Payload Logo

400 free online courses with credits that can count towards your degree

These days, more and more universities are offering for-credit programs via MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses. What started with a small number of degree programs, such as the iMBA from the University of Illinois (Coursera) and Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Computer Science (Udacity), has given way to dozens of MOOC-based programs that can confer university credit.

These days, more and more universities are offering for-credit programs via MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses. What started with a small number of degree programs, such as the iMBA from the University of Illinois (Coursera) and Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Computer Science (Udacity), has given way to dozens of MOOC-based programs that can confer university credit.

Many of these new programs are essentially partial degrees, for example, edX’s MicroMasters, which can result in credit amounting to around one semester of a master’s degree. A small number of courses are also the same courses used by on-campus students. The catch (and yes, there is a catch) is that in most cases, in order to convert MOOC coursework into university credit, you have to be enrolled in a program at a university. And that usually means going through an admissions process and paying tuition.

Still, it is significant that the general public can audit the very same courses that paying students are taking for credit. Class Central recently made a list of all the courses we could find that are part of for-credit programs and are still free to access. Our search turned up almost 400 courses from 50 different universities, on topics spanning technology, business, the arts, and engineering.

Notably, the two-degree MOOC-based degree programs previously mentioned (iMBA and OMSCS) are both available to audit in their entirety. Below is the full list of for-credit MOOCs that you can still access for free.

Business (150 courses)

Marketing in a Digital World


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Business Strategy


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Supply Chain Fundamentals


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Managerial Accounting: Cost Behaviors, Systems, and Analysis


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Operations Management


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Managing Talent


University of Michigan

Digital Marketing Channels: The Landscape


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Introduction to Marketing


The University of British Columbia

Leading Teams


University of Michigan

Social Media Marketing


Boston University

Foundations of Everyday Leadership


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Supply Chain Analytics


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Supply Chain Design


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Inferential and Predictive Statistics for Business


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Digital Marketing Channels: Planning


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Exploring and Producing Data for Business Decision Making


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Operations Management


Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

Supply Chain Dynamics


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Marketing Analytics: Price and Promotion Analytics


University of California, Berkeley

Marketing Analytics: Marketing Measurement Strategy


University of California, Berkeley

Analytics in Python


Columbia University

Global Strategy I: How The Global Economy Works


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Corporate Finance I: Measuring and Promoting Value Creation


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Creativity Toolkit I: Changing Perspectives


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Process Improvement


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Applications of Everyday Leadership


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Evidence-Based Practice in Management


Australian National University

Supply Chains and Manufacturing Systems: Planning


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Supply Chain Technology and Systems


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Manufacturing Systems Analysis


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Topics in Engineering Management


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Supply Chains and Manufacturing Systems: Design


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Marketing Analytics


Columbia University

Demand and Supply Analytics


Columbia University

Corporate Strategy


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Financial Accounting: Foundations


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Financial Accounting: Advanced Topics


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Investments I: Fundamentals of Performance Evaluation


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Investments II: Lessons and Applications for Investors


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Marketing Management I


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Accounting Analysis II: Accounting for Liabilities and Equity


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Global Impact: Cultural Psychology


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Accounting Analysis I: Measurement and Disclosure of Assets


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Marketing Management II


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Marketing in an Analog World


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Strategic Innovation: Managing Innovation Initiatives


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Sustainable Innovation for Subsistence Marketplaces


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Global Impact: Business Ethics


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Entrepreneurship II: Practices and Approaches


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Global Strategy II: Doing Business in The Global Economy


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Sustainable Business Enterprises


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Entrepreneurship I: Principles and Concepts


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Introduction to Accounting


The University of British Columbia

Business Foundations


The University of British Columbia

Organizational Behaviour


The University of British Columbia

Communicating in a Global Context


Arizona State University

Global Marketing Strategy


Arizona State University

Leading in a Complex Environment


University of Queensland

Leaders in Global Development


University of Queensland

Leading High-Performing Teams


University of Queensland

Leading the Organization


University of Queensland

Becoming an Effective Leader


University of Queensland

Innovation: From Plan to Product


University of Queensland

People Management for Entrepreneurs


Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

Entrepreneurship: DO Your Venture


Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

Accounting and Finance


Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

Corporate Finance


Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

Marketing Management


Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

People Management


Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

Accounting for Decision-Making


Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

Strategic Management


Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

Adaptive Leadership in Development


Queensland University of Technology

Evidence-Based Global Management


Australian National University

Evidence-Based Stakeholder Marketing


Australian National University

Evidence-Based Technology Management


Australian National University

Evidence-Based Management Foundations


Australian National University

Evidence-Based Project Management


Australian National University

Financial Management in Organizations


University System of Maryland

Financial Decision Making


University System of Maryland

Financial Accounting for Corporations


University System of Maryland

International Project Management


Rochester Institute of Technology

Best Practices for Project Management Success


Rochester Institute of Technology

Project Management Life Cycle


Rochester Institute of Technology

Circular Economy


Wageningen University

Customer-Centric Innovation


RWTH Aachen University

Managing Disruptive Change


RWTH Aachen University

What Is Leadership?


Deakin University

Luxury Management


Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Financial Planning for Creative Careers


Columbus College of Art & Design

Business Model Thinking


Coventry University

Leadership and Influence


University System of Maryland

Financial Accounting


University System of Maryland

Data Analysis for Decision Making


University System of Maryland

Strategic and Transformational IT


University System of Maryland

Corporate Finance


University System of Maryland

Global Business Strategy


University System of Maryland

Cloud Computing Concepts, Part 1


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Machine Learning for Trading


Georgia Institute of Technology

Text Retrieval and Search Engines


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Artificial Intelligence (AI)


Columbia University

Reinforcement Learning


Brown University

Introduction to Computer Vision


Georgia Institute of Technology

Cybersecurity Fundamentals


Rochester Institute of Technology

Machine Learning


Georgia Institute of Technology

Computer Networking


Georgia Institute of Technology

Cloud Computing Concepts: Part 2


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Advanced Operating Systems


Georgia Institute of Technology

Machine Learning


Columbia University

Cloud Networking


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Intro to Information Security


Georgia Institute of Technology

Introduction to Operating Systems


Georgia Institute of Technology

Introduction to Computing using Python


Georgia Institute of Technology

How to Code: Simple Data


The University of British Columbia

Computational Photography


Georgia Institute of Technology

Computability, Complexity & Algorithms


Georgia Institute of Technology

High Performance Computer Architecture


Georgia Institute of Technology

Knowledge-Based AI: Cognitive Systems


Georgia Institute of Technology

Software Architecture & Design


Georgia Institute of Technology

Animation and CGI Motion


Columbia University

How to Code: Complex Data


The University of British Columbia

High Performance Computing


Georgia Institute of Technology

GT – Refresher – Advanced OS


Georgia Institute of Technology

Cyber-Physical Systems Security


Georgia Institute of Technology

Compilers: Theory and Practice


Georgia Institute of Technology

Artificial Intelligence


Georgia Institute of Technology

Network Security


Georgia Institute of Technology

Algorithmic Design and Techniques


University of California, San Diego

Machine Learning Fundamentals


University of California, San Diego

Data Structures Fundamentals


University of California, San Diego

Graph Algorithms


University of California, San Diego

String Processing and Pattern Matching Algorithms


University of California, San Diego

Software Construction: Object-Oriented Design


The University of British Columbia

Software Engineering: Introduction


The University of British Columbia

Software Construction: Data Abstraction


The University of British Columbia

Cloud Computing Security


University System of Maryland

Cloud Computing for Enterprises


University System of Maryland

Formal Software Verification


University System of Maryland

Cybersecurity Risk Management


Rochester Institute of Technology

Network Security


Rochester Institute of Technology

Computer Forensics


Rochester Institute of Technology

IoT Sensors and Devices


Curtin University

Decision-Making for Autonomous Systems


Chalmers University of Technology

Multi-Object Tracking for Automotive Systems


Chalmers University of Technology

Basics of Network Security


Coventry University

Introduction to Cryptography


Coventry University

Data Science (28 courses)

Python for Data Science


University of California, San Diego

Pattern Discovery in Data Mining


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Data Visualization


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Text Mining and Analytics


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Cluster Analysis in Data Mining


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

GT Introduction to Analytics Modeling


Georgia Institute of Technology

Computing for Data Analysis


Georgia Institute of Technology

Health Informatics in the Cloud


Georgia Institute of Technology

Data Analytics for Business


Georgia Institute of Technology

Data Analysis and Visualization


Georgia Institute of Technology

Big Data Analytics in Healthcare


Georgia Institute of Technology

Graph Algorithms in Genome Sequencing


University of California, San Diego

Big Data Analytics Using Spark


University of California, San Diego

DNA Sequences: Alignments and Analysis


University System of Maryland

Proteins: Alignment, Analysis and Structure


University System of Maryland

Statistical Analysis in Bioinformatics


University System of Maryland

Programming for Data Science


University of Adelaide

Big Data Analytics


University of Adelaide

Big Data Fundamentals


University of Adelaide

Art & Design (35 courses)

Introduction to Programming for Musicians and Digital Artists


California Institute of the Arts

Graphic Design History: An Introduction


Maryland Institute College of Art

Sound Synthesis Using Reaktor


California Institute of the Arts

Introduction to User Experience


University of Michigan

Evaluating Designs with Users


University of Michigan

Understanding User Needs


University of Michigan

UX Research Surveys


University of Michigan

Human-Computer Interaction


Georgia Institute of Technology

Piano II: Focus on Reading


Arizona State University

Design Thinking: Prototyping and User Testing


Rochester Institute of Technology

Design Thinking Fundamentals


Rochester Institute of Technology

Custom Handlettering


School of Visual Arts

Working with Motion & Time


School of Visual Arts

Camera Essentials


School of Visual Arts

Digital Drawings: Points, Lines, Curves


University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Exploring the Mixed Reality Landscape


Pacific Northwest College of Art

Introduction to Motion Design: Animated GIFs


Ringling College of Art + Design

Engineering (23 courses)

Artificial Intelligence for Robotics


Stanford University

Circuits and Electronics 1: Basic Circuit Analysis


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Circuits and Electronics 3: Applications


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Practices in Engineering Management


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Introduction to Manufacturing Systems


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Robotics: Dynamics and Control


University of Pennsylvania

Robotics: Locomotion Engineering


University of Pennsylvania

Embedded Systems


Georgia Institute of Technology

Robotics


Columbia University

Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Technologies


Delft University of Technology

Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Systems


Delft University of Technology

Electric and Conventional Vehicles


Chalmers University of Technology

Hybrid Vehicles


Chalmers University of Technology

Road Traffic Safety in Automotive Engineering


Chalmers University of Technology

Model-Based Automotive Systems Engineering


Chalmers University of Technology

Social Sciences (33 courses)

International Law

Firm Level Economics: Markets and Allocations


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Firm Level Economics: Consumer and Producer Behavior


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

International Human Rights Law


Université catholique de Louvain

International Investment Law


Université catholique de Louvain

International Humanitarian Law


Université catholique de Louvain

Social Work: Research


University of Michigan

Country Level Economics: Macroeconomic Variables and Markets


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Taxation of Business Entities II: Pass-Through Entities


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Taxation of Business Entities I: Corporations


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Critical Development Perspectives


University of Queensland

Long-term Financial Management


University System of Maryland

Gender and Development


Deakin University

Global Studies: The Future of Globalization


Grenoble School of Management

Personal Development (8 courses)

Influencing People


University of Michigan

Creativity Toolkit II: Creative Collaboration


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Business Communications


The University of British Columbia

Evidence-Based Business Communication


Australian National University

Programming (9 courses)

Software Development Process


Georgia Institute of Technology

Database Systems Concepts & Design


Georgia Institute of Technology

Software Analysis & Testing


Georgia Institute of Technology

Software Testing Management


University System of Maryland

Software Testing Fundamentals


University System of Maryland

Health & Medicine (14 courses)

Demystifying Diabetes


Deakin University

Living Well with Diabetes


Deakin University

US Healthcare Systems


Doane University

Science (15 courses)

Introduction to Sustainability and Development


Deakin University

Energy and Development


University of Queensland

Climate Science and Policy


University of Queensland

Advanced Biorefinery


Wageningen University

Advanced Biobased Conversion


Wageningen University

What Is the Body?


University of Aberdeen

What Drives the Body?


University of Aberdeen

Education & Teaching (9 courses)

Leading Ambitious Teaching and Learning


University of Michigan

Improvement Science in Education


University of Michigan

Educational Technology


Georgia Institute of Technology

Instructional Design Models


University System of Maryland

Humanities (1 course)

Global Studies: Cultures and Organizations in International Relations


Grenoble School of Management

Mathematics (1 course)

Linear Algebra Refresher Course

A version of this post originally appeared on Medium.

📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief

Our free, fast and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.