107 free online courses from the best colleges in the US - including Princeton, Harvard, and Yale

Connie Chen,Connie ChenMar 15, 2019, 03:01 IST

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Shutterstock/MintImagesCoursera was founded by two professors at Stanford University.

Online learning sites Coursera and edX allow you to audit classes from top universities for free.
For additional fees, you can gain access to course certificates, assignments, tests, and even receive a final grade.
Course topics vary widely - from business management to social justice, food science to structural engineering - there's something for everyone.

Every year, US News & Reports releases its ranking of the top universities in the country. These schools are renowned for their rigorous academic and research programs, professors and faculty members with resumes packed with accomplishments, and beautiful campuses - but they're not easy to get into, nor are they affordable to attend.

Thankfully, online learning sites like Coursera and edX are helping to increase access to high-quality education for everyone. Their free and low-priced courses are taught by instructors from the best universities and academic institutions around the world, allowing anyone to advance their education, professional goals, or personal interests.

Both Coursera and edX allow you to audit any course for free. You get access to course materials and follow along with the class as it progresses. For an additional $40 to $160 (depending on the course) on edX, you receive a verified certificate that you can include in your resume or on your LinkedIn profile. Meanwhile, expanded access to Coursera courses includes assignments, tests, and a final grade, and costs $29 to $99 per course.

Coursera and edX also each offer in-depth specializations that require some more commitment and help learners develop the professional skills that are in demand in their industries today.

A decade ago, you wouldn't have been able to easily take classes from these top-ranked schools. Now, you can. We rounded up the Coursera and edX courses from each of the schools so you can skip directly to your favorite university, or browse all that each has to offer.

Take online classes from the following top 14 universities in the country.

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See 107 free online courses from the best colleges in the US - including Princeton, Harvard, and Yale >>

1: Princeton University

Browse all courses from Princeton University at Coursera here

Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies, 4 weeks, available at Coursera
Effective Altruism, 15 hours, available at Coursera
Computer Architecture, 5 weeks, available at Coursera
Imagining Other Earths, 24 weeks, available at Coursera

Browse all courses from Princeton University at edX here

Making Government Work in Hard Places, 8 weeks, available at edX
Global History of Capitalism, 6 weeks, available at edX
The Art of Structural Engineering: Bridges, 8 weeks, available at edX

2: Harvard University

Browse all courses from Harvard University at edX here

CS50's Computer Science for Business Professionals, 6 weeks, available at edX
Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science, 6 weeks, available at edX
Masterpieces of World Literature, 12 weeks, available at edX
The Opioid Crisis in America, 7 weeks, available at edX
Data Science: R Basics, 4 weeks, available at edX
Contract Law: From Trust to Promise to Contract, 8 weeks, available at edX

3: University of Chicago

Browse all courses from University of Chicago at Coursera here

Critical Issues in Urban Education, 11 weeks, available at Coursera
Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life, 10 weeks, available at Coursera
Internet Giants: The Law and Economics of Media Platforms, 9 weeks, available at Coursera

Browse all courses from University of Chicago at edX here

Modeling Climate Change, 8 weeks, available at edX
Critical Issues in Urban Education, 12 weeks, available at edX

4: Yale University

Browse all courses from Yale University at Coursera here

Introduction to Negotiation, 5 weeks, available at Coursera
The Global Financial Crisis, 11 weeks, available at Coursera
A Law Student's Tool Kit, 3 weeks, available at Coursera
Essentials of Global Health, 5 weeks, available at Coursera
Financial Markets, 7 weeks, available at Coursera
The Science of Well-Being, 6 weeks, available at Coursera

5 (tie): Columbia University

Browse all courses from Columbia University at Coursera here

Construction Management Specialization, 6 months, available at Coursera
The Age of Sustainable Development, 19 weeks, available at Coursera
Financial Engineering and Risk Management Part I, 8 weeks, available at Coursera

Browse all courses from Columbia University at edX here

Statistical Thinking for Data Science and Analytics, 5 weeks, available at edX
Machine Learning for Data Science and Analytics, 5 weeks, available at edX
Demand and Supply Analytics, 12 weeks, available at edX
Artificial Intelligence (AI), 12 weeks, available at edX

5 (tie): MIT

Browse all courses from MIT at edX here

Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science, 9 weeks, available at edX
Just Money: Banking as if Society Mattered, 16 weeks, available at edX
Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python, 9 weeks, available at edX
Supply Chain Analytics, 13 weeks, available at edX
Design Thinking for Leading and Learning, 6 weeks, available at edX
Circuits and Electronics 1: Basic Circuit Analysis, 5 weeks, available at edX

5 (tie): Stanford University

Browse all courses from Stanford University at Coursera here

Algorithms Specialization, 4 months, available at Coursera
Organizational Analysis, 4 weeks, available at Coursera
International Women's Health and Human Rights, 8-11 weeks, available at Coursera
Child Nutrition and Cooking, 8 hours, available at Coursera
Stanford Introduction to Food and Health, 5 weeks, available at Coursera
Social and Economic Networks: Models and Analysis, 5 weeks, available at Coursera

8: University of Pennsylvania

Browse all courses from University of Pennsylvania at Coursera here

Business Analytics Specialization, 3 months, available at Coursera
Business Foundations Specialization, 6 courses, available at Coursera
Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization, 4 months, available at Coursera
Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content, 6 hours, available at Coursera
Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society, 6 weeks, available at Coursera

Browse all courses from University of Pennsylvania at edX here

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): A Strategic Approach, 4 weeks, available at edX
Intellectual Property Law and Policy: Part 1, 6 weeks, available at edX
Programming for the Web with JavaScript, 4 weeks, available at edX
Robotics: Fundamentals, 12 weeks, available at edX
Hollywood: History, Industry, Art, 4 weeks, available at edX

9: Duke University

Browse all courses from Duke University at Coursera here

Excel to MySQL: Analytic Techniques for Business Specialization, 5 months, available at Coursera
Behavioral Finance, 9 hours, available at Coursera
Think Again IV: How to Avoid Fallacies, 10 hours, available at Coursera
Dog Emotion and Cognition, 11 hours, available at Coursera
Sports and Society, 2 weeks, available at Coursera
Programming Fundamentals, 4 weeks, available at Coursera

10: Caltech

Browse all courses from Caltech at Coursera here

Drugs and the Brain, available at Coursera
The Science of the Solar System, 7weeks, available at Coursera
The Evolving Universe, 7 weeks, available at Coursera
Getting Started in Cryo-EM, 18 hours, available at Coursera

Browse all courses from Caltech at edX here

Principles of Economics with Calculus, 10 weeks, available at edX
Pricing Options with Mathematical Models, 10 weeks, available at edX

11 (tie): Dartmouth College

Browse all courses from Dartmouth College at edX here

Omnichannel Strategy and Management, 4 weeks, available at edX
Retail Fundamentals, 4 weeks, available at edX
Retail and Omnichannel Management Professional Certificate, 8 hours, available at edX
Question Reality! Science, Philosophy, and the Search for Meaning, 6 weeks, available at edX
Introduction to Environmental Science, 4 weeks, available at edX
The Engineering of Structures Around Us, 5 weeks, available at edX

11 (tie): Johns Hopkins University

Browse all courses from Johns Hopkins University at Coursera here

Data Science Specialization, 8 months, available at Coursera
Mastering Software Development in R Specialization, 3 months, available at Coursera
Systems Thinking In Public Health, 4 weeks, available at Coursera
Design and Interpretation of Clinical Trials, 3 weeks, available at Coursera
Major Depression in the Population: A Public Health Approach, 6 weeks, available at Coursera
Health for All Through Primary Health Care, 15 hours, available at Coursera
Toxicology 21: Scientific Applications, 6 weeks, available at Coursera

11 (tie): Northwestern University

Browse all courses from Northwestern University at Coursera here

Content Strategy for Professionals Specialization, 4 months, available at Coursera
Organizational Leadership Specialization, 6 months, available at Coursera
Social Media Marketing Specialization, 5 months, available at Coursera
Career 911: Your Future Job in Medicine and Healthcare, 5 weeks, available at Coursera
Scaling Operations: Linking Strategy and Execution, 7 weeks, available at Coursera
Modern Robotics, Course 1: Foundations of Robot Motion, 4 weeks, available at Coursera

14 (tie): Brown University

Browse all courses from Brown University at edX here

Fantastic Places, Unhuman Humans: Exploring Humanity Through Literature, 3 weeks, available at edX
Artful Medicine: Art’s Power to Enrich Patient Care, 3 weeks, available at edX
The Ethics of Memory, 3 weeks, available at edX

14 (tie): Cornell University

Browse all courses from Cornell University at edX here

A Hands-on Introduction to Engineering Simulations, 6 weeks, available at edX
Wiretaps to Big Data: Privacy and Surveillance in the Age of Interconnection, 6 weeks, available at edX
Sharks! Global Biodiversity, Biology, and Conservation, 4 weeks, available at edX
The Science and Politics of the GMO, 5 weeks, available at edX
The Computing Technology Inside Your Smartphone, 10 weeks, available at edX
Introduction to Global Hospitality Management, 6 weeks, available at edX

14 (tie): Rice University

Browse all courses from Rice University at Coursera here

Investment and Portfolio Management Specialization, 4 months, available at Coursera
Communication Skills for Engineers Specialization, 4 months, available at Coursera
Finance for Non-Finance Professionals, 4 weeks, available at Coursera

Browse all courses from Rice University at edX here

DNA: Biology’s Genetic Code, 6 weeks, available at edX
Proteins: Biology's Workforce, 5 weeks, available at edX
Electricity & Magnetism, Part 1, 7 weeks, available at edX
Introduction to Mechanics, Part 1, 6 weeks, available at edX

14 (tie): Vanderbilt University

Browse all courses from Vanderbilt University at Coursera here

Android App Development Specialization, 4 months, available at Coursera
Business Essentials for Managers Specialization, 4 months, available at Coursera
Justice, Mercy and Mass Incarceration, 7 weeks, available at Coursera
Data Management for Clinical Research, 6 weeks, available at Coursera
Online Games: Literature, New Media, and Narrative, 4 weeks, available at Coursera
Understanding the Music Business: What is Music Worth?, 6 weeks, available at Coursera
Leading Innovation in Arts and Culture, 9 weeks, available at Coursera

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