2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST FREE ONLINE COURSES
2017 Guide: Keep Learning on a Budget with Free Online University Courses
Taking college courses is a great way to not only keep learning, but also to improve yourself as a person. You can learn more about the business world to enhance your career or even take college courses to learn more about a passion like photography.
However, in a world where average Americans are working 47 hours a week, is there even time in your schedule to take college courses? The hassle of finding a local college or university to take classes can be overwhelming. That is why online courses are a great option.
The best online courses allow you to learn from the comfort of your home or even your local coffee shop. That’s great! Unfortunately, that isn’t all that holds people back.
Perhaps the biggest deterrent for those looking to continue their education is the cost of college courses. On average, public colleges cost $24,610 a year, with private colleges averaging even more at $49,320 a year. The price of individual courses alone can still deter people.
Fortunately, there are free online college courses, and even some free online college degrees! This means that you can continue your education with hundreds, even thousands of free online classes. These courses range in topic, length, and format, but they can all help you reach your goal of continuing your education.
Award Emblem: Top 7 Best Free Online College Courses
The trick becomes choosing which free online college classes are the best for you. There are classes on accounting, psychology, business law, American foreign policy, mathematics, photography, and even marketing. With the variety of classes, it can be overwhelming to try to choose one to start with.
When you are looking for the best free online college courses, chances are that you have many questions, including:
- Are there free online college degrees, or are there just free online classes?
- Where can you find free online university courses?
- Why is it a good idea to get a free online education?
- What are the best online college courses?
Throughout this article, we will answer the questions you have about free online degrees and classes. We will explain how the best online college courses will help you in a career sense, as well as where to look for free online college classes. Finally, we will provide a detailed review of the seven best free online college classes.
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of Top 7 Best Free Online College Courses
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the free online classes below to go directly to the detailed review section for that free online education site):
- Accounting: Creating a Profit & Loss Statement
- Algebra 1
- American Foreign Policy: Past, Present, Future
- Business Law 1
- Computer Applications for Instruction & Training
- Entrepreneurial Marketing
- Introduction to Photography
Top 7 Best Free Online Courses | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Best Free Online Courses | College/University | Description |
| Accounting: Creating a Profit & Loss Statement | Kutztown University Small Business Development Center | Learn how to calculate assets and liabilities to create a profit & loss statement |
| Algebra 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Learn about groups, vector spaces, and linear groups |
| American Foreign Policy: Past, Present, Future | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Learn about American foreign policy from the 1900s to present time |
| Business Law 1 | Grand Rapids Community College | Learn constitutional foundations of business law and the role of courts in dispute resolution |
| Computer Applications for Instruction & Training | Utah State University | Learn the basics of Mac computer applications, such as PowerPoint, Photoshop, and iMovie |
| Entrepreneurial Marketing | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Learn marketing strategies that will help start-up ventures |
| Introduction to Photography | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Offers instruction for photography through analog and digital cameras |
Detailed Overview: The Benefits of Free Online Education
Many people don’t like the prospect of going back to school. Once they leave college with their degree, they rarely look back. However, continuing your education can have many benefits for your career, as well as personally.
When you are looking at free online college classes or a free online degree, there are many benefits that you might not even realize, including:
- Learn for Free
- Work toward a Degree
- Make Yourself Marketable
- Start Your Own Business
- Grow Your Passions
One of the biggest benefits of free online university courses is that you are able to continue your education at no cost. Whether you want to impress your boss with learned proficiency in Excel or take gorgeous pictures since photography is a hobby, access to free online classes can help you out.
Another great thing about free online college courses is that they can sometimes help you work toward a degree. Some colleges may even offer a free online degree if you progress through the program completely.
The best free online courses are also a way to set yourself apart from the others at work. If you are lacking in accounting knowledge, there are many universities that offer free online college courses in accounting. From marketing and data modeling to market research and web design, the best online courses can help you gain the knowledge and expertise needed to boost your career.
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If you feel stuck in your current job or position, the prospect of free online university courses and free online college degrees can give you hope. Not only can they help your career, but they can also help you venture out and start your own business. From basic accounting to business law, many free online university courses are offered that will take your small business or idea to the next level.
Finally, it is important to remember that the best free online courses aren’t necessarily ones that will help you out in the corporate or business arena. If you have a passion for photography, digital editing, American history, or making movies, there are also free online college courses offered to help you excel in these areas as well.
Overall, the best online courses can benefit you in a number of ways. You have to be willing to put the work in without teachers constantly pushing you with deadlines, but if you are willing, it can be worth it in the end.
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Detailed Review—Top Ranking Best Online Courses
Below, please find the detailed review of each free online university on our list of best online college courses. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these free online college courses to score so high in our selection ranking.
Accounting: Creating a Profit & Loss Statement Review
Accounting: Creating a Profit & Loss Statement is one of the free online college courses offered by the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center. This course aims to teach students how to calculate their assets and liabilities in order to put together a profit & loss statement.
This is one of the best free online courses for many reasons, but mainly due to the format. The course is offered in presentation format, walking you through the process step by step. There are also worksheets and a glossary should you become confused with the terminology.
If you have your own business or simply want to learn more about profit and loss statements for your current job position, this might be one of the best free online courses for you to take.
Algebra 1 Review
We all love math, right? Well, if you were like the rest of us sleeping through high school Algebra, thankfully the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is offering some free online college courses to help.
MIT is offering an online version of Algebra 1. This undergraduate level course is offered by professor Michael Artin. It covers topics from groups and vector spaces to bilinear forms and linear groups.
For whatever reason, if you need to brush up on your algebra skills, this might be one of the best online courses. MIT is a reputable university, and the course comes with readings, a calendar, syllabus, and downloadable course materials.
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American Foreign Policy: Past, Present, Future Review
For the history buffs out there, American Foreign Policy: Past, Present, Future is another course that is offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
If you love history and foreign policy, this might be one of the best free online courses out there. The course is taught by professor Steven Van Evera and is an undergraduate-level course. There are assignments, lecture notes, a syllabus, and even downloadable course materials.
History buffs will think this is one of the best online courses, as it covers the history of American foreign policy. It covers foreign policy since 1914 all the way to current policy. If you wonder how past and current foreign policies affect the economy and United States’s relationships, this is one of the better free online university courses.
Business Law 1 Review
You might not be aware of it, but there are actually free online college courses offered right on YouTube. Business Law 1 offered by Grand Rapids Community College is one such example.
This course is comprised of 31 videos that will walk you through the topic of business law. Like other free online university courses on the topic, this one teaches about the constitutional foundations of business law and how the courts interact in dispute resolution when it comes to business law.
If you are starting your own business or simply want to brush up on business law for your current position, this might be one of the best online courses to help.
Computer Applications for Instruction & Training Review
The best thing about free online university courses is that you can learn a variety of skills without paying a cent. Another example of this is the free Computer Applications for Instruction & Training online course that is offered by Utah State University.
Taught by Professor Brett Shelton, PhD, this is a weekly 2.5-hour course with no prerequisites. This course teaches basic computer applications for a Mac computer, such as PowerPoint, GoLive, iMovie, and even Photoshop.
The requirements of this online course are having the Macintosh-specific software that the professor teaches. Other than that, all course materials are right online and completely free.
If you have a passion for making movies or have always wanted to learn Photoshop, this might be one of the free online college courses to consider.
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Entrepreneurial Marketing Review
Are you trying to take your business to the next level? If so, the Entrepreneurial Marketing course offered by MIT might be one of the free online university courses for you to consider.
The course is taught by Professor Jin Gyo Kim and is a graduate-level course. As one of the best free online courses, this course teaches key marketing concepts, strategic issues, and methods that are relevant for early-stage entrepreneurs.
This online course is very intellectual, covering the topics like major strategic constraints that entrepreneurs face today and how to identify and analyze certain marketing opportunities. If you are trying to take your business idea to the next level, this might be one of the best free online courses out there.
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Introduction to Photography Review
Learning doesn’t always have to enhance your station in the business world. Sometimes, you just want to pursue your passions and hobbies. If you have a love of photography, Introduction to Photography is one of the free online college courses to consider.
This course is taught by multiple instructors: Reilly Rabitaille as the darkroom instructor and Andrea Frank as the main instructor. Two teaching assistants also help throughout the course.
This is one of the best free online courses and it teaches the fundamentals of digital SLR and analog, as well as medium- to large-format camera operation. The course also covers film exposure and development, digital imaging, and lighting.
If you love photography and want to take your hobby to the next level, consider this one of the best online courses available.
Conclusion—Top 7 Best Free Online University Courses
Taking free online university courses has a litany of benefits. Not only can you enhance your marketability in the workforce, either allowing you to progress in your current organization or make a leap to another, but you can also learn better ways to promote your own small business.
Image Source: Pixabay
Aside from that, you also have the ability to learn more about your passions. You can take the best online courses in photography, or indulge your intellectual side and take free online college classes in American politics or psychology.
When you are trying to determine what the best free online courses are for you, or which college course to start with, ask yourself the following:
- Do you have the time to devote to the best online courses?
- Would you rather indulge a hobby or increase your marketability in the workforce?
- Do you have a million dollar idea, but need a business background to take it to the next level?
- Do you need your free online university courses to be offered by the best colleges?
These are all questions to ask yourself when you are trying to determine what free online college classes you might want to take. Even though the courses offered are free, it is still a good idea to put some thought into your decision before jumping head first.
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