Why the same degree costs different amounts in different regions

Key rules

• Who sets prices: Each region sets its own prices, so the same degree can cost several times more in one region than another.
• Master's: Master's degrees cost more than degrees, and the price depends on the region, the university and the programme.
• Publication: New prices usually appear between June and August for a September start.
• Check the year: Always confirm a price table is for the academic year you will enrol in.

Regional price levels change every year, so check the current per-credit figures with the region's universities department or the university's fees page before you decide.

Regions set their own prices

The region you study in changes what you pay. Each region decides how much of a degree's cost students cover, so degree and master's prices vary widely. Price can be a good reason to choose one university over another.

Why the gap exists

Higher education is run by the regions, not by the national government. Each region subsidises its universities differently and picks its own share of the cost for students to pay, within national limits.

Other things add to the gap:

• Some regions have frozen or cut fees, or offer free first enrolment for good results.
• Others raised fees during the 2012 austerity period and never lowered them again.
• Regional income, the number of universities and political priorities also play a part.

Degrees (grados)

Prices are set per credit (ECTS), and the price per credit depends on the subject. A 60-credit year can cost a few hundred euros in the cheapest regions and several times that in the most expensive ones.

• Among the most expensive: Madrid, Catalonia and Castilla y León.
• Among the cheapest: Galicia, Asturias, Andalusia, Cantabria, the Canary Islands and Extremadura.

These ranges are for first enrolment at public universities, for EU and resident students.

Master's degrees

Master's prices are also set by each region, and they are higher than degree prices.

Two kinds of master's are priced differently:

• A master's that you need for a regulated profession, such as teaching, law or psychology, is priced close to or at degree level in some regions, but not all.
• Any other master's costs more, and the price varies by university and programme.

When new prices appear

New prices are usually published between June and August for the academic year starting in September. Some regions publish earlier, and a few publish late or keep the previous year's prices. The timeline below shows how to confirm that a price table is for the year you plan to enrol in.

How to compare

1. Shortlist universities in two or three regions.
2. Find each region's current price table. The resource below lists where to look.
3. Multiply the price per credit by the credits in your year, and compare.

Private universities and a university's own degrees set prices separately, so check the programme page.

Timeline and deadlines

• Some regions publish new prices early, in spring: Before the usual window, in some regions

• Check the decree title, its date and the university's fees page to confirm the academic year: As soon as prices appear, before you budget or enrol

• If your region has not published, expect late publication or the previous year's prices to be extended: After August, if nothing has appeared

Where to find official fee schedules by region

Where to confirm fees at the source

• Regional official gazette: Find the regional price decree (decreto de precios públicos) for the academic year you will study. Check that its title names that year, for example "curso académico 2026-2027". Gazettes include BOCM in Madrid, DOGC in Catalonia, BOJA in Andalusia, DOGV in the Valencian Community and DOG in Galicia.

• Regional education or universities department: Open the department's website and look for the fee schedule it posts for each academic year. This is a good cross-check on the decree.

• The university's own fees page: Look under "Matrícula", "Secretaría", "Admisión" or "Precios públicos". Find the price per credit (ECTS) for your degree type and add the administrative fees. Then ask the faculty or international office to confirm the amount in writing.

• Private university or own-degree programme page: Check the programme's admissions or "precio" section, or your pre-enrolment confirmation, because these programmes set their own prices outside the regional decree.

Frequently asked questions

Are master's degrees priced the same way as grados across regions?

No, master's degrees cost more than grados in every region, because regions are allowed wider cost-coverage limits for them. Master's degrees that lead to a regulated profession, such as teaching, law practice or psychology, are often priced closer to grado level in some regions, but not all. Other master's degrees are priced higher and vary by university and programme.

Why can the same degree cost several times more in one region than another?

The same degree can cost several times more because each region decides how much of the cost students pay. Governments subsidise universities differently, and some regions froze or cut fees while others raised them in the 2012 austerity period and never reversed it.

Which regions are usually the most and least expensive?

Madrid, Catalonia and Castilla y León are among the most expensive for grados. Galicia, Asturias, Andalusia, Cantabria, the Canary Islands and Extremadura are among the cheapest. For master's degrees, Madrid and Catalonia are expensive, and Galicia, Andalusia and Asturias are cheap.

How do I know a fee table is for the academic year I plan to enrol in?

Check the title of the decree, which should name the year, for example 'curso académico 2026-2027', and its date. Then compare it with the university's own fees page. Some regions publish late or roll over the previous year's prices, so a table for the wrong year is a risk.