While there might be a number of eLearning platforms to choose from, edX is particularly popular among students looking to learn online. In fact, edX has over 34 million learners worldwide.
Founded by Harvard and MIT, in partnership with more than 150 other universities and educational organizations, edX a wide array of online courses and programs. From computer science and data analysis to architecture and humanities, you can choose from more than 2,800 courses and over 300 programs.
When you complete an online course on edX, you earn a program certificate or a verified certificate, depending on the edX program you choose. But are edX certificates worth it? Can edX certificates be used to bolster resumes and job applications?
Here is what you need to know.
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Types of Qualifications on edX
Whether you want to learn a new skill, research a particular field, or advance your career, edX offers the following types of qualifications:
- MicroBachelor Programs. If you’re looking to progress your professional career, the edX MicroBachelors programs are ideal. These programs are intended for adults who have little to no college education. With an average price range of $500 to $1,500, you can earn real college credit and complete any course at your own pace.
- MicroMasters Programs. Equivalent to 25% to 50% of a master’s degree, edX MicroMasters programs consist of several graduate-level courses created by leading universities. These types of edX certificates, along with earned college credit, give you the opportunity to attain your master’s degree faster. You can expect to pay $600 to $1,500 for these edX programs.
- Professional Certificate Programs. If your goal is to enhance your critical professional skills in a particular field of business, then the edX professional certificate programs are for you. Designed by top universities and industry leaders, these programs will allow you to earn valuable credentials and stand out in your field. Professional certificate programs can cost from $150 to $1,000.
- Xseries. Xseries includes various programs, from IT to literature, which provide you with an in-depth understanding of various fields of education and business.
- Online Master’s Degree. For those who want to enroll in a master’s degree program, edX offers top-ranked accredited programs from some of the best universities, including the University of Texas, Arizona State University, Boston University, and many more. These Master’s Degree programs can last from one to four years and cost from $10,000 to $25,000.
Are edX Certificates Worth It?
Before we tackle the “are edX certificates worth it” question, let’s explain how they actually work.
Since edX is a non-profit organization, you can enroll in their courses for free. This is otherwise known as the Audit Track, and it gives you access to course materials and discussion forums. However, edX certificates aren’t available for free courses.
If you sign up for the Verified Track, you will gain access to a verified certificate upon completing the course. For a specified fee, you will gain unlimited access to course content and graded materials. Aside from verified edX certificates, you can also earn a program certificate if you complete one of their Professional Certificate, XSeries, or MicroMasters programs.
These edX certificates are accredited, which means that you can add them to your resume and job applications. What’s more, they are affordable and allow you to take the course at your own pace. Your certificate, as well as earned college credit, can also be used to further your academic career, especially when you want to apply for another master’s degree program.
Along with the certificate, edX will also generate an easy-to-share link with your certificate, which you can attach to your LinkedIn profile, online resume, and other websites.
As mentioned before, edX was founded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University in 2012. Since then, it has partnered with over 150 universities and colleges all over the world. Some of the most notable include Berkeley, the University of Texas System, Australian National University, Boston University, Colombia University, Princeton University, and many more.
The prestige and accreditation of these partnering institutions greatly increase the value of an edX certificate. Since edX programs and courses were designed and modeled by formal university programs and taught by college professors, you can expect to gain new useful skills and valuable knowledge in your field of interest.
edX Courses and Certificates
As one of the most popular online learning platforms available, edX allows anyone to participate in a course in a variety of fields and interests. So, are edX certificates worth it? The answer is yes.
Not only do edX verified courses allow you to build your skillset and your career, but you will also receive a certificate that you can share with future job scouts, employers, and institutions. You can even use it for promotions and applications for further academic improvement.
If you would like to know more about edX certificates, you can read the full edX review on Coursary.