It’s a good time to be interested in computer science. Over the next decade, the country is expected to open up hundreds of thousands of new jobs as software developers, data scientists, and software engineers.
Landing one of these coveted roles can not only grant you lifelong job security but also a career that pays well over $100k. In fact, computer and information research scientists earn median pay of $145,080 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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However, becoming an experienced tech expert does not happen overnight, and many individuals have master’s degrees in computer science or a related field.
For those early in their career—or are thinking about transitioning into tech—it can be best to start exploring the subject before committing to a degree program. The good news is that many top universities offer online, introductory computer science courses—for free. Here are some of the best offerings to get started in computer science.
6 universities offering free, online computer science foundations
Carnegie Mellon University: Principles of Computation with Python
Touted as a top university for its tech-related programs, Carnegie Mellon University offers an intro course on one of the more widely used programming languages, Python. Principles of Computation with Python is offered through the school’s Open Learning Initiative. While the course teaches users about programming in Python, it’s also targeted at a general audience to learn more about computer science and to “show students that there is much more to computer science than learning to write code,” according to Carnegie Mellon. The course is broken down into 10 modules that gradually get more technical. Areas of focus include data structures, encryption, and cellular automata.
Carnegie Mellon also offers free and open courses to learn about computer hardware and software as well as how to program in Java.
Harvard University: Computer Science for Business Professionals
This widely popular course hosted by Harvard University is designed for managers, product managers, and other business professionals. The six-week long course teaches participants about computational thinking, programming languages, web development, and cloud computing, among other subjects.
Computer Science for Business Professionals, also known as CS50, is self-paced and requires about two-to-six hours of study per week. Taught by David J. Malan, a computer science professor at Harvard University, CS50 is also Harvard’s largest online course and has been completed by more than 2 million people. And former YouTube CEO Susan D. Wojcicki even said, “CS50 changed my life.”
The course is hosted through edX, and while the content is free, payment is required to receive the certificate. CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Scratch and CS50’s Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python are related offerings you may also want to check out.
MIT: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers free access to thousands of courses, including many related to computer science, through its OpenCourseWare. While the platform does have many arguably outdated offerings, the fall 2022 edition of the MIT class Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python, is available and is targeted to those with no programming experience. Twenty-six lectures can be accessed, including topics like iteration, Lambda functions, and plotting. Lecture notes, problem sets, programming assistants, and recitation notes are also available for viewing. Going through all the material may take you several months.
Learn more: What’s the difference between coding and programming?
Princeton University: Programming with a Purpose
The Programming with a Purpose course at Princeton believes learning computer science is as important as reading and writing. “Learning to program is an essential part of the education of every student, not just in the sciences and engineering, but in the arts, social sciences, and humanities, as well,” the description says. Professor Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne walk students through the basics of programming. While it is taught in Java, the goal is to teach the skills application in a variety of modern computing environments.
The 88-hour program is offered for free, but you may need to make an account with Coursera.
Stanford University: Computer Science 101
Stanford University, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, hosts a self-paced introductory course Computer Science 101 to teach the fundamentals of the field to users with no prior experience. The course starts with a general background on computers, software, hardware, and internet, and also allows participants to begin to learn the basics of coding.
The course takes six weeks to complete at about four-to-six hours per week. It’s taught by one of Stanford’s senior computer science lecturers Nick Parlante whose lectures and other videos appear widely on YouTube.
Vanderbilt University: Introduction to Programming with MATLAB
Vanderbilt University, which is ranked No. 5 on Fortune’s list of the best in-person master’s in computer science, offers an Introduction to Programming with MATLAB course. The course is targeted to users with little to no programming experience and teaches participants how to program in MATLAB, a programming language. This language is often used by scientists and engineers to solve matrices and linear algebra, but it’s “easy to learn,” and “versatile,” according to Vanderbilt.
The course takes about 35 hours to complete and is the first course in Vanderbilt’s free online MATLAB Programming for Engineers and Scientists Specialization, which includes two other courses.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study computer science for free?
Yes, there are countless ways to study computer science for free. freeCodeCamp is one designation many people start, but many universities and organizations offer free computer science programming. Another popular way to learn is by watching tutorial videos on YouTube.
Can I self-learn computer science?
Yes, many tech experts learn the basics of computer science on their own. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of free programs, videos, and assignments you can engage with to learn the foundations of computer science.
Learn more: Check out our guide to how to learn to code and advice for beginners.
Can I get a Harvard certificate for free?
No, while you can conduct Harvard coursework for free— including the popular CS50—payment is required to get the certification. Exact costs may vary, but a CS50 certification generally costs $299.
Are Harvard CS courses free?
Yes, Harvard does offer computer science courses online for free, including the popular CS50. However, in order to get a certification, you will have to pay.