5 Best Free Online Learning Platforms

By Marina Krivonossova on March 25, 2021

As more and more people start earning college degrees, the value of a degree decreases. What employers today value most is practical experience and genuine, in-depth knowledge of a subject — both of which are not always easy to acquire during the college experience. Plus, what happens if after graduation, you realize you want to work in a field outside of your college major? Do you have to go back to college for another four years to make it happen? Of course not. With the excess of information available online today, learning and mastering a subject from home is easier than ever before. Check out the following five best free online learning platforms available at just the click of a button, and start learning from home today.

1. HupSpot. This website is a personal favorite of mine, as it has all sorts of free courses on marketing, copywriting, advertising, and so much more. After getting my master’s degree in political science, I dove into the world of marketing and corporate communications with minimal experience in the field. Even though I knew I’d learn a lot on the job, I didn’t want to show up to work empty-handed, so to say. That’s when I found HubSpot’s courses and fell in love. They’re free, easy to follow, and they come with a convenient quiz at the end to really ensure you understood all the content of the previous lesson. I highly recommend checking them out!

With all the extra time we’re spending at home these days, the best thing we can do for ourselves and for our futures is put it to good use (image via pexels.com)

2. edX. This awesome website offers courses from top universities, such as Harvard, MIT, UC Berkeley, and so many more. The best part is that hundreds of them are absolutely free of charge to enroll in! You can learn about anything from programming, to literature, to history, and everything in between. edX is your key to getting a high-end university education without paying the ridiculous tuition fees. For an additional price, several courses even offer you the opportunity to get a formal certification that will be recognized by future employers and academic institutions. There’s really nothing to lose and everything to gain when you try out learning through edX.

3. Coursera. Designed in an extremely organized manner, Coursera provides users with the opportunity to narrow down their search query based on course subject, price (with many being free), language, course duration, and several other relevant criteria. Whether you’re interested in perfecting your French skills or learning how to understand the basics of chemistry, Coursera will have the right course for you.

4. Alison. I wish I had learned about Alison during my college career because it would’ve made an excellent supplement to my learning experience. Alison lets you focus not only on courses to take but also on skills to build to advance in the field of your interest. Despite only learning about this platform post-graduation, I can honestly say that Alison has been a game-changer in my online learning experience.

5. Codecademy. This one’s a must for everyone interested in learning how to code. If computers interest you, but you have no idea where to start when it comes to coding, give Codecademy a go. The best part is that they even offer a quiz for newcomers to figure out where to begin their coding journey. There are no fees, and there’s no commitment, so be sure to check out Codecademy for all your coding needs.

If you’re looking to expand your skillset, get in-depth knowledge of a certain topic, or learn about something new, be sure to check out these five best free online learning platforms mentioned above. And, if you’re ready to begin a hands-on learning experience today, visit this link to get information on non-work opportunities to help you avoid the dreaded post-grad resume gap.

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