10,000 Americans come to study – and mostly for free

Tuition fees at US universities have risen five-fold since 1985 and continue to rise. But German universities offer free education to everyone – including Americans, writes Rick Noack for The Washington Post

The number of American students enrolled in German universities has risen steadily in recent years. Currently, an estimated 10,000 US citizens are studying at German colleges – nearly all of them for free, according to NBC News.

One reason German taxpayers foot the bill is to help attract more skilled workers to the country. In recent years, German companies have been unable to fill thousands of jobs because of a lack of qualified applicants. Although Germany has one of the world's most generous welfare systems, its resources are increasingly strained as more workers retire. The central European economic powerhouse also has one of the world's lowest fertility rates – making the problem even worse.
Full report on The Washington Post site