Free Online MBA Courses with Certificates

Get an MBA for Free Through Online Courses from Top Universities

For numerous professionals, pursuing an MBA is the next logical path to further their career opportunities. Regardless of the field of graduation, the advantages of having an MBA are manifold. However, some professionals face a dilemma, given the expense and commitment involved.

Are you considering getting an MBA? If you don’t want a certificate proving that you’ve completed your degree, but want to learn all there is to know, you can get an MBA-equivalent education through online free MBA courses that cover a variety of subjects such as accounting, finance, marketing, operations management, entrepreneurship, and more.

In this article, we have compiled a list of the top free MBA online courses on popular online learning platforms. These free courses are offered by top universities and business schools and cover a variety of topics that are routinely included in most online MBA courses.

How to Get a Free Online MBA Through Online Courses

The following six foundational courses will help you master the skills you need to start a business or take it to the next level. You can take these six free MBA courses to kick-start your business education.

1. Introduction to Financial Accounting by Coursera

Provider: The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Duration: 13 hours

Rating: 4.7

Course Description: This course will teach you the technical skills to analyze financial statements. You will learn how accounting standards and managerial incentives affect the financial reporting process.

2. Introduction to Corporate Finance by Coursera

Provider: The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Duration: 7 hours

Rating: 4.6

Course Description: This course focuses on applying finance fundamentals (such as the time value of money, risk-return trade-offs, car leasing, and capital budgeting) to a variety of real-world situations, covering personal finance, corporate decision-making, and financial intermediation.

3. Effective Collaboration: Leadership, Teamwork, and Negotiation by Coursera

Provider: Northwestern University

Duration: 14 hours

Rating: 4.8

Course Description: This course will help you develop and expand your leadership skills, design teams for collaboration, and develop win-win negotiation strategies. You will use a self-assessment to analyze your leadership style, develop a team charter, and create a game plan for effective negotiations.

4. "Everyday Leadership Foundations" by Coursera

Provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Duration: 15 hours

Rating: 4.8

Course Description: This course is designed to help you understand why and how leadership skills are critical to organizational success. You will learn the fundamentals of effective leadership skills, individual decision making, group decision making, and managerial motivation. By the end of this course, you will be able to apply effective leadership skills to everyday situations that leaders face.

5. Business Analytics for Decision Making by Coursera

Provided by: University of Colorado Boulder

Duration: 9 hours

Rating: 4.6

Course Description: This course is designed to teach you how to create decision models. It starts with cluster analysis and helps students understand the uncertainty that is prevalent in models and many business decisions.

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6. Introduction to Marketing by Coursera

Provided by: The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Duration: 10 hours

Rating: 4.8

Course Description: This course covers the three core topics of customer loyalty: brand, customer-centricity, and practical marketing strategies. You will learn how brand equity is one of the key elements to retain customers in a dynamic world. You will learn about the drivers that influence customers and how customer-centricity differs from customer service.

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is an all-encompassing degree designed to prepare learners for the rigors of running a business. Taking online MBA programs can help professionals prepare for the various functions required to manage a business, such as financial accounting, management accounting, marketing, supply chain management, and operations management. These courses may also focus on soft skills that are equally critical to a business manager's success, such as leadership. Earning an MBA can be an opportunity for career advancement, career change, or entrepreneurship. Individual MBA programs may also be helpful for learners seeking advanced knowledge in specific skills as part of their personal career development. Get started today to begin your learning journey.