850+ Online Courses with Real College Credit that You Can Access for Free

The world of higher education is in the midst of a dramatic shift. Over the past decade, the rise of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) has made high-quality, university-level learning opportunities more accessible than ever before.

By removing barriers like time, cost, and location, MOOCs have opened up education to millions of learners worldwide. According to Class Central, over 220 million people have enrolled in a MOOC since the modern online courses first emerged back in 2012.

More recently, a growing number of universities have begun stacking MOOCs together into complete for-credit online degree programs. Platforms like Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn have partnered with top schools to launch over 70 MOOC-based master‘s degrees. Typically priced significantly lower than comparable on-campus programs, these degrees aim to make graduate education more flexible and affordable.

For aspiring and current software developers, the MOOC revolution represents a major opportunity. High-quality computer science and programming courses that previously required enrolling in a degree program are now available for anyone to audit for free. And those looking to earn an accredited master‘s in fields like computer science, data science, and artificial intelligence can now do so on a flexible schedule and budget by leveraging MOOCs.

By the Numbers

To get a sense of the scale of free for-credit learning opportunities now available, here‘s a breakdown of MOOC-based degree programs and courses by subject area:

Subject	Degrees	Microcredentials	Courses
Business	28	29	322
Computer Science	6	11	95
Data Science	4	8	84
Engineering	2	6	83
Social Sciences	5	7	53
Science	2	8	51
Health	5	4	47
Programming	1	6	28
Information Security	2	2	25
Education	3	3	16
Personal Development	0	4	16
Humanities	2	0	15
Art & Design	0	4	14
Mathematics	0	2	9

In total, Class Central has identified over 850 online courses that are part of a for-credit degree or credential program. The subjects with the most representation are business (322 courses), computer science (95 courses), and data science (84 courses). Even niche subjects like art & design and mathematics now have for-credit MOOC options available.

The most common type of MOOC-based credential is the master‘s degree, with over 70 now available from universities worldwide. Platforms have also partnered with schools to offer "MicroMasters" (edX) and "MasterTrack Certificates" (Coursera), which pack master‘s-level content into a format that requires less time and cost to complete. Credits earned from these microcredentials can typically be applied towards a full degree.

Zooming in on Tech

For professionals in computer science and programming-related fields, MOOCs represent an especially rich opportunity to develop new skills and credentials. A wealth of high-quality courses and degree programs are available to audit for free and learn from on your own schedule.

Some of the most noteworthy computer science and programming MOOC series and courses include:

• Stanford‘s Machine Learning Specialization (Coursera): Led by AI pioneer Andrew Ng, this 3-course series is the most popular MOOC of all time with over 4.5 million enrollments to date. It covers fundamental machine learning concepts and techniques. Completers earn a specialization certificate.

• Harvard‘s CS50 Series (edX): Harvard‘s legendary intro to computer science course has been adapted into a series of free MOOCs on edX. Courses dive deep into topics like web programming with Python and JavaScript, game development, and mobile app development.

• University of Michigan‘s Python for Everybody Specialization (Coursera): A beginner-friendly introduction to programming in Python, this 5-course series has reached over 2.5 million learners. It covers essential topics like data structures, web scraping, and using databases with Python.

• IBM‘s Professional Certificate Programs (Coursera): Tech giant IBM offers over a dozen multi-course certificate programs teaching in-demand skills. Popular options include the Data Science Professional Certificate (estimated 10 months to complete) and the Full Stack Software Developer Certificate (estimated 6 months to complete).

In terms of full degrees, some of the most in-demand MOOC-based programs for computer science and programming professionals include:

School	Degree	Courses	Platform	Tuition
University of Illinois	Online MCS	32	Coursera	$21,440
Georgia Tech	Online MS CS	30	Udacity	$6,600
UT Austin	Online MSCS	10	edX	$10,000
Penn Engineering	Online MCIT	10	Coursera	$26,300
University of Colorado Boulder	Online MS EE	30	Coursera	$20,000

These online computer science degrees offer several benefits compared to traditional on-campus programs. The admissions requirements are often less stringent (many don‘t require the GRE) and total tuition costs tend to be lower. The median cost of an online CS master‘s from the programs listed above is around $20K, while the median for an on-campus equivalent is $43K according to U.S. News.

MOOCs can also help you break into computer science fields from a non-traditional background. If you don‘t have a CS undergrad degree, it‘s now possible to complete a series of MOOCs to gain the prerequisite knowledge, then apply those MOOC credits towards an accredited online master‘s without ever setting foot in a traditional classroom. This flexibility appeals to career-switchers and those needing to fit graduate education around existing work or family responsibilities.

Potential Drawbacks

Of course, MOOCs aren‘t a perfect substitute for traditional in-person education and have several potential downsides:

• Low completion rates: A study from MIT found that MOOC completion rates hover around just 5% on average. Self-motivation and self-direction are essential in online learning environments with no regular class schedule or faculty supervision.

• Less structure and support: While degree programs add more structure compared to one-off MOOCs, you still miss out on the direct face-to-face interaction with professors and peers that you‘d get in a traditional degree program. Networking and recruitment opportunities may be more limited.

• Inconsistent quality: Because creating and teaching MOOCs requires far fewer resources than traditional courses, quality and rigor can be hit or miss. Careful research is required to find the most reputable courses and programs – just because it has a university‘s name attached doesn‘t guarantee a good experience.

• Employer perceptions: MOOC-based degrees are still relatively new and some employers may not yet view them as equivalent to a traditional degree. However, attitudes seem to be shifting, particularly in fast-moving tech fields. A 2022 survey from Northeastern University found that a majority of hiring managers now see online credentials as equal to or better than traditional degrees.

Despite the downsides, it‘s clear that MOOCs are democratizing access to graduate-level education in important ways. For many learners, the low cost and flexibility outweigh the limitations. And as digital education continues to improve and gain wider acceptance, the tradeoffs will likely shrink over time.

What‘s Next?

The variety and depth of MOOC-based degree offerings have grown exponentially in recent years – and this seems to be just the beginning. With the online education market projected to reach $350 billion globally by 2025, all signs point to continued investment and innovation at the intersection of MOOCs and traditional higher education.

Some key trends and predictions:

• More choice: Early MOOC-based degrees focused on pre-professional tech fields like computer science, data science, and business. Expect to see a growing range of niche and specialized program options catering to various industries and skill levels. Platforms like edX are also launching "stackable" degrees that let you earn multiple gradated credentials en route to a full master‘s.

• Better blending: As MOOCs become more integrated into the traditional higher ed experience, look for a rise in hybrid programs that combine asynchronous online learning with in-person elements like group projects, networking events, and immersive campus residencies. Georgia Tech‘s hybrid online CS master‘s is an early example.

• Lifelong learning: Rather than one-and-done degrees, MOOCs support a vision of continuous, lifelong learning and upskilling. Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda has said he expects the "60-year curriculum" to emerge as people look to regularly refresh and expand their skill sets in response to workplace change and longer careers. Subscription-based access to constantly updated MOOCs and microcredentials will be key to serving these lifelong learners.

• International growth: While the U.S. is currently the largest market for MOOC-based degrees, much of the enrollment growth is happening elsewhere. In 2021, 76% of new learners on Coursera were from outside the U.S. Expect to see more localized and multilingual content options to serve these international audiences. Platforms are also launching more region-specific pricing models and scholarship programs to make MOOC degrees more affordable.

A World of Possibility

A decade since the modern MOOC movement began, it‘s clear that high-quality, low-cost, flexible online learning is here to stay. As a full-stack software developer and coding educator, I‘m excited by the possibilities this new world of accessible digital education opens up.

For motivated self-starters looking to expand their coding skill sets and credentials, the growing ecosystem of free and low-cost computer science MOOCs offers incredible value and variety. And as MOOC-based degrees gain more acceptance and legitimacy in hiring processes, they provide a pathway to career advancement for exponentially more people worldwide.

With over 850 free-to-audit, for-credit online courses now available across computer science and a wide array of other subjects, there‘s truly never been a better time to be a learner. Take a course, earn a microcredential, or even complete a full master‘s degree – the choice is yours. Happy learning!