What we liked
Pros
- Full degrees from Illinois, Michigan, Penn and more
- Stackable certificates count toward some degrees
- Learn free in audit mode before enrolling
Keep in mind
- Degree admission still runs through the partner university; Coursera is the platform, not the accreditor.
Score breakdown
Coursera pricing in 2026
Coursera starts at $49/mo. Free option: audit many courses free. As with most services in this category, the advertised rate typically assumes annual billing — check the renewal price and current promotions before committing.
Who is Coursera for?
Coursera is our pick for university degrees & certificates online. Coursera lets you audit real course content free before committing a dollar — and its stackable certificates from Google, IBM, and top universities can count toward full degrees from Illinois, Michigan, and Penn.
How Coursera compares
Our top-rated online degrees pick overall is Southern New Hampshire University (9.6/10). Also consider Western Governors University (9.3/10). See the full online degrees comparison for all 6 ranked services side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — Coursera scores 8.8/10 (Very Good) in our independent testing and ranks #4 of 6 in our online degrees comparison. It stands out as the pick for university degrees & certificates online.
Coursera pricing starts at From $49/mo. Free option: Audit many courses free. Check current promotions on their site, as introductory rates change frequently.
The strongest alternatives are Southern New Hampshire University (9.6/10) and Western Governors University (9.3/10). See our full online degrees comparison for all 6 ranked options.