Schools
3
Lowest Tuition
$1,500
per year
Avg Acceptance Rate
25%
English Programs
Yes
Essentials for US Students
Visa / Permit
US students need a Swiss student residence permit, applied for at the cantonal migration office after arrival. Your university will provide guidance. Switzerland is not in the EU/EEA, so Schengen visa rules apply differently — US citizens can stay 90 days visa-free but need a permit for longer study.
Application Tip
ETH Zurich and EPFL are among the world's top engineering and science universities — and tuition is under $1,000/semester. The catch: admission is highly competitive and some programs require proof of German or French proficiency. English-taught programs are more available at the master's level.
Tuition Overview
ETH Zurich and EPFL charge approximately CHF 730/semester (~$820 USD) — among the best value in the world for elite universities. HSG St. Gallen charges slightly more. Cost of living in Zurich and Lausanne is high (~$2,500–$3,500/month).
3 Schools in Switzerland
ETH Zurich
Zurich
Europe's leading technical university, home to 21 Nobel laureates including Albert Einstein.
EPFL
Lausanne
Europe's top technical university on Lake Geneva, producing world-changing research in AI and life sciences.
University of St. Gallen (HSG)
St. Gallen
Switzerland's leading business university with elite industry connections and proximity to Davos and Zurich.
Scholarships to Explore
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships fund international PhD and postdoc research. EPFL and ETH have competitive fellowship programs. HSG offers merit scholarships for master's students.
- ✓ETH Excellence Scholarship
- ✓Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
- ✓EPFL Excellence Fellowship
- ✓HSG Scholarship
About Studying in Switzerland as a US Student
There are 3 universities in Switzerland featured in this directory, led by ETH Zurich (ranked #7 globally by QS). Tuition for international students starts at $1,500/yr, with an average acceptance rate of approximately 25% across all schools. English-medium programs are available, making Switzerland accessible without prior language training for many degrees.