Private Universities are in totally different niches over here (at least in Germany); they either cater to the elites (and sell high-level networking) and can c

Private Universities are in totally different niches over here (at least in Germany); they either cater to the elites (and sell high-level networking) and can charge pretty much whatever, or serve as a plan B for those kids who can't make it in the public system but have parents willing to buy a degree (also expensive) or in very narrow niches (there are some catholic ones I think), those tend to be cheaper. Since the public system is very good, there's little incentive to go to a private University otherwise. I don't think any of them charge as much as a good US college would, by a fair margin. Might be different in other EU countries, but I don't think it's that different. Edit: And I would be extremely surprised if cost per student was that much higher in the public system than what I know people in one of the "plan B" private universities got charged, economies of scale and all that.