Cheapest Universities in Columbia
In today’s piece, we’ll talk about Columbia’s low-cost universities.
In Latin America, Colombia is one of the most developed, vibrant, and diverse countries.
Its terrain is distinguished by rain forests, the Andes Mountains, and extensive coffee plantations, and it is located in the northern section of South America.
It’s also worth noting that the Zona Rosa district in Bogotá’s high-altitude capital is recognized for its restaurants and shopping. Please remain seated while we go on to the main topic.
List of Cheap Universities and Colleges in Colombia
1. University of the Andes (Uniandes) https://uniandes.edu.co/en
The University of the Andes (Uniandes) is the top-ranked university in our ranking of Columbia’s low-cost universities. Uniandes is ranked 234th in the world and 5th in Latin America in the QS World University Rankings for 2020.
Uniandes is a private institution with over 40 undergraduate and postgraduate programs to choose from. This university is ideal for students interested in research, as it houses almost 160 research groups in fields such as engineering, social sciences, and mathematics.
Except for medicine, which is more expensive, all of the university’s 13 faculties have the same tuition rate. The fee for 2019 was 17,156,000 COP (about $5,000), and the fee for medicine was 24,412,000 COP (approximately $7,500) each semester.
Uniandes has exchange agreements with 119 universities throughout the world. You’ll just have to pay 10% of the tuition price if you choose one of these options. If you want financial assistance, international students can apply for scholarships.
2. Pontifical Xavierian University
The Pontifical Xavierian University, better known as Javeriana, was founded in 1623 and is one of Colombia’s oldest and most prestigious private universities. It was ranked 468th overall in the globe and 17th in Latin America.
It features 18 faculties, 13 research centers, and about 190 undergraduate and graduate programs on sites in Cali and Bogota. This university’s undergraduate programs have obtained high-quality institutional accreditation, and many more are in the process.
The cost of tuition is determined by the major you choose. Philosophy, for example, costs 6,405,000 COP (about $2,000), biology costs 9,015,000 COP (approximately $2,800), and architecture costs 12,873,000 COP (approximately $4,000).
These fees are paid at the beginning of each semester. Because of these prices, Pontifical Xavierian University is considered one of Columbia’s most affordable universities.
To learn more about the admissions process, go to https://www.javeriana.edu.co/admisiones. Remember to select your favorite language in the upper-right corner of the language tab on the left side of the website when exploring their website.
3. University of Antioquia
The Institution of Antioquia, founded in 1803, is a public university with 9 years of high-quality accreditation, the highest level allowed. It was ranked 15th in Latin America in the QS World University Rankings.
This is one of Colombia’s largest and most affordable universities. The main site is in Medellin, however, there are several campuses scattered around Antioquia. Amalfi, Segovia, Puerto Barrio, Envigado, Andes, Carmen de Viboral, Caucasia, Santa Fe de Antioquia, Turbo, Sonsón, and Yarumal are among the campuses.
The university’s 13 faculties provide nearly 90 undergraduate degrees. There are also 4 institutes, 3 businesses, and 246 research groups on the campus.
In terms of tuition, Colombian students are free at this university. International students, on the other hand, must pay the equivalent of six times the monthly minimum salary in Colombia per semester. This amounts to over 5,000,000 COP (around $1,500) per semester in 2019. To learn more about the admissions process, click here (http://www.udea.edu.co/wps/portal/udea/web/home/international-students/contenido/asmenulateral/international-admissions/!ut/p/z1/vZRLb4JAFIX_Sl24JHN5iLCcUq3RitqK4mya4aXTwKAwattf39E0tjX10RjLApjMud_NOXAHEeQjwumKTalgOaepXE-I-ewOag1Vc-ABDNyEQc_QoNtywXZVNN4KLNv)
4. Externado University of Colombia
The Externado University of Colombia, which is located in Bogota, was founded in 1886. It was the 480th best university in the world and the 99th best in Latin America, according to the QS World University Ranking.
Over 12,000 students attend this low-cost university in Columbia, which offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees through 11 faculties.
The admissions process in this school is determined by the professors. Some of them demand that potential students take an exam.
The content is customized, and the areas that are evaluated are determined by the professors. Every applicant must go through a 30-minute interview process.
Depending on the curriculum, tuition prices range from roughly $2,500 to $5,000 every semester.
Studying in Colombia on a budget — what the fees above actually mean
Tuition is only one line in the budget, and on its own it is a poor guide to whether you can afford to study in Colombia. A country with low tuition and high living costs can end up more expensive than one with higher tuition and cheap accommodation. Work out the total annual cost before you compare anywhere.
How to check a tuition figure before you rely on it
Fee figures on any website — including this one — go out of date. Universities revise tuition annually, and governments change policy. Before you rely on a number:
- Open the university’s own website and find the fees page for international or non-national students. That is the only figure that counts.
- Check the academic year the figure applies to. A 2023 fee table tells you very little about what you will pay in 2026/2027.
- Confirm whether the price is per year, per semester or per credit. Per-credit pricing is common and makes cheap-looking programmes expensive.
- Check whether international students pay a different rate. In many systems local and EU students pay far less than everyone else.
- Email the admissions office and keep the reply. A written quote protects you.
A live example of why this matters: Norway’s public universities were free for everyone until 2023, when parliament introduced cost-covering fees for non-EU/EEA students — and non-European enrolment fell by roughly 80% within two years. In June 2025 the government proposed letting institutions set their own fees again, including at zero, from August 2026. Anyone relying on a five-year-old “tuition-free” article would have got it badly wrong in both directions.
Entry route: Colombia requires a student visa or study permit obtained after admission. Expect an interview at the embassy or consulate for some countries, proof that you can fund the full programme, and evidence of ties to Nigeria. Visa refusal rates for Nigerian applicants can be high, so prepare your financial documentation carefully and honestly.
Language of instruction: most degree programmes in Colombia are taught in the local language, with a smaller selection available in English — usually at postgraduate level. Check the language of instruction for your specific programme before anything else, because this single detail rules out more applicants than tuition cost does. Where an English-taught programme exists, ask whether an IELTS or TOEFL waiver applies to Nigerian degree holders.
Build a realistic total-cost budget
Before applying to any institution in Colombia, price all of the following. Applicants routinely underestimate the second half of this list:
- Tuition for international students, for the correct academic year
- Application and acceptance fees, which are usually non-refundable
- Accommodation — on-campus versus private rent can differ enormously
- Living costs — food, transport, data, utilities
- Health insurance, which is compulsory in most study destinations
- Visa or permit fees, plus biometrics and courier charges
- Flights, and a return flight if the visa requires proof of one
- Proof of funds — money you must show you hold, on top of what you actually spend
- Document costs — transcripts, notarisation, apostille, translation, courier
- The naira exchange rate, and how a further depreciation would affect year two
How to bring the cost down honestly
- Apply for scholarships in parallel, not afterwards. Most funding deadlines fall before or alongside admission deadlines, not after.
- Look at government scholarships from Colombia itself. Many countries fund international students directly, and these are often less competitive than the famous named awards.
- Ask about assistantships and tuition waivers at postgraduate level. Teaching or research assistantships can cut or eliminate tuition.
- Ask about fee instalments. Many institutions allow termly payment, which matters when you are converting naira.
- Check student work rights on your visa — how many hours, and whether you may work at all. Never plan a budget that depends on illegal work.
- Compare smaller cities. Rent outside the capital is often the single biggest saving available.
A warning about agents
No agent can guarantee you admission or a visa. If someone promises either in exchange for money, walk away. Legitimate agents are paid by institutions, publish their registration details, and will never ask you to send money to a personal account. Apply directly to the university wherever you can — almost every institution accepts direct applications, and it is free or cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
Can Nigerians study in Colombia?
Yes. Nigerian students are admitted to institutions in Colombia subject to meeting the academic entry requirements, the language requirement and the immigration rules set out above.
Is the cheapest university the best choice?
Not automatically. Check that the institution is recognised by the national regulator in Colombia and, if you plan to return home or move on, that its degrees are accepted where you intend to work. A cheap degree from an unrecognised institution costs you everything.
Do I need IELTS to study in Colombia?
It depends on the programme and the institution. Where teaching is in English, many institutions waive the test for applicants whose previous degree was taught in English — which covers most Nigerian graduates. Always confirm in writing before paying for a test.
How much money do I need to show?
That is set by the immigration authorities, not the university, and it changes. Check the official government source for Colombia shortly before you apply, because the figure is usually updated annually.
Can I work while studying?
Some countries permit limited part-time work on a student visa and some do not. Confirm the rule for your specific visa type, and treat any earnings as a supplement rather than the basis of your budget.
Related guides
- International scholarships for Nigerians
- Best scholarships for Nigerians and Africans
- More study-abroad and scholarship guides
Tuition fees, visa rules and proof-of-funds thresholds change every year. Always confirm the current figures on the official university and government websites for Colombia before you apply or pay anything.