Many people wish they had a personal finance class in school. Learning about investing would have been way more useful than finding the area of a triangle, right? Luckily, even if you didn’t take a financial literacy course growing up, there are many free online finance courses you can take now.
As a financial writer for nearly 15 years, I appreciate the schools, companies, and nonprofits listed below because all offer financial education for free. Whether you want to improve your relationship with money, understand money psychology, or create your own budget for the first time, there is a course that can help you on this list.
Table of Contents
1. Transform Your Money Mindset: 4 Course Bundle by Clever Girl Finance
- Time to complete: Two days
Why we like it
Clever Girl Finance offers over 30 free courses on many different money topics. The Transform Your Money Mindset: 4 Course Bundle is a great place for beginners to start. The courses included cover how to transform your money mindset, organize your finances, create the right financial goals, and create a budget that works.
Takeaways
- Learn how to organize your finances first so it’s easier to create a plan.
- Start viewing your budget as a way for you to tell your money what to do, rather than something restrictive.
Why it’s worth taking in 2025
With the rising cost of everyday items, like groceries, learning skills like organizing your finances and budgeting is more important than ever. The courses are approachable, easy to watch, and are catered to women, though they would benefit everyone.
2. Financial Independence 101 by Choose FI Foundation
- Number of Lessons: 45 video lessons total
Why we like it
This is a highly comprehensive free course with 45 video lessons. You’ll learn how to pay off debt, build income, begin investing, and even optimize your taxes. In addition to the course itself, which you get lifetime access to, you also become a part of a community that you can use for accountability.
Takeaways
- Learn what financial independence means and the steps to take to get there. Hint: you don’t need a six-figure income to become financially independent one day.
- Learn how to build your investment plan regardless of market fluctuations.
Why it’s worth taking in 2025
If there was ever an “adulting” class, this is it. If you want 2025 to be the year you finally understand how to pay off debt, manage your work retirement plan, and get the right type of insurance to protect your family, this course has everything you need.
3. Create a Budget with Google Sheets by Coursera
Why we like it
There are many different budgeting apps and platforms that you can use for a fee, but this course from Coursera shows you how to create your own budget with Google Sheets. It only takes one hour to learn, and it’s for beginners. Because the course is free and Google Sheets is free, you can learn how to build a budget on your own.
Takeaways
- Learn how to create budgeting templates and charts in Google Sheets.
- Learn how to share your Google Sheet with others so you can budget with a loved one.
Why it’s worth taking in 2025
Budgeting is the most fundamental money skill everyone needs to learn. This course shows you don’t need expensive apps or a ton of time to learn how to make your own budget. The more you can DIY your finances in 2025, the more you can save on your path to financial wellness.
4. Financial Abuse by Savvy Ladies
Why we like it
Savvy Ladies is a nonprofit organization that creates free financial courses for women. While the company offers many typical financial classes on budgeting, debt management, investing, and more, I want to highlight the five courses it offers on financial abuse. In fact, Savvy Ladies is one of the only platforms I could find that even has a class on this topic.
Takeaways
- You’ll learn the signs of financial abuse so you know whether or not you’re experiencing it.
- You’ll learn how to become financially self-sufficient, such as creating accounts in your own name and establishing your own credit.
Why it’s worth taking in 2025
The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation says that financial abuse impacts almost 99% of domestic violence cases. This is a topic that’s not well known, and many victims don’t realize it’s a form of abuse. Visit TheHotline.org for immediate support and help.
5. Young Married/Single Adult Course by Brigham Young University
Why we like it
Brigham Young University is a school affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. However, the university’s free personal finances courses are available to everyone, and no login is required. The Young Married/Single Adult Course is very thorough, offering instruction on setting personal goals, budgeting, cash management, mortgages, and more.
Takeaways
- You’ll learn the process of buying a home and will be able to decide whether or not renting or owning a home is best for you.
- You’ll learn how inflation impacts your investments.
Why it’s worth taking in 2025
Many financial education classes mention home ownership, but this BYU course devotes two full lessons to the topic. With home prices on the rise and high interest rates, it can be hard to know whether or not it’s time to buy a house. This course will teach you how to make that decision, and that’s what sets it apart from others on this list.
6. Behavioral Finance by Duke University
- Time to complete: 5 hours
Why we like it
This Coursera class takes a deeper dive into finance by helping you understand the psychology of finance. Through this class, you’ll learn how to identify your own biases and make better financial choices overall.
Takeaways
- You’ll learn why people underestimate or overestimate financial outcomes.
- Identify the reasons why you might have made poor money decisions in the past and use what you’ve learned about money psychology to make better decisions in the future.
Why it’s worth taking in 2025
If you want to become financially savvy, understanding human psychology is important. Behavioral finance can help you understand why people make the spending, saving, and investment choices that they do. During periods of market uncertainty, it’s easy to make rash decisions, but understanding behavioral finance can keep you grounded.
7. Personal Finance Essentials by McGill
- Number of modules: Eight plus two bonus modules
Why we like it
McGill is a well-respected university that offers this course on personal finance essentials for free. You can even get a certificate of completion when you’re finished. Even though you don’t get official college credit, you can still put it on your resume. This is also one of the only free courses that has a module on cryptocurrencies and crypto tokens.
Takeaways
- Learn core investing topics like stocks, bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds.
- You’ll get an introduction to Blockchain and learn about cryptocurrencies.
Why it’s worth taking in 2025
This is a comprehensive course taught by several different McGill University professors. You’ll get a comprehensive overview not only of the personal finance essentials, as the course title suggests, but also updated material on investing and crypto.
8. Introduction to Managing Your Personal Finance Debts by Alison
- Time to complete: Three hours
Why we like it
Nearly 80,000 people have enrolled in this course so far. It’s completely free, but you can pay to get a completion certificate at the end if you choose. This course is useful because it focuses completely on debt, which can be incredibly stressful for people.
Takeaways
- You’ll learn how to negotiate with your credit card companies to lower interest rates.
- Learn specific strategies to prioritize your debt payoff and eliminate it once and for all.
Why it’s worth taking in 2025
The most recent Q4 2024 report from the Federal Reserve shows credit card balances have now reached $1.21 trillion. If you are struggling with credit card debt, you’re not alone, and this course can help you develop a plan to tackle it this year.
Again, all of the courses I listed above are completely free. Some require creating an account on the course platform, while others are available to watch without a login. In 2025, with rising inflation, high grocery costs, and a challenging job market, it’s more important than ever to be financially literate.
Signing up for these courses can help you make more informed money decisions moving forward, whether you’re just starting out or want to repair past mistakes. Many of these lessons will only take a few hours of your time but can help set you up with skills that will pay off for the rest of your life.
If you are interested in these courses, consider listening to these best personal finance podcasts.
