We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Can I Find a Free Online School?

By Amy Hunter
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

With the widespread influence of the Internet, it seems that anything is available. In five minutes you can learn something that — just 20 years ago — would have taken multiple trips to a research library. Arguably, the best part of the Internet is that all of this information is free. Many people want to continue their education so that they can further their career or move into a new career field, so they are looking for a free online school.

Whether or not it is possible to find a free online school depends a great deal on what your needs are. Unfortunately, receiving a degree from an accredited college for free is probably going to be impossible. Things are changing so quickly that there is no guarantee that a college won't start granting degrees for free, but it is unlikely.

If, however, you are looking for an education only, and the degree is not important, you may be surprised at what you find. Many fully accredited colleges, including many that are very prestigious, put their classes online as part of an open source network. You won’t have a teacher evaluating your work, but you may have access to the class syllabus, notes, coursework and required reading. Increasingly, professors are even putting their lectures online. For the person wanting an education, not necessarily a degree, there could be no finer free online school.

If you are working toward a degree, these classes will not help. However, if funds are tight, there is no reason to give up. Colleges that offer online courses also typically offer the same type of financial aid that they offer their more traditional students. You can fill out FAFSA paperwork online, with no commitment required. Once you see how much money is available for financial aid, you can determine whether or not you can take classes.

In some cases, free online school is available to students wishing to get a degree in a high-demand field. Teaching and nursing are two fields that may offer state sponsored grants in addition to financial aid packages. If you are interested in these career fields, talk to your local college about their free online school options.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.