How do countries like Norway,Sweden and France to afford free education for university students?

Yes they do have free university education. The costs are paid through taxes. There are also tight cost controls in place that makes colleges and university more economical. The same type of system used to be in place in the state of California, paid for through property taxes. One problem with the US system of financial aid is the huge of the funds bureauacracy that takes up a large percentage of the funding that is earmarked for aid.

It’s true as other says that they have high taxes, but remember that the salaries are much higher in average as well.

How can you afford something that give the countries more money in the long term? By investing, investing, and investing (in social services).

The first 10-20 years a country does this, it will be huge amount of money spent. Each year this investment is less and less compared to the society-benefits until higher education actually shows to give growth to the society.

(All countries with a history of investing in education are among the most successfully countries as of today).

The main reason is that these countries have a history of thinking long term in terms of benefiting the people, not corporations. Like e.g. give everybody more or less the same opportunities, which makes all people in the society more equal. This gives the country and people huge benefits and savings (people are more healthy – they live in average 3-5 years more than americans, you need less police to control people (much lower crime rate) etc). The choices made in the past about their education, has given the society more in terms of inventions, ideas, how to run society and saving the society of costs.

(Even people who don’t take higher education do benefit of this being free as the society makes money on this in the long run)

YOU FORGOT TO MENTION BRAZIL