Earn the Lowest-Cost college credit from free courses!

Most free courses don't lead to college credit. Education Portal Academy's free courses do!

Here's how it works:

1. Watch free video lessons.

2. Take free quizzes.

3. Pass an exam to earn real college credit.

• See the full course list

Information and Requirements for Free Online Courses

Although the online science courses offered by the following school websites are free, there are software requirements in order to download files. Most courses require a current version of Adobe Acrobat and Internet Explorer to open PDF files. Some course content also includes downloadable audio and video lectures. QuickTime, Flash or iTunes may be required to view or listen to these files.

10 Universities Offering Free Online Science Courses

Mineralogy at Tulane University

The Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at Tulane University offers access to several science courses including this introductory mineralogy course. Learners can gain free access to the class syllabus, lecture notes and links to other related websites. Other free science courses from Tulane include Petrology, Physical Geology and Natural Disasters. Textbooks must be purchased separately.

Organic Chemistry I at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT allows independent learners to browse course material from an extensive archive of previously taught graduate and undergraduate courses. This introductory chemistry course covers the basic principles behind organic molecules. Assignments, lecture handouts and four challenging exams can be downloaded as PDF files. Other science courses from MIT come from within the fields of physics, geology, biology and brain science.

Fundamentals of Physics I at Yale University

Open Yale provides free access to several science courses such as this previously taught physics class. The content covers a wide range of topics, including Newton's laws, the theory of relativity and the basic principles of thermodynamics. All course materials can be downloaded as a .zip file, while lectures come in written, video or audio formats. Two textbooks are recommended but must be purchased separately.

Biochemical Engineering at Utah State University

Utah State's OpenCourseWare allows learners to access free materials for several science courses. This course studies topics such as biochemical processes and kinetics. Most of the lecture notes and exams are provided in PDF format. The course textbook must be purchased separately.

Agricultural Science and Policy I at Tufts University

The highlights of this course include learning about the biological, chemical and physical aspects of agricultural systems. Activities seek to analyze the policies that have affected agriculture throughout history. Lecture notes, assigned readings, exams, quizzes and an image gallery can be downloaded in PDF format.

General Science at University of Southern Queensland

This course introduces basic science concepts and simple experiment techniques to the help the online student discover what science is and how it is studied. Most of the reading material can be downloaded with Adobe Acrobat. Assignments and exams are also included for self-assessment.

Introductory Oceanography at University of Massachusetts - Boston

UMass Boston allows free access to several science, biology and earth science courses such as Introductory Oceanography. Explore the geography of the ocean from scientific, historical and philosophical perspectives. PDF files provide access to the course syllabus, lecture notes, images and exams.

Drinking Water Treatment I at Delft University of Technology

This Netherlands university offers several specialized science courses such as this one, which provides the online student with background knowledge of the processes involved in water treatment. The reading material can be downloaded as a PDF booklet. Exams and assignments are also included for self-assessment.

Intensive Introduction to Computer Science at Harvard University

This introductory course covers topics such as algorithm design and analysis, debugging and data processing. Thirteen 2-hour long video lectures can be viewed with QuickTime or Flash, and the audio is also available as an mp3 file.

Field Techniques at University of Texas - Austin

This geology course website introduces the student to various mapping tools and techniques, as well as different methods for collecting environmental data in the field. Free course materials include a reading list and suggested field activities for extended learning.

Earn Real Credit from Free Courses

While the free courses above don't award credit directly, there are two widely recognized and affordable options for students to gain real college credit.

Option #1: Pass a CLEP Exam

• Learn About CLEP Exams

The College Board's 33 CLEP exams allow you to test out of your general education requirements. Credit is accepted at 2/3 of colleges and universities in the U.S.

Option #2: Prepare a Portfolio

• Learn About Prior Learning Assessment

LearningCounts.org helps you prepare a portfolio that proves your knowledge. A faculty expert then recommends how much credit should be awarded. The process is call 'prior learning assessment'.