Overview
This lecture exposes the high cost and outdated value of traditional degrees, highlighting 10 free, high-quality university courses available online that often surpass paid alternatives in relevance and practical skills.
The Problem with Traditional Higher Education
- Traditional degrees often cost over $100,000 and require four years, resulting in student debt for outdated skills.
- Employers value practical skills and portfolios more than degree prestige.
- Many universities pad curricula with unnecessary general education courses to increase tuition.
Free, High-Quality Online Courses
MIT Introduction to Computer Science (OpenCourseWare)
- Same lectures, assignments, and materials as paid MIT students, free online.
- Covers foundational computer science, algorithms, data structures, and computational thinking.
- Lacks only networking and official degree; strong employer recognition for skills.
Open Source Society University (OSSU) Computer Science Path
- Full CS curriculum curated from top free resources, maintained by industry professionals on GitHub.
- Regularly updated to match real-world tech needs.
- Skips irrelevant general education, focusing on core developer skills.
Stanford Machine Learning by Andrew Ng (YouTube)
- Taught by a renowned expert; deep dives into the mathematics behind machine learning.
- Teaches why algorithms work, not just how to use them.
- Foundation for well-paid ML/AI jobs; supplement needed for latest deep learning trends.
Yale Financial Markets (YouTube)
- Led by Nobel laureate Robert Schiller, provides real-world and psychological insights into finance.
- Suitable for finance careers or personal investment understanding.
Free Code Camp Full Curriculum
- Project-based learning from HTML basics to advanced machine learning.
- Builds a portfolio of 30+ projects; includes strong community and job referral networks.
- Frequently updated and recognized by major employers.
Yale Introduction to Psychology (YouTube)
- Covers foundational and applied psychology topics without excessive theory.
- Valuable for understanding human behavior in any profession.
MIT Sloan School of Management Lectures (OpenCourseWare)
- Free access to MBA-level content in entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, and operations.
- Focuses on immediately applicable business skills, avoiding degree program padding.
Harvard CS50 Curriculum (YouTube/Website)
- Covers computer science basics and specialized topics like game development.
- Uses industry-standard tools; projects enhance job portfolios.
- Gaming industry relevance; fundamental skills applicable across platforms.
Web Security Academy by PortSwigger
- Created by professionals; covers hands-on web security skills using interactive labs.
- Teaches modern threats and vulnerabilities with practical exercises.
Khan Academy
- Free, comprehensive education in math, science, and more.
- Known for clear, engaging instruction; widely used as a supplement for various subjects.
Key Terms & Definitions
- OpenCourseWare (OCW) — Free online publication of course materials from universities.
- Portfolio — Collection of projects showcasing a learner’s abilities to employers.
- Machine Learning — Field of computer science focused on teaching computers to learn from data.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the master list of free and affordable online learning resources provided in the lecture's description or pinned comment.
- Consider career-specific Google Career Certificates as an affordable credential option.
- Attend the upcoming live YouTube training for more content creation strategies, if interested.