Free Online Courses for Teens

Top 35 Free Online Courses for Teens (13 to 19 Year Olds)

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If you happen to be between the ages of thirteen and nineteen and are seeking an educational opportunity to help shape your future, you need not look any further than our list of the best free online courses for teens.

Notably, these free online courses offer a great opportunity for teens to explore and gain knowledge, providing a wide variety of courses for every interest. From business to science, making it an ideal resource for teens to broaden their horizons. As the world becomes more digital, online learning has become a simple and convenient way to do so.

As a result, teens can explore topics they are interested in and gain the skills they need to thrive in the future. Thus, we have compiled a list of the top 35 free online courses for teens aged 13 to 19 that cater to various interests.

Our comprehensive list has something for everyone, whether you want to improve your coding skills, brush up on your business knowledge, or learn a new language. Moreover, since all of these courses are free, you can benefit from them without breaking the bank.

Best Free Online Platforms for Teens to Learn Anything 

The world has changed so much today; I mean, 13-year-olds now own gadgets and tablet phones today, and have access to the internet. If you think back to two decades ago, this wasn’t the case. While the technology impact of this is laudable, it offers teenagers the opportunity to learn a lot of things on the internet that they may not be exposed to in school. And this puts them way ahead of their ages.

If you’re a 13 – 19-year-old teenager, or a parent reading this, distance learning is possible. What’s more, you can learn a range of things like business, entrepreneurship, writing, coding, graphic design, marketing, sales, 3D animation, and more online for free. The following are the top free online MOOCs available today; some of them, however, offer their services at a price, but let you access quality education materials for free only for a limited time.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a free educational website that offers courses in a wide range of subjects, from math and science to languages and art.

Best for Learning: Math, science, computing, history, art history, K-14, and test preparation, including SAT, Praxis, and LSAT content.

MIT OpenCourseWare

MIT OpenCourseWare is a MOOC (massive open online courses) platform provided by the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of the best schools in the world. The courses provided on the website are great for anyone looking to gain knowledge in the computer science area but lacks enough funding to go to a proper college yet. It is also an ideal option for supplemental knowledge.

For Learning: Introductory to intermediate computer science, Machine Learning and Data Science, Macroeconomics and Microeconomics, Financial Analysis, Statistics and Probability, Math, Quantum Physics, and more.

Coursera

Coursera is a platform that offers free courses from top universities around the world. You can access courses on a variety of topics, including business, economics, and computer science.

Coursera partners with top global universities to provide courses in various aspects that students can take advantage of. There are only two ways students and teens can learn for free on Coursera:

  • They offer financial aid on some of their courses; you can apply for those and get access to learn for free, 
  • or you can choose to audit a particular course on the platform — but this means that you won’t get the certificate after learning unless you pay for it.

Best for: Computer Science courses, financial modeling, writing, marketing, and a host of other digital skills.

edX

edX, like Coursera, is a platform that provides free online courses from top universities. You can explore topics from programming to engineering to psychology and more.

Best for: Computer Science, business and business analytics, writing, design, and more.

Udemy

Udemy is a great resource for online courses. You can find courses on a variety of topics, from web development and design to entrepreneurship. Udemy, however, is not entirely free. But quality courses are being offered for free on the platform.

Also, you can get coupon codes from websites like discudemy to get courses on Udemy for free.

Best for: Programming 

FutureLearn

FutureLearn is a platform that offers courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world. The good thing about FutureLearn is that it is a generalist platform, offering everything from mental health courses to language courses, and they are mostly short courses that can be completed in a few weeks.

Best for: Business, UX Design, and more.

Free Code Camp

Free Code Camp is a great resource for learning how to code from scratch. It offers pathway courses in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and more.

Best for: Learning how to code as a beginner.

Code Academy

Code Academy is another great resource for learning to code. You can access courses on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, and more.

Best for Data Analytics 

Alison 

Alison is a fantastic platform for free online courses. IT and programming courses, as well as business and marketing courses, are available.

Harvard MOOC 

Harvard Online MOOCs provide free courses on a wide range of topics, from art and design to IT and engineering.

Google Digital Garage

Google Digital Garage provides free online courses on a variety of topics ranging from digital marketing and SEO to web development and design.

Best for Digital Marketing for beginners.

Plural Sight

Pluralsight is an excellent resource for learning to code. HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other courses are available.

For Learning: Software development, IT operations, data, and more.

Skillshare

Skillshare is an excellent website for finding free online courses. Courses on topics ranging from photography and design to business and marketing are available. When you register on Skillshare, you get to access any course on the website for free for one month, and you’ll also be eligible for a discount on your first subscription.

Best for: Photography, Pro-create, Digital Artistry, Freelancing, Entrepreneurship, etc.

ed2go

Ed2go is a fantastic site for finding free online courses. Courses on topics ranging from web development and programming to finance and accounting can be found.

OpenLearn

OpenLearn is an excellent site for finding free online courses. Courses on a wide range of topics are available, from business and finance to health and social care.

Saylor Academy

Saylor Academy offers free online courses in a variety of topics, from business and economics to history and philosophy.

List of the Best Free Online Courses for Teens (In 35 Different Categories)

Now that you are aware of several platforms where you can acquire knowledge through free online courses, it’s time to explore the extent to which you can benefit from them. To that end, we have compiled a list of 35 skill areas that pique the interest of teens today, along with courses that you can start taking to gain the necessary knowledge and expertise. This list covers a wide range of topics, including coding, machine learning, and business, amongst others, and is packed with the most in-demand skills that are capturing the attention of teenagers everywhere. Therefore, we encourage you to peruse the list below and find out more about these exciting opportunities to enrich your knowledge and enhance your skill set.

1. Learn to Code

Teens are very interested in coding these days, and children as young as 5 start coding and learning how to play with programming languages. If you’re a teenager that fits this description, then you’ll love these recommendations.

You’ll learn the fundamentals of coding as well as how to create your apps in these courses.

2. Web Design and Development 

Learn the fundamentals of web design and development while creating your websites.

Our recommended courses include:

3. Financial Literacy 

Learn how to make informed financial decisions.

4. Introduction to Statistics

Learn the fundamentals of statistical analysis and data interpretation.

5. Digital Marketing 

Gain an understanding of the world of digital marketing and learn how to promote your own brand.

6. Entrepreneurship 

Discover how to launch your own company and become a successful entrepreneur.

7. Machine Learning 

Learn the fundamentals of machine learning as well as how to create algorithms.

8. Computer Science 

Learn about the fundamentals of computer science and how to create software.

9. Python Programming 

Learn the fundamentals of Python programming and create your programs.

10. Adobe Photoshop 

Master the basics of Adobe Photoshop and create stunning artwork.

11. Video Production 

Learn the fundamentals of video production while creating professional videos.

12. Digital Photography 

Learn the fundamentals of digital photography and how to take stunning photographs.

13. Public Speaking 

Learn how to be a confident public speaker.

14. Social Media Marketing 

Understand the basics of social media marketing.

15. 3D Animation 

Create 3D animations while learning the fundamentals of 3D modeling.

16. Graphic Design  

Learn the fundamentals of animation and graphic design while creating your own artwork.

17. Language Courses 

What if you’re interested in learning a new language as a teenager? These are resources for you:

18. Business Fundamentals

Learn the fundamentals of business and develop the skills needed to become a successful entrepreneur.

19. Game Design 

Create your own games and learn the fundamentals of game design.

20. Cybersecurity 

Gain a working knowledge of cybersecurity and learn how to protect yourself online.

21. Data Science 

Understand the fundamentals of data science and how to interpret data.

22. Content Writing 

Learn how to write engaging content and how to create content for the web.

23. Search Engine Optimization

Discover the fundamentals of SEO and how to optimize your website.

24. Digital Art

Learn the fundamentals of digital art and create stunning artwork.

25. Economics 

Understand the fundamentals of economics and learn how to make sound economic decisions.

26. Audio Production 

Learn how to record and mix audio as well as the fundamentals of audio production.

27. Music Production 

Learn the fundamentals of music production and create your music.

28. Robotics

Learn the fundamentals of robotics and how to construct robots.

29. Java Programming

Learn the fundamentals of Java programming and create your applications.

30. Blockchain 

Learn about the fundamentals of blockchain and how to build distributed applications.

31. Mobile App Development 

Learn the fundamentals of mobile app development and create your own applications.

32. UX Design 

Understand the fundamentals of UX design and discover how to create user-friendly interfaces.

33. Mental Health Awareness Courses 

As teens, you get to interact with a bunch of kids your age, every day. It is important to learn people skills that help you get along, and help other children with needs; as well as learn how to take care of your mental health.

34. Digital Drawing 

Master the fundamentals of digital drawing to create stunning artwork.

35. Productivity Classes

As teenagers, it is also that you take courses online that supercharge your productivity and thinking. These are our recommended courses online:

FAQs About Online Courses for Teens

  1. What do students like most about online learning?

From multiple surveys and opinions we found on the internet, the reason, as we understand, why students prefer learning online is because of the freedom and flexibility this option provides. Even from a personal standpoint, I prefer learning online to in-person classes (if it can be helped) because of the cost of commuting fees it saves me, and the self-paced courses that let me complete them in my own free time.

2. What to expect from online schooling?

Most online courses out there offer value—whether little or by a great margin. Some of the courses in this article are for beginners, while others may be for intermediate learners. In all, these are all courses that contain video lectures, quizzes, assignments, discussion forums, and other resources that aid online learning.

Do these free online courses for teens offer certificates?

Some of these free online courses for teens offer certificates for free; while others require you to pay money to obtain them after you must have completed all the requirements leading to it. If it is something you or your parents can afford, it is advisable to pay for the certificates so you can show your competence in any skill path you choose.

Wrapping It Up

In conclusion, it is worth noting that there is a broad selection of free online courses available for teens aged 13 to 19, all of which present an excellent opportunity for teenagers to supplement their traditional education, explore their interests, and acquire valuable skills that will be beneficial in the future.

Moreover, this list of the top 35 free online courses enables teens to identify the course that best suits their needs without incurring any expenses. However, the education issue today is no longer merely about access, but relevance. Nevertheless, we believe that we have furnished you with the necessary information you require to pursue a successful career in any field of your choice. We wish you the best of luck!