They say in Austria you don't even apply. You just turn up at any university and everyone is accepted. If you can't pass the exams you get washed out quite quickly though.
But for some universities and some subjects that is also true for Germany.
Once you've mastered that, it's very cheap (or free, if you are an EU citizen) to study here: https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/tuition-fee/amount-eueeach... Living in Vienna is also quite affordable, at least compared to Berlin or London.
An educated populace without debt serfs is more important though.