2025 - 2026 SAA Rankings for Best Value Universities In Croatia For International Students

42 Best Value Institutions in Croatia for International Students

Here are the 42 best-value institutions in Croatia for international students. Here, you’ll learn more about their rankings, international student population, and their background.

The University of Zagreb, one of the most elite Croatian universities, carries a range of cutting-edge programs explicitly designed to meet the demands of the various industry sectors. It currently offers degree programs in arts, humanities, engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences conducted in the Croatian language; however, the institute also provides a few English-taught programs open to all students.

The university, regarded as one of the best in Europe and across the globe, and with its proven academic excellence, has transformed countless professionals and experts who are fully committed to contributing to the socioeconomic development of society.

Ranked among the top universities in Croatia according to QS world rankings, the University of Split is a large and prestigious institution in Split, Croatia. As a public research institution, the university offers many graduate and postgraduate programs in addition to its numerous undergraduate programs and diplomas. The University of Split is also home to several research centers and institutions, including the reputable Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries.

The University of Rijeka, an internationally recognized university, has offered superior quality education since its inception in 1973. A leader in innovation, it has built modern facilities and developed cutting-edge programs to provide students with a unique learning experience during their studies. And it has, in many ways, successfully transformed countless students’ lives,  supporting them in achieving their academic and personal goals.

Located in Osijek, a city with a long history and a rich culture, the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek reflects its location through its notable contributions to literature and the Croatian language. The university derives its name after Josip Juraj Strossmayer, an outstanding Croatian catholic bishop who was a cultural icon and a notable patron of the arts.

In addition, the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, commonly known as the University of Osijek (UNIOS), is recognized for its welcoming nature towards international students and participates in the Erasmus program, one of the leading mobility programs in the world.

While the University of Zadar has existed for over six centuries since 1396 as a theological seminary, it officially became the University of Zadar in 2002. During its establishment, the university ceased to be a private catholic institution and became public, effectively joining the Bologna process.

As a result of its history, the university excels in humanities and culture and offers courses like archaeology, classical philology, history, and pedagogy.

The University of Dubrovnik (UNIDU) is the newest public university in Croatia, created in 2003 by revamping the long-standing Polytechnic of Dubrovnik into a full-fledged university. As a consequence, the university boasts new facilities, modern curricula, and easily adaptable programs that are tailored to the student’s needs.

Part of the universities focus is to create new-interdisciplinary programs that tally with the needs of the economy and aid in societal development. The other part of the university’s focus is to maximize Croatia’s maritime potential and improve naval technology.

 

The Juraj Dobrila University of Pula is a university that is full of diverse identities from different cultures and countries. It aims to maintain a productive academic environment where everyone gets to study and experience high-quality education. It also participates in numerous research projects, allowing students to maximize their potential.

Zagreb School of Economics and Management, commonly abbreviated to ZSEM, is a leading private school and the first business school in Croatia to be AACSB accredited. According to Eduniversal, it is the best business school in Croatia as it continues to offer new and innovative business programs like business mathematics and doctor of administration.

ZSEM hopes to impart students with the skills, knowledge, and values needed to achieve success in an ever-changing and global business environment.

The University of North, established in 2015, was officially granted full university status to operate as higher education institute in Croatia. However, the university has been in the academic industry earlier than its founding date. It initially started as a technical college offering an Electrical engineering program to students residing in the country’s northern region. After a few years, it eventually developed into an independent institution and has invested in state-of-the-art facilities, and created more study programs for different academic disciplines. Today, the university is among the well-established public universities in North Croatia.

The Polytechnic of Rijeka is among the largest polytechnics in Croatia, with campuses located in three other cities other than Rijeka, that is, Pazin, Porec, and Ogulin. It is a public university that offers undergraduate professional programs as well as specialist graduate professional programs across its campuses. Like many other schools, the Polytechnic of Rijeka aims to become a high-level institution that encourages entrepreneurship and talent exploration.

Named after Baltazar Adam Krcelic, a famous Croatian historian and lawyer, the University of Applied Sciences Baltazar, Zapresic, is a private higher education institution in Croatia. The university dedicates itself to supporting and training business and finance professionals that can bring about transformative change in the global business environment.

As part of its social responsibility, the university believes in making education accessible to those with special needs. For this reason, most of its programs are available to impaired students.

Algebra University College is a skill-focused and student-centered university established to ensure students acquire the necessary competencies to thrive in a competitive global labor market. The university distinguishes itself by fielding in-demand digital courses and programs to give its students the edge in an economy in which digital jobs are overtaking the conventional. Also, Algebra University College constantly adapts its curriculum to match changing trends in technology and the industry.

PAR University College is a business school and has offered innovative education to entrepreneurial-oriented individuals since its inception in 2011. As a leader in transformative education, the school has combined academia with industrial expertise to create a unique learning experience for its students. The university also continuously supports its students by providing them with strong networks and access to leading industry experts and mentors.

The RRiF College for Financial Management is a college in Zagreb specializing in training finance professionals at the undergraduate and master’s levels. Since its establishment in 2006, the school has offered two programs for prospective finance professionals. The first is a three-year bachelor’s program in accounting and finance, while the second is a specialist two-year master’s program in corporate finance.

The University of Applied Sciences Velika Gorica prides itself on being a technologically modern university that works toward contributing to the development of its community by ensuring the students that pass through the school are well-trained in their respective fields. With five undergraduate programs and three graduate programs, the school offers specialized studies to students from all around the world.

Zagreb University of Applied Sciences was established as an institution dedicated to the education of engineers and is considered the largest polytechnic in Croatia. Presently, it offers study programs spanning three years for its undergraduate programs and two years for its graduate programs. The school is also known for organizing the largest mobile, web, and IoT solutions student competition in Croatia.

The College of Occupational Safety and Health is an institution of higher learning in Croatia that is a part of SSBM Geneva, a Swiss business and management school. The school prides itself in being a globally involved institution, with students from around the world representing up to 70 countries. The programs offered at the school are not only for admitted students but also hold numerous training for international and national companies, giving the school a good standing with industry leaders.

The University College Arca was established with the vision of training professionals in the fields of inspection and personnel management who can adequately respond to the ever-changing challenges of various economies in the world. The school offers programs in these fields specifically in relation to maritime affairs and prides itself in providing not only training but also practice to better equip its students with the necessary skills.

Karlovac University of Applied Sciences is a technical school or polytechnic in the beautiful city of Karlovac. As a technical school, Karlovac University of Applied Sciences is responsible for providing training and education in professional fields of study. They also offer specialist graduate programs in selected areas.

Known as “the city of parks” or “the town on four rivers” by Croatians, Karlovac is the home of Karlovac University of Applied Sciences. The city got its name because of the presence of abundant greenery and the existence of four distinct rivers that flow through the city.

With an acceptance rate of 37%, the College of Applied Sciences Lavoslav Ruzicka in Vukovar is among the highly selective institutions of higher education in Croatia. It was initially established with a population of 196 students and is currently home to more than 600 students. VEVU, as the university is commonly referred to, has a focus on professional studies in the fields of biomedicine, health, and social sciences.

Libertas International University is considered the first private university in the country. It started as a small institution for business courses until it developed to become an international university at present. The university seeks to provide quality education by ensuring that classes are held in small groups through an active approach from professors. As an institution of excellence, it has already produced renowned graduates who have contributed greatly to economics and commerce.

The Catholic University of Croatia (CUC) advocates Croatian customs and heritage preservation. Its education, aligned with Catholic principles and values, has also incorporated cultural awareness in its teachings. And while the institute is entirely focused on students’ progress and achievements throughout their academic years, it also shows immense support for their personal development, providing numerous opportunities for self-fulfillment and individual growth. Indeed, university graduates are known to be successful professionals who lead ideal lives.

Despite being established in 2015, the University of Slavonski Brod officially started operation in 2020. The university was established as a result of a merger between the Polytechnic of Slavonski Brod and the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Osijek. It offers study programs at undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels in different fields.

The European Business School Zagreb was established with the vision of being a leader in research and higher education, especially for entrepreneurship. It continues to work toward this by incorporating the values of academic and research excellence, institutional integrity, transparency, innovation, and partnership into its academic work. The university offers programs from undergraduate to graduate level, as well as lifelong education programs.

Established in 2008 by the Contemporary Education Institution, Aspira University College is a private non-profit institution that carries out studies in selected professional areas. As a university hoping to make an impact in the industry by using practice-based transformative education, Aspira University College collaborates with industry leaders to deliver quality training. Furthermore, the university seeks to provide relevant solutions to industry issues. As a result, Aspira encourages innovation and creativity in entrepreneurship.

Offering three full-time as well as three part-time undergraduate professional study programs, Medimurje University of Applied Sciences is an institution dedicated to providing highly specialized training in the fields of Computer Science, Tourism and Sports Management, and Sustainable Development. The programs offered at the university run for three years after which students graduate with professional bachelor’s degrees. The school also offers a graduate program in Tourism and Sports Management.

Rochester Institute of Technology Croatia is an institution that integrates internationalization deeply into its academic curriculum. It is the only educational center in the country that offers both diplomas in American and Croatian degrees, signifying its intent to help graduates excel in the field worldwide. Its campuses are full of vibrant people who share the same passion for studying and learning. As an institution that is student-centered, its goals are aligned with ensuring a harmonious environment where every student can strive for their passions and dreams.

Edward Bernays University College is a private technical university founded in 2013 in honor of Edward Bernays, the father, and pioneer of public relations. Focusing primarily on communications and management, the school offers up to four programs in the communications and tourism fields.

Students who attend Edward Bernays University College are sure to come out with a competitive edge as the university takes an individualized approach to learning by working in small groups.

EFFECTUS Entrepreneurial Studies University College, commonly known as EFFECTUS, is a business school located in the heart of Zagreb. The university collaborates with many local and international industry leaders to provide real-time professional training and top-notch education for its students. It is also equipped with state-of-the-art learning facilities and lecture rooms to facilitate effective learning.

The Istrian University of Applied Sciences is a Polytechnic institution founded in 2000 that provides engineers and managers with knowledge and skills. As one of the leading universities in Croatia, it has a reputation that attracts many students from around the world. This, as well as other international partnerships, make it an ideal institution for students, especially those interested in research.

Formerly the Royal Agriculture and Forestry College, Krizevci College of Agriculture (KCA) is carrying on the rich tradition of agricultural innovation and research in Krizevci. Leaning heavily toward hands-on training with the practical content consisting above 60% of the curricula, students graduate well-equipped with the competencies needed to run farms, cooperatives, and agricultural productions.

The Polytechnic in Pozega is a public institution of higher learning that has a focus on practical training in the professional study programs it offers. The school aims to become a regional leader in higher education, specifically professional studies. Among its facilities is a library equipped with a library fund of over 5000 copies that is accessible to students of the polytechnic, teachers, external associates, as well as members of the community.

The University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb, is a modest institution in Croatia that operates both as a vocational school and a typical university. As an advanced vocational health school, the school specializes in technical health fields, but it also offers specialist health programs at the master’s level. All this makes it a fully-fledged institution of research and higher learning, capable of catering to the technical and educational needs of health professionals.

Fervently committed to entrepreneurship and innovation, Virovitica University of Applied Sciences is a technical university in Virovitica city dedicated to training individuals and bestowing them with relevant skills that will help them to become problem solvers and employers of labor. To fulfill its vision, the university offers unique programs in specialist areas like software engineering, informatics management, and entrepreneurship.

Polytechnic of Sibenik offers classical lectures that seek to intensify the knowledge and experience of its students through active class participation and internships. The university also participates in numerous international conferences and student exchanges, allowing the institution to thrive worldwide and gather thousands of international students each year. In the coming years, it aims to become the best technological university in the region that puts first the well-being of the students.

Named after Nikola Tesla, who grew up in Gospic town, the Polytechnic “Nikola Tesla” in Gospic, is an institution of higher learning specializing in business, transport, and administration. It has two campuses located in Gospic and Otacac towns. The main campus, which houses the business and transport departments, is in Gospic, a serene town surrounded by the Lika River, a famous Croatian sinking river.

Marko Marulic Polytechnic in Knin seeks to produce competent graduates that are equipped to lead the industry in the future. It trains students with entrepreneurial spirit in mind in order to evoke strong leadership and innovative characteristics in them. As the world economy starts to progress each day, the university believes it is only suitable to start giving students learning that transcends over time.

The Bjelovar University of Applied Sciences was established in 2017 after the decision to change the Technical College in Bjelovar, which was established in 2006, to the Bjelovar University of Applied Sciences. The university offers three undergraduate professional study programs in the fields of Mechatronics, Nursing, and Computer Science. It is located at the center of the city but in an environment that offers its students tranquility to pursue their studies.

The University of Applied Sciences Hrvatsko Zagorje Krapina was established in response to the low level of economic growth exhibited by the county in which the school is located. The university offers three study programs at the bachelor level in the fields of information science, traffic logistics, and operational management. The school aims to train experts who can help build the area’s economy and improve the community.

Zagreb School of Business was founded by the Public Open University Zagreb, which is a reputable university in Croatia with over one hundred years of experience and tradition in higher education. Located in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, the institution offers a vibrant and engaging environment for its students. The school offers courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels in business-related courses.

VERN University is a reputable Croatian university dominating in providing excellent education in the field of economics, management, and media studies. It trains students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and acquire admirable traits to become socially-minded professionals. And as a leading Croatian and European private university, it pushes students to become active participants in raising awareness of global and pressing societal issues.

The College for Information Technologies in Zagreb is a private institution of higher education and a training hub for prospective and current IT professionals. As a dynamic and technologically inclined university, it matches the ever-changing trends in the technology industry by integrating new tools and knowledge into its curricula. Taught with this flexible and practice-focused curriculum, students learn the skills needed to thrive and succeed in a globally competitive digital economy.