How Much Does Coursera Cost 2024? (Cost Breakdown)

Coursera is one of the most recommended learning platforms, but how much does Coursera cost actually?

In this article, I have listed the confusing pricing of Coursera in simple words so that you can find it easy to understand. I also suggested ways to use Coursera for free.

I will answer several questions like, “Can I buy a single course in Coursera? How much is Coursera Plus? Is the degree course expensive on Coursera? Is Coursera free?

Coursera Cost: Explained

Although Coursera offers courses like many other online learning platforms, it is certainly not easy to comprehend its pricing structure. In fact, I even got confused the first time I checked the pricing plans laid down by Coursera.

Hence, I made it clear and precise so that you do not end up in a similar situation while purchasing a course in Coursera or simply viewing Coursera’s pricing.

First, let me highlight that Coursera offers courses and learning materials in different forms, categories, and programs. I mean, you can get a degree!

Bonus Tip: Check out the affordable Coursera alternatives in my online learning platforms article to keep a backup if you think Coursera is expensive.

Free Courses

Despite offering paid courses and programs, you can take free courses on Coursera without paying a single penny. In fact, Coursera offers up to 1800 courses for free. If you want a certificate, you can pay for it individually and get it.

There is another option to take courses for free on Coursera – Audit a course. 

In specializations, you can find individual course units with the option of auditing. You do not have to pay for a course if you audit a course. Consider it as a free trial.

If you like the course you audited, you can purchase the course later. Still, the pricing for a certificate starts from $49 onwards. Additionally, if you wish to explore the paid courses for free, the free trial in Coursera lets you access everything.

You can use Coursera for free in three ways – Free courses, Audit a course, and free trial.

Is It Necessary to Purchase the Course in Coursera?

Although it is more of a personal choice, I can suggest some valid points as to why it is necessary to purchase a course on Coursera if you are learning a new skill:

1. You can make use of the entire learning experience and not get stuck in a specific module, resulting in incomplete progress.
2. You can actually get a certificate that might boost your resume and eventually land you a potential job.
3. You will get the opportunity to access study materials, projects, and assignments that might enhance your learning better.

In contrast, you will get nothing if you do not purchase the course. That is why it is highly recommended to purchase a course. You can consider it as an investment!

Coursera Plus

Coursera Plus is the only subscription module that Coursera offers. You can either pay $59 per month or $399 in a single payment as an annual subscription.

Purchasing Coursera Plus will unlock almost everything in Coursera, including accredited certificates on completion, study materials, and fun assignments.

Still, Coursera Plus has a catch: the monthly subscription gives a 7-day free trial, whereas the annual subscription only gives a 14-day money-back guarantee.

In simple words, you can access specializations, guided projects, paid courses, and professional certificates in Coursera if you purchase Coursera Plus. Yet, the degree programs are excluded from Coursera Plus since they involve huge investments.

We also have an exclusive Coursera Plus discount, which can help you save a few bucks on your purchase.

Coursera For Business

Like many other learning platforms, Coursera also has a dedicated business module that employers can purchase to educate their employees with compelling courses.

Still, Coursera for Business is categorized into two options: Coursera for Teams and Coursera for Enterprise, wherein the team plan is suitable for relatively smaller agencies or firms. In contrast, the enterprise is best for big companies. 

Coursera for Business has pricing similar to Coursera Plus, which is at $399 and unlocks quite a few benefits, including 1900+ Guided Projects, 100+ SkillSets, and complete access to 5000+ courses in Coursera. The enterprise plan has custom pricing. 

You need to contact the Coursera team to help with the enterprise pricing. Yet, the enterprise unlocks exclusive benefits like curating a course according to a job’s need, a dedicated account managing setting, in-depth metrics, and analytics. 

Degree Programs

Coursera has teamed up with top universities to provide degrees virtually, and it might cost anywhere from $10,000 to $35,000. Still, not every degree program in Coursera costs the same, as it varies according to the desired subject. 

The curriculum followed in the degree programs offered by Coursera can take up to 2 to 4 years to complete. You will receive the degree only on successful completion.

If you are not satisfied, you can request a refund, but you cannot claim it from Coursera directly. Instead, you are advised to contact the degree provider. 

The degree programs in Coursera are led by the same professors who handle top universities like Harvard, so the course curriculum and teaching style are the same. Yet, the teaching medium is different, which means you take it online.

Regarding the teaching format, you will get live instructions in a community forum, and the tutors will resolve your doubts, if there are any. Coursera has got your back!

You get a plethora of options and categories to choose a degree program in Coursera, including marketing, data analytics, web development, Business, etc.

I would say that there are 33+ degree programs in Coursera.

Coursera MasterTrack

As of now, Coursera offers 20+ in data science, computer science, social science, and business design. All the MasterTracks in Coursera can take up to 7 months to complete. The starting price of MasterTracks is $2000. 

The MasterTrack covers everything from live instructions to interactive teamwork to real-world projects to the community forum. Getting the certificate wraps up your Master’s degree in Coursera. 

Still, Coursera likes to call it the MasterTrack program. Regarding payments, Coursera lets you either purchase the MasterTrack program in a single payment or four-quarter payments in a year, which might benefit certain students.

Additionally, Coursera gives a 14-day money-back guarantee, but if you’d like to request a refund, you are advised to contact the course provider directly.

Although you are taking the program in Coursera, it is sponsored by other education companies, so Coursera might not be able to help you out with the refund policy.

Guided Projects & Specializations

As the name suggests, the Guided Projects in Coursera are structured in a way that guides you to become job-ready so that you can land a potential job after the course. All the Guided Projects courses help you become a pro in a field.

In Guided Projects, the instructor will teach you step-by-step from scratch so that you can easily comprehend the subject without confusion. To get an immersive learning experience, Coursera allows you to take up a shared screen with the tutor.

Coursera offers 2,300 Guided Projects, so you can pick the one you want and get hands-on learning experience while working on the project simultaneously. 

The Guided Projects in Coursera mostly cover topics like Business and technology. If you wonder about the duration, the Guided Projects can take up to 2 hours.

You can purchase the Guided Projects from $9.99 onwards regarding the pricing.

Well, to get detailed insights on Coursera, check our detailed Coursera Review here.

Coursera Financial Aid: 

Coursera provides a fruitful option of financial aid, which is basically a scholarship for students who cannot afford to purchase degree programs or certificates.

The Coursera team has taken a great initiative to make education accessible for all students. You can apply for financial aid only through a computer or a laptop.

Although not all courses in Coursera offer financial aid, you can look out for financial aid next to the enrollment option. If the course provides financial aid, you might see “Financial aid is available,” which means you can apply for it.

Still, you might find to fill out an application form for financial aid by listing why you are requesting financial aid in Coursera. 

Coursera Might Ask Questions like:

• Why do you need financial aid?
• What is your educational background?
• Can you share your parents’ income details?
• How do you find the specific course interesting?

You have to be precise in answering the questions. Although you might not get the same questions, it is somewhat like the ones I have mentioned. You should ensure that you are not writing any fluff and are authentic towards each answer you give.

Upon applying for financial aid in Coursera, it might take less than 20 days for the Coursera team to review and reply. If you didn’t receive financial aid from Coursera, you will report what went wrong and can resubmit again.

Let me recall that you cannot find financial aid in all the courses in Coursera. 

Scholarships And Grants (Outside Coursera)

Finding grants and scholarships is an additional option for paying for your education. Numerous grants and scholarships are available, some of which are based on financial need, demographic background, or academic success. 
To learn more about the various grants and scholarships available out there, visit the Federal Student Aid website.

Coursera Refund Policy

Since the payment options and subscriptions in Coursera vary from one another, they are also reflected in the refund policy, so let me quickly explain it to you.

Coursera Plus (Monthly)

The Coursera monthly subscriptions come with a 7-day free trial, so if you exceed the period, you will be charged for the recurring period. Yet, if you prefer to receive a certificate, you must pay for it individually. You can only cancel the trial.

Coursera Plus (Annual)

There is a huge difference between the monthly and annual subscriptions in Coursera, wherein you have to pay for the certificates individually in the Coursera Plus annual subscription and get an extended trial period (14 days). If you’d like to request a refund, you must do it within the first 14 days of purchase.

You can head over to the guide I have covered on Coursera Plus Free Trial here.

One-Time Purchase

Even the individual purchase options in Coursera offer a 14-day free trial and follow the same protocol as the Coursera Plus annual subscription, wherein you need to request a refund within the first 14 days of purchase. Coursera does not accept later.

Degree and MasterTrack Programs

Although Coursera provides degree programs, it collaborates with various universities outside Coursera. So if you’d like a refund for some reason, you need to contact the course provider who had sponsored the particular program.

Guided Projects

Unfortunately, you cannot request a refund for any Guided Projects in Coursera. Considering the affordable pricing and learning module, you will like the Guided Projects in Coursera because it will eventually mold you into a skilled person. 

Purchasing In Coursera (Payment)

Lastly, let me give a heads-up on the payment methods followed by Coursera. You can either pay through PayPal or any credit card like JCB, Discover, VISA, or MasterCard. 

If a course is priced in American dollars, you can also use American Express to buy it.

If you like the course you audited, you can purchase the course later. Still, the pricing for a certificate starts from $49 onwards. Additionally, if you wish to explore the paid courses for free, the free trial in Coursera lets you access everything.

You can use Coursera for free in three ways – Free courses, Audit a course, and free trial. For those, who are unaware of auditing a course on Coursera, check out my guide on how to audit Coursera Courses that will help you in detail. Is

Coursera Good Value For money?

Coursera Degrees and programs offer a more crucial value to your career path than traditional colleges and institute degrees do. Additionally, you can save a minimum of 50% to 70% of expenses. All the offline education costs you.  

When you compare Coursera degrees to the other degrees,  Coursera degrees seem affordable and reasonable and are mostly similar to the other online learning platforms in the market.

How To Enroll In Coursera Courses For Free?

• Step #1: On each course page, look for a link to the audit of the course. You must go to the individual course page first because the Audit option is not accessible on the pages for Specialization, MasterTrack, or Professional Certificates.
• Step #2: Certain courses offer free evaluation items but not a certificate. Enroll in the Full Course, No Certificate program.
• Step #3: Certain courses need payment. Navigate to the Class Central page and look for the green $ symbol.

You can apply for financial aid through Coursera if you are unable to pay but still desire a credential.

Coursera Free Courses

First, take a look at the top 10 most popular free courses by Coursera to get started with your online learning journey on Courses:

Sr. No.	Most Popular Free Courses on Coursera	Duration	Link To Visit	Ratings
1.	Introduction to Microsoft Excel: Coursera Project Network	1.5 Hours	Here	4.6/5
2.	Build a free website with WordPress: Coursera Project Network	1 Hour	Here	4.4/5
3.	Investment Risk Management: Coursera Project Network	1 Hour	Here	4.4/5
4.	Create a Website Using WordPress: Free Hosting & Sub-domain: Coursera Project Network	2 Hours	Here	4.3/5
5.	Business Analysis & Process Management: Coursera Project Network	2 Hours	Here	4.4/5
6.	Business Analytics with Excel: Elementary to Advanced: Johns Hopkins University	23 Hours	Here	4.8/5
7.	First Step Korean: Yonsei University	17 Hours	Here	4.9/5
8.	Python for Data Science, AI & Development: IBM	26 Hours	Here	4.6/5
9.	Introduction to Psychology: Yale University	14 Hours	Here	4.9/5
10.	Introduction to Generative AI: Google Cloud	1 Hour	Here	4.6/5

Thousands of Coursera courses are available for free, albeit with some restrictions. 

While there isn’t a free version available for many other learning programs, such as Guided Projects, Specializations, Professional Certificates, MasterTrack Certificates, and Online Degrees, some do offer a free seven-day trial. 

Coursera has more than 7000+ courses available for free, which you can use to gain basic or intermediate knowledge. Plus, note that these courses come with a few limitations.

Subject Options:

• Arts and Humanities
• Business
• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Health
• Information Technology
• Language Learning
• Math and Logic
• Personal Development
• Physical Science and Engineering
• Social Sciences

You have got to learn different types of skills related to these subject categories and scale up in the fields you choose.

Is Coursera Worth It?

Coursera offers great value for money because all the courses available on Coursera are from prestigious universities like Yale, Princeton, Imperial College Landon, and some companies like Microsoft, Google, and Meta. All the instructors who teach at Coursera are renowned experts in their fields, some of whom are famous university teachers. Students have rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 Coursera courses.

It is one of the few online learning platforms that teach you real-life skills that you can use to land a job. Many students have said that taking a course from Coursera gave them a boost in their careers. You can also pursue career-oriented degrees and specializations on Coursera, which you would normally do at universities. So, I would say it is definitely worth investing in Coursera because you’re investing in your future.

Coursera Alternatives

The Coursera alternatives given below are among the most popular online learning platforms to get certifications, 

1. edX (Best For Verified Certification)

Like Coursera, edX provides more than 4,000+ courses and learning programs affiliated with universities and organizations. It provides learning programs that are instructor-led or self-paced.

• Explore edX Pricing in detail.

2. Udacity (Best For Professional Courses)

Udacity provides just under 100 nano degree programs emphasizing developing skills for a career in the business and technology sectors. Despite not having accreditation, industry professionals nonetheless highly regard its courses.

• Explore Udacity pricing in detail.

3. Masterclass (Best For Learning From Celebrity Experts)

MasterClass is a portal that provides more than 185 interesting courses in 11 different categories. VIPs and celebrities like Stephen Curry and Anna Wintour teach its classes, and in the unlikely event that you change your mind, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• Explore Masterclass all-access pass pricing in detail.

If you still have doubts about the e-learning concept, go over this guide on What is e-learning to get a clear picture of the concept.

Related Read:

• How to Get A Coursera Scholarship?

Final Thoughts On Coursera Cost (2024)

Coursera is one of the best options when it comes to e-learning, with options like guided projects, specializations, and degree programs. Coursera is the best bet!

Although I found it very interesting, an online platform called edX has similar features and offers the same benefits as financial aid and auditing options. If you are in for Coursera yet still confused about it, you can check out – edX Vs Coursera.

Regarding course quality and instructors’ teaching, Coursera ensures to provide one of the finest learning experiences. In fact, Coursera provides hands-on projects. 

With a whopping 7000+ courses in different categories, you are guaranteed to find a course that might help upscale your skills or build a job-ready skill set. To wrap up the article, I’d suggest trying the free Coursera trial and exploring it immediately!

FAQs On Coursera