8 Free Online College Courses for Middle School Students
Taking free online courses is a great educational opportunity, especially if you want to learn more about a specific subject. These courses give you the chance to enhance your knowledge and gain new insights. If you’re a middle school student, online courses can help you prepare for advanced high school-level coursework.
Learning about a topic that interests you can help you decide what classes to take in high school and even prepare for college by identifying the fields you want to pursue. Courses offered by well-known institutions add to your academic profile and help you learn about your interests. The courses in this list are free and offered virtually, which means they’re accessible to middle school students from across the country.
Check out our list of 8 free online college courses you can take as a middle school student!
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to all students
Fee: Free, however you must pay $199 for a certificate
Course Dates: Flexible, can start anytime
Entrepreneurship For All: The UC Berkeley Startup Guide for Students by Silicon Valley Insiders offered by BerkeleyX is a solid course for those interested in the field of business and motivated to learn about entrepreneurship and startups. This course, led by Silicon Valley professionals, offers an in-depth exploration of the startup journey, covering everything from conceptualizing an idea to scaling a business.
You will learn how to spot market gaps, create business models, and develop compelling pitches. Drawing on Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial experience, the course includes real-world case studies and actionable insights. It blends video lectures, readings, and hands-on projects, encouraging active learning and peer collaboration to apply concepts.
Application Deadline: None; open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all students
Fee: Paid after free trial
Course Dates: Flexible, self-paced
Computer Science 101 by Stanford University allows you to discover the basics of computer science. It is a beginner-friendly course that will teach you the applications and practical aspects of the field. You will be taught by Stanford professors and industry professionals, allowing you to learn from experienced faculty. You will be able to access video lectures, readings, and assignments at your own pace.
Through this course, you will learn theory related to computer science alongside learning code. The course aims to cover topics like working on the internet, hardware and computer software as well as computer security, digital media, the nature of computers and more. This holistic course requires no previous knowledge and can be your first step in studying computer science.
Application Deadline: None; open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all students
Fee: Free, $299 for certification
Course Dates: Self-paced between March 27, 2024 – March 26, 2025 (6 weeks long)
The Machine Learning and AI with Python course offered by Harvard University on EdX introduces the fundamental concepts of machine learning and artificial intelligence. The course covers important aspects of machine learning, like supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning, regression models, clustering techniques, dimensionality reduction methods, and more that will teach you about analyzing data.
You will also learn about topics like deep learning and neural networks and be introduced to building and training networks using Python frameworks. The course is beginner-friendly, but some knowledge of Python will help you advance and understand the modules better. You can learn flexibly through pre-recorded lectures, coding assignments, and assigned readings, which will help you understand real-world applications of the subject.
Application Deadline: None; open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all students
Fee: Free, $289 for certification
Course Dates: Six weeks, flexible
For those interested in the field of life sciences, Harvard University offers Principles of Biochemistry on EdX which gives students a comprehensive introduction to biochemistry, acquainting them to the molecular foundations of life. The course covers topics like metabolic pathways, protein structures, the structure and function of biochemical molecules, macromolecules, and more. You will get to learn about cellular processes and molecular reactions that are essential biological functions in nature.
The readings and assignments will help you learn about processes like cellular respiration, DNA replication, and enzyme kinetics. This knowledge can be helpful for a future career in medicine or healthcare. The course is self-paced and contains video lectures that you can follow along.
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to all students
Fee: Free, $159 for certification
Course Dates: Self-paced, 11 weeks
For those interested in psychology and mental well-being, the University of California, Berkeley offers The Science of Happiness course on EdX. This course introduces research on positive psychology and mental well-being and gives insight into the scientific literature on enhancing happiness and well-being. The course elaborates on what it means to lead a fulfilling life, the role of relationships, mindfulness, and the science behind habits promoting mental health, drawing on findings from the psychological, neuroscientific, and sociological literature.
Throughout the course, you will learn about evidence-based practices for increasing happiness, including topics like gratitude, empathy, and resilience, through real-life exercises and reflection prompts that will encourage you to apply these principles. The course also covers quizzes on topics like the biological basis of happiness and the influence of social connections.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all students
Fee: Free for a limited time upon enrollment, while obtaining a certificate typically requires payment
Course Dates: Self-paced (34 hours)
The Introductory Human Physiology course on Coursera offered by Duke University aims to provide a detailed introduction to the basics of the functioning of the human body. The modules focus on the physiological and biological functioning of body systems. You will gain a deeper understanding of how the body systems—nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive—interact with each other to sustain life.
You will also learn about cell function, muscle and nerve physiology, and the interrelation of systems of the body through lectures, quizzes, and interactive exercises. The course focuses on practical implementation by explaining that physiological mechanisms are important for human health. This course can aid your understanding of human biology and help you explore the field of medicine and healthcare.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all students
Fee: Free for a limited time upon enrollment, access to graded assignments and a certificate typically requires payment
Course Dates: Flexible (14 hours)
Introduction to Statistics by Stanford University, offered on Coursera, is an introduction to the field of statistics for beginners. You will learn about important topics related to statistics, such as regression, hypothesis testing, correlation, sampling methods, and more. The course is structured with real-world examples and practical problem sets, which will help you focus on the mathematical and applied aspects of statistics.
You will also understand how statistical methods are applied in decision-making based on data and the interpretation of quantitative information. You will gain experience in analyzing datasets through guided interactive quizzes, including hands-on assignments. This course is flexible and contains pre-recorded lectures.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all students
Fee: Free access to video lectures and certain materials, but a fee is required to access graded assignments and earn a certificate
Course Dates: Flexible (14 hours)
The ‘How Things Work: An Introduction to Physics’ course offered by the University of Virginia aims to teach students the physics behind everyday objects and events. Rather than focusing on theory, the course explains the physics of common items, from household appliances to transportation and electronic devices.
Introductory topics in physics, such as motion, heat, electricity, magnetism, and optics, are covered through real-life examples and demonstrations. You will be able to connect abstract ideas with their practical applications and will complete interactive assignments and quizzes that will deepen your understanding of the role physics plays in your life. This introductory course can be a first step towards exploring physics at an advanced level.
One more option—The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure!
To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines for 2024, you can refer to this page!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.