'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
Try out the Ivy Leagues with these free college courses
Ivy League schools such as Harvard and Yale are renowned for offering some of the most elite academic programs in the world. These universities are infamously challenging to get into, making them inaccessible to most. Additionally, tuition is expensive, even with significant scholarship opportunities.
Students looking for free online college courses may be surprised to discover options from Ivy League institutions. More and more universities are offering free college courses online, often in the form of massive open online courses (MOOCs). These classes cover a wide array of subjects in the arts, social sciences, STEM, and other fields.
While they typically don't count towards a degree, MOOCs can provide learners with valuable, career-relevant knowledge. They also allow students to explore new interests and hobbies.
Ivy Leagues and online courses
MOOCs allow anyone to enroll and can serve hundreds of learners simultaneously. These courses combine traditional learning materials, such as lectures, with innovative elements, such as social media threads. Students typically take online quizzes and interact in discussion boards.
Ivy League schools were among the first to offer MOOCs. Stanford hosted its first MOOCs in 2011. The following year, Stanford professors founded Coursera and Udacity, now two of the most popular MOOC platforms. Around the same time, Harvard and MIT partnered to create edX, another popular eLearning platform.
Ivy League schools offer MOOCs for a variety of reasons, including expanding public access to education, building their reputation, and conducting research on teaching and learning. MOOCs can also supplement classroom instruction.
Benefits of enrolling in free online courses from Ivy League schools
Free online college courses allow unprecedented access to high-quality Ivy League education. These classes also allow learners to explore interesting topics without the high expense and pressure of a traditional college course. Students who dislike a MOOC can simply quit without worrying about their GPA or enrollment record.
Sometimes, these classes open new career paths to students. Other times, learners take these classes for fun or to learn about a passion outside their chosen career.
Learners who commit to a series of MOOCs can gain in-depth, focused knowledge from the best schools in the world. Sometimes they may receive a certificate of completion, often for a small fee.
However, most of the time, MOOCs do not lead to course credit, a degree, or formal credentials. For learners who need formal credentials, online degree or certificate programs are typically a better fit.
Some students have difficulty completing courses without the structure and accountability of formal education. Others strongly prefer in-person interaction and relationship-building offered by brick-and-mortar institutions.
Free online courses from Ivy League schools
No matter their level of education or area of interest, learners can find a MOOC that suits their needs. These free online courses range from broad introductions to highly specialized, niche courses. A few examples include:
Understanding medical research: Your Facebook friend is wrong
Yale University via Coursera
This course teaches students how to analyze social media posts to tell fact from fiction -- a valuable skill in the era of misinformation. Learners explore how to verify claims and differentiate between good and bad research.
Entrepreneurship in emerging economies
Harvard University via edX
Many aspiring entrepreneurs are turning to rapidly developing markets like India, China, and Latin America. Offered by the world-renowned Harvard Business School, this class explores how businesses can both turn a profit and solve social problems.
Programming for the web with JavaScript
University of Pennsylvania via edX
Part of UPenn's professional computer science essentials for software development certificate, this class introduces students to web development. Learners explore the essentials of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, page layout, and responsive design tools.
Introduction to negotiation: A strategic playbook for becoming a principled and persuasive negotiator
Yale University via Coursera
Persuasion and negotiation are key skills for professionals in any industry, not only business. Students learn how to negotiate over email, bargain when they have no power, examine power dynamics, and have discussions with people with differing perspectives.
Buddhism and modern psychology
Princeton University via Coursera
The Dalai Lama has encouraged scientists and scholars to examine meditation and Buddhist ideas about the human mind. This class does exactly that, exploring Buddhist principles through the lenses of psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, evolution, and religion.
Can I get my diploma online for free?
It is typically not possible to earn a diploma online for free. Some MOOCs offer a completion certificate for a small fee. In some circumstances, you might be able to apply these certificate credits towards a degree program.
Which online certification is best?
The best online certification varies for everyone based on their individual interests and goals. However, any Ivy League school is an excellent choice for high-quality learning material.
Which Ivy League schools offer free classes?
There are eight Ivy League schools: Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. All offer free online classes via Coursera and edX.