The kids are back at school, the year is winding down, and maybe—just maybe—you find yourself with a little, a little bit of extra time on your hands.
Instead of slumping in front of the TV or draining your phone’s battery on social media, why not expand your educational horizons?
Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, improve your career, or simply satisfy your curiosity, these four platforms offer some of the best free courses available online.
Coursera
With over 5,000 free courses to choose from, Coursera offers the largest collection of online learning content.
The site partners with over 300 universities and companies to provide educational content in a variety of subjects.
Although certifications require payment, most of the courses they contain are always freely accessible through the site’s trial option.
edX
Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX hosts more than 4,000 courses, nearly 1,000 of which are available for free evaluation.
The catalog includes everything from introductory courses to advanced certifications, although like Coursera, certifications and structured courses require payment.
The course selection covers the full academic spectrum, but with a focus on science and engineering.
FutureLearn
FutureLearn offers limited access to approximately 1,400 of its courses.
Getting caught? The lessons covered by the freebie program are released weekly instead of being available all at once—which can actually be a good cadence if you’re looking to learn at a faster pace.
The course catalog includes an impressive range of courses, but with particular strengths in the humanities, health, and technology.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy’s commitment to completely free education sets it apart among major learning platforms.
The site’s strong focus on STEM subjects includes a wide variety of material for undergraduates, though there’s still plenty here for those who have graduated from backpacks to backpacks.
More than 10,000 video lessons are available here, and they have a reputation for clarity and concise explanations, making complex topics accessible to students of all levels.
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