When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Coursera's free online courses range in topics from computer science to personal development and offer optional paid certificates of completion.Coursera; Alyssa Powell/Business Insider
Whether you're interested in learning computer programming or becoming happier in your daily life , you can probably find a course online — often, completely for free.
In an effort to democratize education, Coursera offers thousands of courses that are completely free to take. Many of Coursera's offerings are in partnership with top universities like Princeton , Yale , Stanford , Columbia , and the University of Michigan , as well as companies like Facebook and Google . It also caters to a range of demographics, from high schoolers and college students to adults.
Students can audit a course, freely accessing all the lectures, readings, and discussion forums in a Coursera course. They can also opt to pay a fee (from $49 to a few hundred dollars, depending on the course) for features like graded homework or a certificate of completion to add to their LinkedIn profile or resume.
Taking free online courses can be a great option for those looking for an affordable alternative to traditional college , helping learners develop new skills for a career switch . They can also be a great tool for personal growth and discovering one's passions , with classes ranging in topics from fashion to psychology.
The 65 best free Coursera online courses: Personal Development
Alyssa Powell/Business Insider
Computer Science
iStock; Gilbert Espinoza/Business Insider
Algorithms, Part I , Princeton University Introduction to Programming with MATLAB , Vanderbilt University HTML, CSS, and Javascript for Web Developers , Johns Hopkins University Build Your First Android App (Project-Centered Course) , CentraleSupélec Algorithms, Part II , Princeton University Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose , Princeton University Introduction to User Experience Design , Georgia Tech Business
Crystal Cox/Business Insider
Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills , University of Michigan Financial Markets , Yale University Marketing Analytics , University of Virginia The Strategy of Content Marketing , University of California Davis The Science of Success: What Researchers Know that You Should Know , University of Michigan Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design , Google Personal & Family Financial Planning , University of Florida Teamwork Skills: Communicating Effectively in Groups , University of Colorado Boulder Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand, and Behaviour , University of London and London Business School Management of Fashion and Luxury Companies , Università Bocconi Health
Crystal Cox/Business Insider
Cloud and Tech
Crystal Cox/Insider
Machine Learning , Stanford University Cloud Computing Basics (Cloud 101) , LearnQuest Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere , Google AI for Everyone , DeepLearning.AI Neural Networks and Deep Learning , DeepLearning.AI Managing Machine Learning Projects with Google Cloud , Google Cloud Google Cloud Fundamentals for AWS Professionals , Google Cloud Introduction to Cloud Identity , Google Cloud Languages
Alyssa Powell/Business Insider
Arts and Humanities
iStock; Gilbert Espinoza/Business Insider
Math, Logic, and Data Science
Codecademy; iStock; Gilbert Espinoza/Insider
Physical Science, Astronomy, and Engineering
Buena Vista Images/Getty Images