Located in the West Atlantic Ocean, The Bahamas is an archipelago of nearly 700 coral islands, with around 30 inhabited islands. The country became independent from Britain and joined the Commonwealth in 1973. Today, The Bahamas recognizes King Charles III as head of state, represented in the country by the Governor-General. Warm weather, beaches, island culture, and academic options in business, education, technology, tourism, health sciences, agriculture, marine science, and related fields make the country an appealing study destination. This list covers affordable schools in The Bahamas that international students can consider. Tuition and fees change often, so applicants should always confirm the latest costs with the institution before applying.
Affordable Schools in the Bahamas for International Students
1. Galilee College
- Tuition Fees: Current official annual tuition was not published on Galilee’s current website at the time of review; applicants should contact the college. Older Galilee fee information listed non-Bahamian tuition at $125 per credit.
Galilee College is a private post-secondary institution located on Joe Farrington Road in Nassau, on New Providence. The National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB) lists Galilee College as a registered post-secondary institution approved to offer face-to-face certificate, diploma, associate degree, and bachelor’s degree programs. The college’s current academic pages list college preparatory studies; associate degree programs in Accounting, Banking, Business Administration, and Economics; and bachelor’s degree programs in Accounting and Business Administration.
General entry requirements include high school graduation or equivalent and BGCSE passes in five subjects, including English and Mathematics, with a “C” grade or above. Applicants who are 21 or older may be considered under alternative requirements. International applicants should contact Galilee directly for current tuition, term dates, visa support, and living-cost estimates.
2. Bahamas Baptist Community College
- Tuition Fees: $150 per credit for lower-level college courses and $190 per credit for upper-level college courses, based on the 2024–2025 fee schedule.
The Bahamas Baptist University College, formerly The Bahamas Baptist Community College, was established in September 1995 and is located in Gleniston Gardens, Nassau. BBUC describes itself as the tertiary arm of the Baptist Education system and a Christian, non-discriminating, equal-opportunity institution. NAECOB and current BBUC pages identify it as registered and approved for face-to-face certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees; BBUC also lists one diploma program on its academics page.
BBUC’s current at-a-glance page lists about 500 undergraduates, a 20:1 student-faculty ratio, and an average class size of 20 students. Fields of study include business and information systems, education, social sciences and humanities, natural sciences, theology and religious studies, and health-related programs. In addition to tuition, students should budget for other fees such as the $50 application fee and the $300 international student fee per term.
3. University of the Bahamas
- Tuition Fees: International undergraduate tuition is B$230 per contact hour.
Founded as the College of The Bahamas in 1974 and chartered as University of The Bahamas on November 10, 2016, UB is the national public university. Its academic catalogue lists campuses in New Providence, Grand Bahama, and San Salvador, with satellite centers in Abaco and Exuma. NAECOB lists UB as registered and approved for face-to-face and online delivery and for certificate, diploma, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s programs.
UB’s 2023–2024 academic catalogue lists 4,235 students as of September 15, 2022, 198 faculty members, and 414 staff members. Undergraduate tuition is charged per contact hour rather than as a single annual amount: Bahamian students admitted as of Fall 2019 pay B$115 per contact hour for 100–200 level courses and B$172.50 per contact hour for 300–400 level courses, while international undergraduate students pay B$230 per contact hour. Graduate tuition starts at B$500 per credit hour for Bahamian students and B$1,000 per credit hour for international students.
The Bahamas Government Tertiary Grant Programme may cover tuition and compulsory course fees for eligible full-time UB undergraduate students who are Bahamian citizens, registered for at least 12 credits in the Fall and Spring semesters, and who maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. It does not cover items such as the security deposit, application fee, drop/add fees, books, repeated courses, or summer courses, with specific exceptions for nursing and hospitality internships.
We hope that this article on cheap universities in the Bahamas was helpful. If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
