Cheapest Universities in Peru 2026/2027

Cheapest universities in Peru

Peru is well-known for its history, biodiversity, and cuisine. It contains Machu Picchu, a large chunk of the Andes, and the Amazonian River, and it was here that the Spanish searched for the Inca Empire’s secrets.

And, in the twenty-first century, Peru is the fifth-largest economy in Latin America in terms of GDP, with strong investment growth in recent years. The higher education system is likewise excellent, with numerous universities offering a wide range of opportunities to overseas students. In this article, we’ll look at some of Peru’s low-cost universities.

Peru has about five centuries of experience in the field of higher education. This country hosted the first university on the American continent, which opened in 1551. Since then, a slew of high-quality colleges has sprouted up, some of which have risen to the top of worldwide rankings.

List of Cheap Universities in Peru

1. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP)

The Pontifical Catholic University of Peru is the first on our list of low-cost universities in Peru. It has a good reputation and is consistently ranked as Peru’s finest or second-best university. PUCP was ranked 474th in the world in the QS World University Rankings for 2020.

There are 13 faculties at PUCP, with a total of 63 undergraduate degree programs. It also contains 70 laboratories and 17 research centers, each of which develops about 100 research projects each year. In the PUCP buildings, around 25,000 students are educated.

There is a “scale” system in place for tuition costs here. This means that they are calculated based on each student’s socioeconomic position. This means a credit might cost anything from 78 to 300 dollars. Visit their admissions page at https://www.pucp.edu.pe/admision/en/admision-pregrado/costo-estudios/pensiones/presentacion/ for additional information.

2. Cayetano Heredia University (UPCH)

UPCH was established in 1961 and it focuses on health sciences. It was ranked between 501st and 600th top universities in the 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It was ranked between the 801st and 900th best universities in the QS World University Ranking.

Payments could range from S/. 800 (roughly 240 USD) to S/. 4,100 per month (around 1250 USD). Per semester, there are five payments. The lone exception is the bilingual intercultural education mmajor.

3. University of Lima (ULima)

Another private university, the University of Lima (ULima), was founded in 1962.

Psychology, law, engineering and architecture, business and economic sciences, communications, and law are among the five faculties. There are 12 bachelor’s degree programs available. There are two double degree programs with universities outside of the United States. A post-graduate school with four master’s degree programs is also available.

Entrance tests are used to determine admissions, and students must first register online to begin the application process. To learn more, visit their admissions webpage at https://www.ulima.edu.pe/en/admision/admission-exam.

Payment range in price from S/. 401 (roughly 120 USD) to S/. 867 (roughly 240 USD) (around 256 USD).

Studying in Peru 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 Peru. 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: Peru 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 Peru 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 Peru, 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 Peru 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 Peru?
Yes. Nigerian students are admitted to institutions in Peru 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 Peru 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 Peru?
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 Peru 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

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 Peru before you apply or pay anything.