edX
Online courses from Harvard, MIT, and 160+ leading institutions. Free to audit, with paid certificates and MicroMasters programs.
87
Courses on SC
4.6
Avg Rating
11
Free Courses
$140
Avg Price
Overview
edX was founded by Harvard and MIT with a mission to increase access to high-quality education. The platform partners with 160+ universities and institutions worldwide to offer courses, professional certificates, MicroMasters programs, and full online degrees. edX is known for academic rigour — courses tend to be more challenging than Coursera equivalents, reflecting the university-level expectations. The free audit option makes it possible to learn from Harvard and MIT at no cost, while verified certificates and MicroMasters programs provide credentials for career advancement.
Our Ratings
overall
value
quality
variety
Pricing
Free to audit, $50-300 for verified certificates, $600-1,500 for MicroMasters
- •Audit track: Free (full course access, no certificate)
- •Verified Certificate: $50-300 per course
- •Professional Certificate: $200-500
- •MicroMasters: $600-1,500 (can count toward a master's degree)
- •Executive Education: $2,000-3,000
- •Online Degrees: $10,000-25,000
- •Financial assistance available
✅ Pros
- +Founded by Harvard and MIT — unmatched academic credibility
- +Free audit access to almost every course
- +MicroMasters can count toward real master's degrees
- +Higher academic rigour than most competitors
- +Strong in computer science, data science, and business
- +Excellent community and discussion forums
❌ Cons
- −Certificate pricing is higher than Coursera
- −User interface feels dated compared to Coursera
- −Fewer professional certificates from tech companies
- −Some courses are very academic (may feel dry)
- −Acquired by 2U — some concerns about commercial direction
Who Is edX Best For?
- 🎯Learners who value academic rigour and university credentials
- 🎯Anyone wanting to audit university courses for free
- 🎯Computer science and engineering students
- 🎯Professionals seeking MicroMasters that credit toward degrees
Popular edX Courses on ShortCourses.com
CS50: Introduction to Computer Science
CS50: Introduction to Computer Science
IELTS Academic Test Preparation
TOEFL Test Preparation
Financial Markets and Investment Strategy
Harvard Data Science Professional Certificate
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