Rome is not only an ancient city and a major tourist destination but also an important center for higher education. The city is home to public, non-state, online, and pontifical universities. From medicine to law and theology, students can find programs covering a wide range of academic fields, including options with comparatively affordable tuition.
Tuition and admission requirements vary significantly by university, program, citizenship, country of residence, and financial circumstances. The institutions below accept international applicants and publish tuition information for prospective students. Applicants should confirm the fees and admission rules for their chosen program before applying.
Affordable Universities in Rome
1. Sapienza University of Rome
Sapienza University of Rome is a public university and the oldest university in Rome. Founded in 1303, it has more than 700 years of history and is one of Europe’s largest universities by enrollment. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, Sapienza was ranked joint 111th globally and first among Italian generalist universities.
Sapienza is organized into 11 faculties and 58 departments. It offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in areas such as business, economics, engineering, law, medicine, health sciences, the humanities, and the natural sciences. Numerous Nobel Prize winners have taught or studied at the university, including Enrico Fermi, Franco Modigliani, and Giorgio Parisi.
2. Guglielmo Marconi University
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: €2,760 per year for the standard degree-program fee
Guglielmo Marconi University, also known as Unimarconi, is an online university based in Rome. It was established and recognized by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research in 2004. According to the university, it was the first national academic institution in Italy to offer students an online teaching model.
Unimarconi offers recognized online bachelor’s, master’s, and single-cycle degree programs. Its headquarters are in Rome’s Prati district and comprise three university locations in the city. The standard annual tuition fee for degree programs is €2,760, including administrative and examination fees but excluding the regional tax and graduation fee.
3. Pontifical Gregorian University
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: €2,450 per year for most first-cycle Baccalaureate programs
The Pontifical Gregorian University traces its history to the Roman College, a free school established by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1551. The institution received the right to award academic degrees in 1556 and adopted the name Pontifical Gregorian University in 1873.
The university offers programs in theology, canon law, philosophy, church history and cultural heritage, missiology, social sciences, spirituality, psychology, and anthropology. Its academic community includes seminarians, priests, religious men and women, and lay students from around the world. Tuition varies by program; the annual fee for most first-cycle Baccalaureate programs is €2,450.
4. LUMSA University
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: €4,390 per year for international students in 2026–2027
LUMSA University, whose full name is Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta, is a non-state Italian university founded on Catholic principles. It was established in Rome in 1939 and became a free university in 1989. LUMSA is officially recognized within the Italian university system and describes itself as the second-oldest university in Rome after Sapienza.
LUMSA has approximately 9,000 enrolled students representing 79 nationalities. For the academic year, international students pay €4,390 per year in four installments, although students should review the conditions for their specific program and applicant category.
These institutions illustrate the range of higher education options available in Rome, from a large public research university to online, pontifical, and non-state universities. Several offer programs taught partly or entirely in English, although language options, tuition, and admission requirements vary by degree and academic year.
We hope this article on affordable universities in Rome was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in Italy and Available Programs for International Students in Europe!
