Are university costs in Switzerland going the way of the US?

Debate is raging in Switzerland about whether to raise the country’s still low university fees. But statistics show that with living expenses, the real cost of studying in Switzerland is already comparable with some universities in the United States. University study fees in Switzerland currently vary between CHF1,000 and CHF2,500 ($1,010-$2,525). However, with living costs like rent, transport, food and books, the average cost is CHF27,600 a year for a student living outside the family home, according to a 2013 study carried out by the Federal Statistical Office. It can cost about the same in the United States – elite universities like Yale and Harvard excepted. The University of Minnesota, for example, quotes $14,186 in fees for state residents for the academic year 2016/7. Adding in living on campus and personal expenses like transport, books and clothing, this comes to $27,848 for the year, according to the university’s estimations. However, there are crucial ...