US citizens collectively hold about $1.31 trillion in college loan debt. That isn’t the case in countries where university is tuition-free. Higher education doesn’t come cheap in the United States — citizens collectively hold about $1.31 trillion in college loan debt.
Things are hardly this dire in certain other countries, where everything from preschool to university is paid for — at least in part — by the government.
Some governments even cover the entire cost of a college education, leaving graduates with zero debt and a clean slate to start their new careers.
Business Insider spoke with four people from different European countries to find out what it’s really like to get a free education.
France
What do you pay for university? Public university is still free except for about €200 ($237) of fees, which include basic healthcare. What’s it like to pay so little? We are happy and grateful to not have to think about the huge amounts of debt awaiting us after graduation.
Tech: 5 people from around the world share what it’s like to get free college education
