International universities offering free tuition to Americans

If the cost of college is a bridge too far for you, here’s an outside the box kind of idea that might help you get the degree you’re seeking.

Go to college for free — overseas!

Nine different countries offer free tuition to U.S. citizens just as they do to their own citizens, according to Consumer Reports. Those countries include:

• Brazil
• Czech Republic
• Finland
• Germany
• Greece
• Iceland
• Luxembourg
• Norway
• Panama

For some, you have to be proficient in the native language. But Finland, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, and Norway offer a growing body of courses taught in English.

While you wouldn’t pay tuition, you would be responsible for various fees like registrations and books. Not to mention the expenses of travel. If you are going to Europe, I’ve long recommended buying one ticket to a key bargain city and then going overseas from that city.

Our new National Travel Deals page brings you the hottest daily national and international travel bargains. Bookmark and check back often to get tipped off before they sell out. You can also get these deals in your social media newsfeed by following my new Clark Smart Travel pages on Facebook and Twitter!

Read more: 13 things I learned about money in my 20s

More ways to get free education without going overseas

If traveling overseas is too much to consider altogether, I should point out that many universities in Canada offer much more affordable tuition than U.S. institutions.

Of course, you don’t even have to leave your home to get an education. We have far more resources for expanding our skillsets and continuing education than most of us realize.

There are a variety of websites out there that provide education, training, and skill-building opportunities, free of charge, for anyone who wants to log on and expand their horizons. You can see that list here.

Read more: Student credit card offers: Should you apply?