Tuition to U.S. universities has surged 500 percent since 1985 and continues to rise. But German universities offer free education to everyone -- including Americans.The number of American students enrolled in German universities has risen steadily in recent years. Currently, an estimated 10,000 U.S. citizens are studying at German colleges -- nearly all of them for free, according to NBC News (video at the links: "Student Sarah Johnson Compares the Cost of Tuition").German universities in most federal states have traditionally been free for German citizens as well as many foreigners, including many American, Chinese and British students. One reason German taxpayers foot the bill is to help attract more skilled workers to the country.(...)To attract talent from abroad, many Germany universities have started to offer courses on an undergraduate as well as postgraduate level in English. According to a data analysis by the website studyportals.eu -- which collects information on available college courses all over the world -- there are at least about 900 entirely English-language courses in Germany. The subjects include social sciences, politics and engineering -- a particular strength of the country's education system. Getting into those courses is easier than one might assume: In some cases, a potential student doesn't even have to submit a formal application.There are other countries that offer even more such courses, including the Netherlands, as well as English-speaking Ireland and the United Kingdom.(...)It is an offer that attracts an increasing number of fans: The German Academic Exchange Service has also seen a rising number of applicants from other countries with a history of proud and excellent universities, for instance Britain.After tuition was increased by the conservative government several years ago, students started looking for cheaper options in Europe. Robert Chesters told the German newsweekly Der Spiegel that he considered studying abroad in Germany a good alternative. "I just couldn't have afforded to study in England," he said.