Americans are moving to Europe for free college degrees

Americans can get a free college degree at 44 schools in Europe — including all public colleges in Germany, Iceland, Norway and Finland.

Chelsea Workman went to Ohio State University because it was her cheapest option. But she still had to take out student loans and work to make ends meet. By the middle of her sophomore year, she’d had enough. She dropped out and moved to Germany to finish her degree where college is free.

Hunter Newsome, from California, decided to go to college in Estonia rather than the University of California, Davis — at the very last minute. He’s saving more than $10,000 a year on tuition, and he’ll earn a bachelor’s degree in three years rather than four.

There are at least 44 schools across Europe where Americans can earn their bachelor’s degree for free, according to Jennifer Viemont, the founder of an advising service called Beyond The States.

All public colleges in Germany, Iceland, Norway and Finland are free for residents and international students. And some private schools in the European Union don’t charge for tuition either. Many are going out of their way to attract foreigners by offering programs taught entirely in English.

When they do charge for tuition, the bill is paltry compared to the U.S. The average cost of tuition here (without room and board) is currently $9,410 at public colleges and $32,405 at private colleges, while a majority of programs in Europe charge less than $2,225 a year, according to Viemont. Some of the highest tuition for international students is in the Netherlands, but it still tends to be less than $9,000.

“The cost is what makes people think about going to college abroad, but then they start to see the other benefits like learning a new language, travel opportunities, and being prepared to work in a global economy,” Viemont said.

It’s not for everyone, though. You won’t find frat parties, sorority houses, or football games overseas.

And it might not be the right fit for someone with their heart set on immediately returning home after graduating. There aren’t very good stats on how many Americans are getting degrees abroad (there were 47,000 in 2012 compared to 20 million in the U.S.), let alone how employable they are back home. The unique experience might be to your advantage, but it could be hard to find fellow alumni to help with a job hunt in the States.

Overseas, you’ll probably have to find your own housing. On average, room and board costs about $10,000 at American colleges, but the students CNNMoney spoke to for this story pay much less in rent in Europe.

They don’t have dining halls to go to for meals, though. And they also have to apply for a residency permit or visa, and — depending on the country — may have to pay for health insurance.

But these things don’t bother these three Americans who are currently getting their college degrees abroad.