degree, from the first year to graduation.
Updated October 2026 · €1 = $1.12 · £1 = $1.34Download the PDF
$243,680
Tuition plus living costs, four years
US private college
vs
$42,348
Tuition plus living costs, three years
German public university
A whole degree, tuition plus living costs: a US private college vs a German public university.
Each row is one degree: tuition plus living costs per year, times the years it takes.
| Degree | Years | Tuition and fees / year | Living costs / year | Whole degree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US private collegePrivate nonprofit, average | 4 | $45,000 | $15,920 | $243,680 |
| US public college, out of statePublic four-year, average | 4 | $31,880 | $13,900 | $183,120 |
| EnglandUniversity of Manchester | 3 | $46,531(£34,800) | $14,477(£10,827) | $183,024 (£136,881) |
| NetherlandsTU Delft, world #48 | 3 | $23,031(€20,563) | $15,197(€13,569) | $114,684 (€102,396) |
| US public college, in statePublic four-year, average | 4 | $11,950 | $13,900 | $103,400 |
| GermanyPublic university: no tuition, semester fee only | 3 | $784(€700) | $13,332(€11,904) | $42,348 (€37,812) |
| ItalySapienza University of Rome | 3 | $336–1,680(€300–1,500) | $11,402(€10,180) | $35,214–39,246 (€31,440–35,040) |
US private college
Private nonprofit, average · 4 years
US public college, out of state
Public four-year, average · 4 years
England
University of Manchester · 3 years
Netherlands
TU Delft, world #48 · 3 years
US public college, in state
Public four-year, average · 4 years
Germany
Public university: no tuition, semester fee only · 3 years
Italy
Sapienza University of Rome · 3 years
US rows are national averages. European rows are named universities, except Germany, where public universities charge no tuition, only a semester fee.
Most bachelor's degrees in England, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy take three years: one less year of tuition, and one more year of salary.
Tuition for a whole degree at TU Delft, 48th in the world, is about half of four years at a US public university as an out-of-state student.
Our students have won $2.4M (€2.1M) in scholarships, as of 2026.
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Sources. US: College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2025 (2025–26 averages, tuition and fees; housing and food). England: University of Manchester, Alliance MBS international fee 2027/28. Netherlands: TU Delft non-EU fee 2027/28. Germany: DAAD (no tuition at most public universities; semester contribution up to about €350). Italy: Sapienza fees 2026/27 (€300–1,500 by country of residence). Living costs: College Board 2025–26 (housing and food); UK Home Office student visa, £1,203 a month for 9 months (from 30 Nov 2026); IND, €1,130.77 a month (2026); German Embassy Washington, blocked account €992 a month; Italian Embassy, study visa 2026/27. Rankings: QS World University Rankings 2027. Exchange rates: Oct 24–25, 2026.
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