Coursera Review

Is it possible to get a full university degree online? Actually, it is! In this Coursera review, I'll introduce you to an e-learning platform that goes the extra mile by providing fully accredited online degrees and much more.

If you’re interested in Coursera or, to be more precise, what is Coursera, what are the things that it does, and so on, you'll find all the answers right here.

I'll take a look at the company’s business model, provided learning experience, features, pricing and everything in between. So, let’s not waste any more time and dive right into the review.

Verdict at a Glance: Coursera is an online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses, specializations, and degree programs in various fields. It partners with universities and organizations worldwide to provide high-quality education and accredited certificates. Coursera has both free and paid courses, but its pricing options are rather complex.

Coursera Review: Introduction

Launched all the way back in 2012 by Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng, two Stanford University computer science professors, Coursera is a global online learning and career development platform.

As you'll notice in many Coursera reviews, it allows students to enroll in courses or even full degrees in order to specialize in a field of their choice and study subjects that will help them on their career paths.

The creators of Coursera envisioned a platform that would provide access to high-quality education worldwide, thus breaking down barriers of geography, cost, and accessibility (and so they delivered just that).

For the outsider looking in, Coursera might seem like yet another, generic e-learning platform. However, it stands out in that it partners with over 300 leading universities and renowned companies to provide professional and legitimate courses.

Besides, it offers a lot of different and unique learning options that I'll go over later in this Coursera review.

Who is Coursera for? Well, I'd say that Coursera is for everyone - professionals, students, entrepreneurs, job seekers, and lifelong learners. It offers a wide range of courses to cater to diverse learning needs and goals.

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Coursera Review: PROS

To get into all the nooks and crannies of the platform, I think it's best to start this Coursera review by going over the features that users love most.

Professional Yet Simple User Interface

A good and reputable learning platform should possess an “easy-to-use and navigate” type of interface, among other things. The companies that go for flashy and complicated designs usually do nothing else but confuse the users and make them want to leave immediately. How well does Coursera deal with this aspect?

Well, once you enter the landing page of the website, you are immediately presented with a simple, yet effective design.

In the past, you used to be greeted with a basic definitive slogan - “100% online learning from the world’s best universities and companies.” As simple as it may be, it served its purpose greatly - you immediately got information about what is Coursera, how it’s different from the competitors, what’s the learning model, etc.

While it's not there anymore, you can see a box with the top Coursera partners (e.g., the University of Illinois, Duke University, Google, and so on), which basically serves the same purpose as the slogan did.

Overall, the landing page is super simple in terms of design and what is revealed to the visitor. You've got various course and degree program suggestions, some user Coursera reviews, and promos for other features offered by the platform. So, it's not much different compared to most online learning providers.

Don’t get me wrong, though, when I say that the design and placement decisions of the platform are simplistic, I don’t mean it as a bad thing! On the contrary - I was very pleasantly surprised when I first entered the site. I felt as if I could focus on what I was looking for, not needing to turn my attention to some random pop-up or banner every two to three seconds.

Now, if you want to explore the platform further, there is a search bar and course exploration menu. The interface works just fine - you can efficiently find what you want to learn from said drop-down menu or enter the keywords into the search bar.

If you go with the latter, you'll be taken to a course page, where you'll be able to use various filters to further customize your browsing experience and find the perfect course. You can pick the difficulty level, course and subtitle languages, learning product types, duration, and so on.

Of course, before trying to enroll in any course or degree, you must sign up. The process is definitely self-explanatory - fill in your full name, email, and password, and then click "Join for Free." You could also sign up with your Google or Facebook account.

Once you do that, you'll be prompted to answer a quick questionnaire about your learning goals, employment status, education, and so on. If you want to get personalized suggestions, you should answer these questions. If not - you can skip it.

I went with the former option, and then I was brought to my personal homepage, where I could see course suggestions, and would also be able to find my ongoing and completed courses in the future. By the way, I'll talk more about my learning experience and course page navigation later.

Overall, the platform itself is intuitive and really easy to navigate. It feels professional - you actually get the sense that you’ve come to an established education platform. Up to this point in my Coursera review, I have to say - A+ when it comes to the usage side of things!

University-Level Content Quality

Arguably the most important aspect when it comes to online learning platforms is the quality of the content, and it surely dictates both the platform’s reputation and its overall success. That is why, in this Coursera review, I take content quality very seriously.

So, is Coursera worth it when it comes to that? To give you a short answer - definitely YES.

In order to expand on that, however, we would have to take a closer look at the content itself - or, to be more precise, the content providers. You see, as mentioned before, Coursera works with multiple universities and companies worldwide - these universities (or, rather, their professors) are the ones that provide the majority of the content to the platform.

You can enroll in courses or programs prepared by experts from the University of Michigan, Stanford, IBM, Google, and many other renowned organizations.

Naturally, it would be tough to argue with the quality of the content when it’s produced by certified professionals, some of whom have spent their entire lives studying and researching the field. Most of the online Coursera reviews tend to agree - people seem to be very happy and satisfied with the quality of learning that they receive.

The only thing that some students point out is that a few professors tend to be camera-shy, which is somewhat distracting when you’re trying to learn a difficult subject. I personally didn't encounter this issue, though.

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Courses, Specializations, Degrees, and More

Another thing a good online learning platform should possess is something unique that makes it stand out from the crowd. Take a look at Skillshare, for example - it ensures that with each course you undertake, you'll get to apply what you've learned by working on your own project.

However, this is a Coursera review, so what is unique about the platform in question? Well, I'd say that one of its most unique features is the number of learning options it offers.

If you want to start learning a subject over at Coursera, you have a few different choices of how to do this, including free courses, certified courses, guided projects, professional and graduate certificate programs, specializations, degrees, and MasterTreck.

Free Courses

Yes, that's right - you can find a variety of free courses on Coursera. In fact, you can find thousands of free courses and guided projects made by the same renowned universities and organizations that make the paid ones.

While free courses do not grant official certificates upon completion, they still offer valuable knowledge and skills as you get access to video lectures, readings, quizzes, and assignments.

Besides, Coursera's free courses cover a diverse range of subjects, including technology, business, humanities, health, and more. So, this option provides an excellent opportunity for individuals to explore new interests, enhance existing skills, or prepare for further academic pursuits.

For example, you could take a free Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills course prepared by George Siedel, a business law professor from the University of Michigan. The course teaches the techniques and strategies required for effective negotiation in both personal and professional settings.

Certified Courses

This is probably one of the most popular learning options on Coursera. You pay a fee, enroll in a course and simply start learning. Depending on your schedule, you can choose to submit homework assignments and take the tests/exams whenever you are able to.

Once you finish this type of course (graduate from it successfully), you will receive an official certificate, recognized globally for its credibility and value in both academic and professional settings. These courses are a flexible option for career development, skill enhancement, and academic exploration.

For example, you could take a certified Crash Course on Python prepared by Google. The course provides an accelerated introduction to Python programming, covering fundamental concepts and skills to quickly enable learners to create basic Python applications.

Professional Certificate Programs

Coursera's professional certificate programs are online course programs designed to provide job-specific skills in various career fields. These programs are composed of a series of related courses that include interactive assignments and hands-on projects.

Some programs even offer pathways to university or professional credits. With flexible pacing and options for financial aid, professional certificate programs are both accessible and practical for career advancement.

For example, you could get the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate. This program offers a comprehensive introduction to the field of data analytics, using a blend of Google tools and industry-standard practices to equip learners with the skills needed to become job-ready analysts.

Graduate Certificate Programs

Coursera graduate certificate programs are specialized educational programs aimed at professionals or students who are looking to deepen their expertise in a specific field. These certificates are typically offered in partnership with accredited universities, providing high-quality, university-level instruction.

Unlike shorter professional certificate programs, graduate certificates often cover more complex topics and may require a greater time commitment, sometimes spanning over multiple semesters. Some programs even offer academic credits that can be applied toward a full master’s degree program, providing a pathway for further education.

For example, you could acquire the Graduate Certificate in Taxation from the University of Illinois. This program provides an in-depth understanding of taxation principles and practices, as it is designed to equip professionals with specialized skills in tax law and compliance.

Guided Projects

Guided projects on Coursera are tailored learning experiences designed to focus on specific skills or objectives. These projects are concise, typically taking only a few hours to complete, but they do provide a hands-on, practical approach, which makes them an efficient way to acquire targeted knowledge.

Guided projects are suitable for learners of all levels, including beginners. This focused, task-oriented learning complements Coursera's broader course offerings, providing learners with a well-rounded educational experience.

For example, you could enroll in the Business Analysis & Process Management guided project prepared by Mahi Ismail. It offers hands-on experience in analyzing and improving business processes.

Specializations

A specialization is basically a select number of courses packed into one, specific topic. They offer a structured learning path, often including hands-on projects and assessments for practical application.

For instance, if you want to learn about creative writing, you can choose to either take a standalone course or specialize in the topic - take a bundle of five courses that all revolve around the topic of creative writing, yet cover different subject matters.

Capstone projects often serve as a culmination of the specializations, allowing learners to demonstrate their acquired skills in a real-world context.

For example, you could enroll in the Machine Learning Specialization program prepared by Stanford University and DeepLearning.AI. It provides a comprehensive overview of machine learning fundamentals, from basic algorithms to advanced techniques, designed for both beginners and experienced professionals.

Degrees

A degree is a huge deal - same as in any of the real universities worldwide. If you choose to take a degree, you could say that you basically sign up to go to a university, just online. Coursera offers a wide variety of different degrees that you can take, most of them revolving around business and IT categories.

There are three types of program levels when it comes to degrees on Coursera - bachelor's, master's, and postgraduate.

Bachelor's and master's degree programs encompass a wide array of disciplines, providing learners with the opportunity to earn a reputable degree entirely through online courses. Graduates who successfully complete the program in question receive an official degree from the partnering university.

Postgraduate programs, on the other hand, are typically designed for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree and are seeking further specialization in their field or a transition into a new area of expertise. They provide a focused, in-depth education in a specific subject or skill set, often with a strong emphasis on practical application.

For example, you could get a Master of Computer Science from the University of Illinois. It's an advanced degree course that delves deeply into various areas of computer science, including data science, software engineering, and cloud computing.

MasterTrack

Coursera's MasterTrack programs offer advanced, graduate-level education. Learners can study at their own pace, and upon successful completion, they have the option to earn a certificate that can be applied as credit toward a related master's degree.

These programs are designed to be immediately applicable in real-world scenarios, providing valuable skills for professional growth. Taught by experts, MasterTrack programs offer a flexible and accessible pathway to deepen expertise in a specific field.

For example, you could enroll in a MasterTrack program on Sustainability and Development prepared by the University of Michigan. It offers an in-depth exploration of sustainable practices and development strategies, blending academic rigor with practical applications.

All in all, most of the Coursera reviews found online seem to be very positive when it comes to the different types of learning options that the platform offers. The only complaints that I’ve seen are basically aimed at the complicated pricing of the platform, but I'll discuss that a bit later.

A Variety of Certificates

One of the most prominent features of online learning platforms is a certificate of completion - an official document stating that you have successfully finished and graduated from the course/specialty. Since Coursera offers various learning types, it's only natural that it also offers various certificates.

A lot of people seem to wonder is Coursera certificate worth it - let's see. The certificates offered by Coursera include:

• Course Certificates. These are certificates issued for individual courses. They indicate that you've successfully completed a course. However, don't forget that you don't get these for free courses.
• Professional Certificates. These are specialized credentials that are given to those who complete Professional Certificate programs (obviously). The certificates are verified by the university or organization that created the program.
• MasterTrack Certificates. These are granted for completing courses within a MasterTrack program and can be applied as credit toward a related master's degree at the partnering institution.
• Graduate Certificates. Graduate-level certificate that is given to those who complete Graduate Certificate programs. These certificates hold weight in the academic and professional world.
• Postgraduate Diploma. An official diploma issued by the university in question. You can even get a hard copy of it and receive it during an an official convocation ceremony together with those who studied on campus.
• University Certificates. These certificates are issued directly by universities and they prove that you've gained a degree in question.

Overall, the certificates that Coursera offers are a great way to both incentivize and motivate students not to let go of their goals and finish their studies. For those wondering is the Coursera certificate worth it - I'd say that it is! Especially if we're talking about professional, postgraduate, or university certificates.

Audits and Financial Aid

Coursera offers two key options for learners who are concerned about the costs of its courses: auditing courses and applying for financial aid.

If you want to take a course and learn the material that it provides, but don’t want to spend money to do so (or perhaps the course is simply too expensive), you can choose to audit it. When you audit a course, you are able to view the subject materials and study them, free of charge.

You cannot, however, apply for a certificate, submit homework for grading, participate in closed, course-specific activities and so on. Besides, you can only audit single courses.

For those who are interested in earning a certificate but find the cost prohibitive, Coursera offers a Financial Aid program. You can apply to the program by submitting a special form - if they deem that you are worthy of financial aid, they will compensate the course for you. How cool is that?

Both options aim to make education more accessible, allowing learners from diverse financial backgrounds to acquire new skills and knowledge. By the way, don't forget the free courses mentioned before - they also provide users with accessible education.

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Coursera Review: CONS

I went over all of the major pros of the platform in this Coursera review. However, like any other online learning provider, it does have some drawbacks, too – the main one being its complicated pricing scheme.

Complicated Pricing

Coursera does have a quite complex pricing structure. With a myriad of options like individual courses, specializations, professional certificate programs, and subscription plans like Coursera Plus, it can be challenging to navigate what exactly you're signing up for and how much it will ultimately cost.

This complexity can be a hurdle for people who are new to online learning or those who are looking for a straightforward, easy-to-understand pricing model. Varied costs may require users to spend extra time figuring out the most cost-effective learning path for them, which can be a deterrent for some.

Speaking of which...

Coursera's Pricing Options

Pricing is an important aspect for any and all online education platforms - it is also the most common point of frustration for students. You can take any MOOC platform and simply check its reviews out - in one way or another, the most common type of complaint is most probably going to be related to the price.

While writing this Coursera review, I found that the platform has two ways of pricing its courses and other learning programs - single, one-off payments and subscriptions.

Single payments for courses, professional certificates, and specializations start from around the $49 mark. Depending on the topic, length and complexity, it can be both less and more than that. Though note that you can also get a 7-day free trial on many Coursera courses to see if they are worth it. Guided projects start from $9.99. 

Furthermore, if you want to get a degree, the prices can go from $9,000 even up to $50,000 - the same as with many of the universities in the real world. And, if we're talking about MasterTreck programs, you can expect the prices to start at $2,000.

Table: Coursera's one-off pricing for various learning options

So, overall, it's hard to determine the prices of each type of learning program on Coursera as they vary a lot based on many factors.

When it comes to subscriptions, though, it's much easier. For one, note that some specializations also offer subscriptions, charging learners monthly until they complete the Specialization in question. However, there is also a major subscription-based model – Coursera Plus (and its Lite version).

It grants unrestricted access to a vast majority of Coursera's educational content – covering over 90% of their course catalog. With this subscription, you can enroll in an unlimited number of eligible courses without incurring extra costs. Besides, you'll earn a course certificate for each successfully finished course.

The Lite version, on the other hand, only provides access to the videos of the majority of courses but no certificates, graded assignments, or hands-on projects.

Table: Coursera Lite and Plus pricing

As you can probably see for yourself, the prices definitely aren’t on the cheap side of things. Many Coursera reviews also point out that a lot of the courses that used to be free to learn have recently become paid ones. Some people are genuinely upset over the price tags that the platform offers.

However, in the company's defense, they do provide an expert-level service to their students. It’s not every day that you’ll find an e-learning platform that would offer people professional, university-level education taught by real, certified university professors.

Learning Experience on Coursera

As a final point in this Coursera review, let’s cover the learning experience aspect of the platform. This basically includes the general feeling that a student would get while taking a course and learning over at Coursera.

When people wonder, “Is Coursera worth it?” or “Is a Coursera certificate worth it?” most of the time, it all falls down to the actual learning experience. And, luckily, Coursera has that covered.

As I’ve mentioned a bit earlier, Coursera does provide a professional learning experience to students, whatever their course of choice would happen to be. The “instructors” (professors) are masters of their craft - this guarantees the quality of the knowledge that you’ll receive.

The timetables are flexible, too - you can choose to work and study at your own pace, finding a good balance between learning the material and your full-time job. Many online Coursera reviews point out that the platform is great for “people who want to learn their whole life”. I think that’s a pretty good definition.

Some users also point out in their Coursera reviews that the course/specialization pages are pretty unique in their style and appearance - and I would tend to agree!

I don’t want to sound repetitive, but they're really simple as they have minimalistic color patterns but, at the same time, are aesthetically pleasing. Besides, they include all the necessary info - general explanations, “Why take this course?” section, instructor, university and partner introductions, and FAQs.

Once you enter a course, you'll see your personal dashboard, where you can find the course plan, schedule, dates for upcoming quizzes, and so on. You can also set a weekly goal if you want, which is a useful feature that might increase your motivation^[1] (it does the trick for me).

I also like the dashboard of the course itself. It's simple but professional. You can see the lesson plan on the left and the video player on the right. Besides, there is a transcript below the video, and you can even change it to another language, which is very nice. Also, you can add notes, download lesson material, and enter a forum through the "Discuss" section.

To sum up, you have everything you might need, and it's very easy to navigate. So, I can say that my learning experience on Coursera was smooth and pleasant.

Coursera for Businesses, Universities, and Governments

What's also worth noting in this Coursera review is that the platform is made not only for individuals. It also has three other branches – Coursera for Business, Coursera for Universities (or Campus), and Coursera for Governments.

Coursera for Business is a robust educational platform specifically made for companies and organizations. It offers a range of courses, from professional skill development to specialized training, allowing businesses to upskill their employees. It's a similar business-focused platform to those offered by other popular online learning providers.

Table: Coursera for Business pricing plans

Coursera for Campus is designed to supplement higher education by providing universities with access to a vast array of online courses and educational content. This enables academic institutions to enhance their curriculum and offer more flexible learning solutions. After all, combining online with traditional learning proves to be an efficient way of teaching^[2].

Table: Coursera for University pricing plans

Coursera for Government aims to equip public sector organizations with a scalable and effective platform for workforce development. It offers a wide range of online courses, specializations, and certifications that help government employees enhance their skills and knowledge. The pricing is the same as it is for the Coursera for Business.

Coursera VS Competitors

So, based on everything I went over in my Coursera review, I can say that it definitely is a great platform. The question is, though, is it better than other great online learning platforms?

Coursera VS DataCamp

DataCamp is one of the most popular MOOC platforms, but it does have a bit different approach than Coursera. For one, it focuses specifically on data science and analytics. It mainly offers courses on R, Python, and SQL. DataCamp's courses are also more bite-sized and hands-on, aiming for skill acquisition in shorter time frames.

	DATACAMP	COURSERA
Overall Score	9.8	9.1
Best For	Best for Students	Best for Career Paths
Headquarters	4.9 of 5.0	4.6 of 5.0
Latest Coupons	GET 50% OFF All DataCamp Coupons	100% FREE All Coursera Coupons
Verdict	A leading data & AI course-focused online learning platform for beginners and advanced learners.	University-level online learning provider that offers high-quality education worldwide.
	Visit site Read review	Visit site Read review

Table: Main information about Coursera and DataCamp

Nevertheless, both platforms offer high-quality, interactive content, but if you're looking to specialize in data science and want quick, skill-based learning, DataCamp might be more suitable.

Coursera VS Udacity

Udacity is another great learning provider. However, it is more focused on tech-related fields like artificial intelligence, programming, or data science. It offers Nanodegree programs, which are intensive, career-oriented courses that promise a more hands-on learning experience, usually spanning a few months.

	UDACITY	COURSERA
Pros	High-quality courses Nanodegree programs Student Career services Scholarships More than 200 free courses	Professional service University-level content quality A variety of learning options The possibility of getting a full degree online Accredited certificates available
Cons	Quite expensive pricing	Complex pricing structure
Value For Money
Content Quality
	Visit site Read review	Visit site Read review

Table: Pros and cons of Coursera and Udacity

While Coursera is a good choice for those looking for a wide variety of subjects and a more academic learning structure, Udacity is more suitable for individuals focused on gaining tech skills and hands-on experience for career advancement.

Coursera VS edX

Similarly to Coursera, edX also has a wide range of courses and even degrees made in partnership with universities, but it is unique in its offering of MicroMasters and MicroBachelors programs, which are more modular and job-focused. Besides, edX courses can be more flexible, allowing for self-paced learning (although this can vary from course to course).

	EDX	COURSERA
Skill Analysis
Course Recommendation Engine
Connection with the Lecturer
Personalized Learning Paths
	Visit site Read review	Visit site Read review

Table: Features of Coursera and edX

Overall, while Coursera tends to be more structured and, thus, ideal for learners who prefer a guided experience, edX offers more modularity and flexibility, catering to those who might already have some foundational knowledge and are looking to upskill or reskill quickly.

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Conclusions

To sum up this Coursera review, I can say that it stands as a robust platform for online learning and offers a plethora of courses across various disciplines. Its partnerships with universities and institutions add a layer of credibility to its courses, many of which are adaptations of existing on-campus offerings.

Even though Coursera's pricing model is a bit complex and may require some time to navigate, its varied learning paths, from free-to-audit courses to full degrees, make it a versatile choice for learners of all levels.

Whether you're looking to pick up a new skill, earn a professional certificate, or even complete an online degree, Coursera offers a comprehensive set of options to meet your educational needs. That being said, good luck with your online learning experiences to come!

Scientific References

1. M. van Lent, M. Souverijn: 'Goal Setting and Raising the Bar: A Field Experiment';

2. J. Singh, K. Steele, L. Singh: 'Combining the Best of Online and Face-to-Face Learning: Hybrid and Blended Learning Approach for COVID-19, Post Vaccine, & Post-Pandemic World'.