500 Free Online Programming & Computer Science Courses You Can Start
As a professional coder and full-stack developer, I‘m a big believer in the power of free online courses for learning computer science and programming. Over the past decade, the available free online CS courses, in terms of quality, subject range, and interactivity, has grown tremendously. It‘s now possible to gain deep knowledge of computer science topics and develop significant programming skills entirely through free online classes.
Back when I was an undergrad computer science student, MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) were just getting started, with pioneers like Stanford and MIT releasing their first courses around 2011. At that time, these free online courses sparked excitement but also skepticism – could you really learn CS and programming well outside of formal university classes? Having taken dozens of free CS courses myself over the years, talked with many developers who have done the same, and seen the rapid growth of this ecosystem, I can confidently say yes.
Today, there are not just a handful but hundreds of well-designed, impactful free computer science courses you can take online, at all skill levels and across a wide range of topic areas. Top universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Princeton, University of Michigan, Columbia and dozens more have entire catalogs of free CS courses. Enrollments have skyrocketed into the millions. And major tech platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udacity have dramatically expanded and honed their free offerings to match different types of learners and career goals.
The numbers illustrate this growth:
- Over 60 million people have signed up for at least one course on Coursera (source)
- 2.8 million certificates were earned by Coursera CS and programming course completers in 2021 alone (source)
- edX has over 40 million learners and has partnered with more than 160 universities (source)
- Class Central, a search engine for free online courses, lists over 1,000 free programming and CS courses (source)
This rapid rise of free computer science and coding courses is fantastic news for aspiring and experienced programmers alike. When I compare today‘s free online CS courses to what I took back in college, in many ways they are on par or even better. The curriculum is just as rigorous, the lectures equally in-depth, and the assignments comparably challenging. But the experience is even more flexible and accessible – you can learn on your own schedule, from anywhere in the world, and focus on the topics you care about most.
So in a world where computer science knowledge and programming skills remain in high demand, with many companies struggling to fill open developer roles, these free online courses are game-changing. They provide an alternative pathway for motivated learners to become qualified for software jobs, without needing to invest the time and money into a traditional 4-year computer science degree.
As a hiring manager at a tech company, I view successful completion of rigorous online CS courses highly positively. They demonstrate initiative, follow-through, and practical knowledge that translates well to real-world programming work. Many of our best developers have honed their skills through a combination of free online courses, personal projects, open source contributions, and on-the-job experience, rather than purely through college classes.
So if you‘re looking to start a career as a coder, level up your programming abilities, or explore computer science in more depth, I highly recommend checking out the current landscape of free online CS and programming courses. As of September 2022, there are over 500 free courses you can choose from across areas like web development, machine learning, algorithms, software testing, mobile apps, security, and databases – far more than any single university program can offer.
Here are some of my top picks across different skill levels:
For Beginners
If you‘re entirely new to programming, start with an intro CS course like Harvard‘s CS50 which gives you a broad foundation in computer science principles and coding in an accessible, hands-on way. Over 3 million people have taken this entry-level course.
For an intro specifically to web development, try the Responsive Web Design certification on freeCodeCamp which covers HTML, CSS, and basic JavaScript. You‘ll build real sites and gain practical front-end skills.
If you want to start with Python, a versatile language used for everything from web apps to data science, the Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python from MIT is excellent. It‘s rigorous and will challenge you to think like a computer scientist.
For Intermediate Coders
Once you‘ve learned a language or two and have built some small projects, you can branch out into specific coding domains and more advanced concepts. Here are some of the most popular free intermediate courses:
| Course | Platform | Rating | # Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Learning (Stanford) | Coursera | 4.9/5 | 150,000+ |
| Algorithms, Part I (Princeton) | Coursera | 4.9/5 | 58,000+ |
| The Web Developer Bootcamp (Colt Steele) | Udemy | 4.7/5 | 65,000+ |
| Software Testing (University of Utah) | Udacity | 4.6/5 | 6,500+ |
| Intro to Machine Learning (Udacity) | Udacity | 4.6/5 | 18,000+ |
These courses dive deeper into essential CS topics like machine learning, algorithms, data structures, testing, and full-stack development. They blend conceptual learning with significant hands-on practice.
For Advanced Learners
If you‘re an experienced coder looking to expand your knowledge, there are many advanced free CS courses that go into cutting-edge topics. Here are a few highly-rated options:
| Course | University | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Learning | Google (Udacity) | 4.8/5 |
| Blockchain Technology | UC Berkeley (edX) | 4.7/5 |
| Quantum Computing | Caltech (edX) | 4.5/5 |
| Computational Neuroscience | U Washington | 4.6/5 |
| Parallel Programming in Java | Rice (Coursera) | 4.6/5 |
| Reinforcement Learning | Brown (Udacity) | 4.6/5 |
Advanced free online CS courses allow you to learn from experts in areas like AI, blockchain, quantum computing, neuroscience, parallel programming and more. They give you the chance to explore specialized domains in depth.
How to Succeed in Free Online CS Courses
While the quality of free online computer science courses has never been higher, they still require focused effort to complete and extract value from. Based on my experience taking many of these courses, here are a few key tips:
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Choose courses that align with your goals and interests. There are enough free courses to match any programming career path, whether that‘s front-end development, data science, AI, mobile apps, cybersecurity, and more. Be strategic and take courses that build focused knowledge and a strong portfolio.
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Commit to a regular learning schedule. Treat the course like you would any other serious commitment and block out dedicated time each week to watch the lectures and complete assignments. Most courses are self-paced but sticking to a routine will help you maintain momentum.
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Do the projects and assignments. It‘s tempting to just passively watch the videos, but you‘ll learn and retain far more if you put the concepts into practice. Even if you don‘t care about earning the certificate, complete the coding exercises to reinforce your knowledge.
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Engage with the community. Most free online CS courses have discussion forums where you can ask questions, get feedback on your code, and learn from other students. Take advantage of this social element to make the learning experience richer and get unstuck when needed.
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Apply your skills to real projects. After completing a course, use your new knowledge to build an app, contribute to open source, or automate something in your work. Putting your skills into practice beyond toy examples will deepen your understanding.
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Highlight your achievements. If you complete a significant free online CS or programming course, add it to your resume and LinkedIn to show employers your skills. Don‘t be shy about highlighting your personal learning and projects.
Overall, I‘m a huge advocate for the potential of free online computer science and programming courses to help people learn coding skills, transition into software development careers, and push forward the field of computing. The caliber of the curriculum and instruction, the breadth of topics covered, and the accessibility has improved so much even just in the past few years.
If you put in the time and effort, you can now gain a truly world-class computer science education for free through online courses. You can develop deep programming knowledge and highly marketable skills without investing years and massive tuition into a traditional university program.
So if you‘ve ever wanted to learn to code, are curious about computer science, or want to qualify for an in-demand software development job, I highly encourage you to check out the current catalog of 500+ free online programming and CS courses starting in September 2022. Whatever your background or goals, you‘re bound to find courses that can help you evolve your knowledge and open up new career opportunities. The barrier to entry to learning programming has never been lower – all you need is an internet connection, determination, and willingness to put in the effort. I hope this analysis has given you a starting point to find free online CS courses that can change your life as they have for so many coders I know.