edX Pricing: How Much is it?

When it comes to understanding edX’s pricing, things can get a little complicated. With offerings ranging from individual free courses to paid certificates and comprehensive learning programs, it’s easy to feel unsure about what’s worth paying for. If you’re looking to find out which courses you can access for free, the cost of earning a certificate, or how much their specialized programs will set you back, this guide has you covered. I’ll walk you through edX’s pricing structure, from no-cost learning options to the full breakdown of fees, refund policies and alternative platforms, so you can confidently choose the right path for your education and career development.

I’ve extensively researched and personally used online learning platforms for several years now, which has helped me write this detailed edX pricing article. Alongside having my own subscription plan with edX, my Master’s in Teaching and Education has given me a solid foundation in understanding effective learning methods and evaluating educational tools. I genuinely believe this pricing guide will not only be helpful but also informative, offering you insights from both my professional background and personal experiences with edX.

Catherine CookeUpskillwise Advisor

Table Summary of edX Pricing

Okay, so a quick recap of edX pricing options, learners can access courses for free in audit mode, or pay between $50-$300 USD to earn a certificate. If you’re looking to earn a certificate, you can choose between the professional, XSeries certificates and Executive Education, which start at $299 USD. Then, if you have a bigger budget and more time to commit, there are the degree options starting at $10,000 USD.

Is edX Free?

This question gets asked a lot and while learners can take courses for free on edX, it’s important to understand how and why. Yes, you can learn for free on edX. Most, but not all, courses can be audited. Auditing a course on edX, similar to auditing courses at universities, means you can acquire some knowledge by joining the class, but you won’t get graded assignments nor a certificate of completion. edX also puts a limit on access to class materials, usually for the duration of the class, or about 4–12 weeks. Auditing a course is a great option to possibly brush up on or get a first impression of any given course, but it doesn’t foster the full learning experience. To get that, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid version of whatever course you’re studying.

Most courses offer the option to audit, but there are a select few that do not. For example, courses within MicroMaster’s programs or courses that have been archived are typically unavailable to audit. Some courses can be audited and then changed to paid courses if desired. Either way, it’s important to check to see if the audit option is available and under which circumstances.

So, to sum up the free course option:

• Completely free, but limited access
• No certificate upon completion
• Not all courses can be audited

edX Learning Options

Verified Track

edX offers certificates of completion upon finishing a course, and usually from a highly esteemed university or institute. But, as mentioned above, this route—Verified Track that is—comes with a price. Most courses completed via the Verified Track cost between $50 and $300. The price range is dependent on the subject, type, and level of a given course. Upon payment, learners receive full access to all course materials (unlimited) and graded assignments/exams. While the course is active, learners also have the ability to interact with the professor and class forums which can be that much more beneficial in the learning process. Once completed, the certificate can be shared on LinkedIn directly, and on your resume.

Learners wanting to reap the benefits of fully learning a new skill by taking a course or two have very positive results with this option. And if you’re hoping to have proof on paper, then all the better.

In a nutshell, a Verified Track means:

• Paying $50-$300 approx, per course
• Unlimited access to course material as long as the course is offered on edX
• Access to graded assignment and exams during the course
• Interaction with professor and course forum

Professional Programs

When you see the cost per course and then look at a series of courses that interest you to either change careers or vastly upskill, you might think the price is going to be too hefty. Indeed, paying per course to go from beginner to expert in a new profession is quite costly. Fortunately, edX offers Professional Certificate Programs that typically cost between $200 and $1,000 and pluck you out of novice land and immerse you into remote apprenticeship. Prices vary depending on which university or institute they are affiliated with, the number of courses in a program, the level of expertise gained upon completion, and the subject matter. Usually, a less costly program will involve a broader topic, have less courses to complete, and be given by smaller institutions or even non-profit organizations. The opposite generally applies to more expensive programs. That’s to say they tend to be more niche-specific, longer duration and or involving more courses, include access to specialized tools and hands-on learning, and are offered by top tier universities or taught by industry leaders. Prices can also vary depending on job market demand and complexity of course material.

These programs are designed for learners seeking quick career changes and impressive upskilling although all are self paced and usually take between 6 months to a year to complete. Professional Programs can be very pennywise actually. Think of it this way: You have been working as an elementary school teacher for the last 10 years and you start thinking ‘Artificial Intelligence fascinates me and seems like a lucrative career move but I have ZERO background in tech’, IBM’s Professional Certificate program in Artificial Intelligence is designed for beginners with little to no previous IT skills or knowledge, and after completing the program, you will be able to create AI models and work with tools in the industry.

In short, edX Professional Programs:

• Cost between $200 and $1,000
• Are a great option for impressive upskilling and complete career makeovers
• Are self-paced between 6 months and 1 year
• Have same access per course as Verified Track

MicroBachelors Programs

If I had to choose which program offered by edX is most similar to another, I’d say the Professional Programs have a lot in common with the MicroBachelors. The cost is slightly higher, at roughly $500-$1,500 per MicroBachelors Program. In essence, these are also programs with specific courses bundled together to help give its learners a leg up in a specific field of study and or a very attractive career boost. However, one noteworthy difference is that upon earning a MicroBachelors, you also have credits earned to complete a Bachelor’s degree. It’s directly transferable to participating universities and, therefore, gives learners the opportunity to grow and develop career wise AND have a portion of a Bachelor’s degree already completed.

The time dedication is also similar to that of Professional Programs, but the distribution is intensified—more hours per week but completed in less months. The focus on job ready skills is also similar and so MicroBachelors are a smart choice for those wanting the best of both worlds—academic and professional growth.

A cut-to-the-chase:

• Cost: $500-$1,500
• Time: 3-6 months, 6-10 hours of study per week
• Outcomes: Transferable college credits towards a Bachelor’s degree, aid in starting a new career path and or refine already learned skills.

XSeries Programs

XSeries Programs are academic outlets for learners to deepen their understanding in a field or subject. Let’s say you completed an edX Professional Program in Data Science and now you’ve got job prospects lined up, but you want to stand out or make sure you have an even broader understanding. That’s one reason to consider completing an XSeries Program. If you’re already equipped with a career path but find you could benefit from a greater breadth of knowledge in the field, then XSeries is a nice route to take. The cost of any given XSeries Program is between $300 and $1,500, depending on subject matter and level. Each program typically includes 3-7 courses and depending on a student’s pace, they can take anywhere from 3 to 12 months to complete. Courses are far more comprehensive and information dense and less hands on. Upon completion of an XSeries, a learner will receive a Verified Certificate and gain an academic level of expertise in the area of study.

To recap, edX XSeries Programs:

• Deepen academic knowledge of a specific subject
• Offer Verified Certificates upon completion
• Cost between $300 and $1,500
• Take 3-12 months to complete, self-paced

Short Courses

Ever want to dabble into a subject but not enroll in a full on program? edX Short Courses form a sort of a la carte menu where folks can cherry pick a course or courses that interest them or that meet their objectives. edX Short Courses can help learners upskill, refine skills, supplement knowledge, learn something completely new and or keep the mind on its intellectual toes. There are courses in a wide variety of subjects including Business Management, Personal Development, Health & Medicine, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Data Science & Technology. Each course is designed to fully encompass theoretical and practical learning via a combination of some or all of the following: lectures, reading, graded assignments and tests, projects and hands-on exercises. Each course also includes discussion forums and may even have peer reviewed graded assignments.

Most courses can be audited—so essentially free—but as explained in the sections above, some features of the course are not available in audit mode, curtailing the comprehensive learning experience as well as leaving behind the Verified Certificate once completed. Fortunately, the courses are reasonably priced from $50 to $300, and vary based on subject, content and educator. They also vary on duration as most are self-paced and can take from a few weeks to a few months to complete.

A quick rundown of edX Short Courses:

• Cost: free if audited or $50-$300
• Time dedication: 2-6 hours/week for 4-8 weeks (a majority but not all)
• Verified Certificate upon completion of paid course

MicroMasters Programs

Similar to the edX MicroBachelors Programs, MicroMasters Programs offer extensive academic rigor with graduate level courses from esteemed universities and institutes. The programs are designed to expand on subjects and generate a greater understanding about topics of study. Generally speaking, anyone can complete a MicroMaster Program, this is to say it is not exclusive to Bachelor’s degree holders. What’s more is you have the ability to transfer the credits earned in the MicroMaster to a participating university and have them count towards a Master’s degree.

MicroMasters Programs are quite affordable compared to the equivalent portion of a Master’s degree, costing anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. The pricing alone makes MicroMasters an attractive choice for students wanting to pursue a Master’s degree or even just the MicroMaster which comes with its own respectable reputation. Most learners pursuing a MicroMaster are able to complete one in about 6-18 months and courses require approximately 8-12 hours of study time per week.

Broadly speaking, edX MicroMasters Programs:

• Help learners achieve a greater depth of knowledge and expertise in the field of study
• Offer the possibility for credits to count towards a Master’s degree
• Take approximately 6-18 months to complete and cost anywhere between a few hundred to a few thousand dollars

Master’s Degrees

Last but not least, edX partners with prestigious universities and institutions—like UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, University of Edinburgh, and Australian National University—to offer fully accredited Master’s degree programs at a fraction of the cost. The online graduate program courses follow the same academic standards as offline courses and even include the same lecture content and usually the same professor teaching them. Due to the online environment, these programs attract learners from around the world and inherently create a global network that can provide students with greater opportunities and job prospects.

As there is no difference between the online program versus on-campus, the criteria to enroll and apply are the same. Common criteria are a Bachelor’s degree, transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and, for some programs, graduate level standardized test scores. Like all other offerings on edX, they are also designed to be self-paced and compatible with learners who are working professionals. Depending on the program, it can take students anywhere from 1.5 to 3 years to complete.

The programs generally run in the price range of $10,000 to $25,000. Eh hem, yes, above I said a fraction of the cost of a traditional Master’s degree. While $25,000 may not be in everyone’s budget, typical Master’s degree programs from the same universities can cost 4-5 times that of their online counterparts and that’s not including the cost of living if you needed to move to where the university is located and possibly not have time or the possibility to work simultaneously.

In short, edX Master’s degree programs:

• Increase global professional networks
• Contain the same academic rigor as on-campus
• Generally cost $10,000-$25,000
• Can take roughly 1.5-3 years to complete and are self-paced and compatible with working individuals

edX Refunds & Cancellations

For edX individual courses, learners have 14 days from either the moment they purchase the course or the moment the course begins—whichever comes later—to request a refund. However, if you complete the course in less time—some courses can be completed in a few days—and you earn a certificate from the course, then no refund can be issued. For Professional Certificate, MicroMasters and other Series programs, the refund policy is a bit different. You still have a 14-day window, but if you have completed more than one course within the program or series, then you no longer qualify for a refund. If you haven’t completed more than one course, and you still are within the 14 days of when courses were due to start, then you are eligible for a refund for the full series.

edX Price Comparison

When choosing an online learning plaform, pricing is likely a key factor in your decision. To help you see how edX stacks up against its top competitors, I’ve put together a comparison table below. This way, you can visually compare the pricing features and make an informed choice that best fits your needs.

edX Alternatives

Coursera

Accredited Certificates

4.8

Read review Visit Coursera

DataCamp

Best For Data Skills

4.5

Read review Visit DataCamp

Udacity

Best For Career Services

4.6

Read review Visit Udacity

edX Pricing: Last Thoughts

I hope at this point, you have obtained all the details you wanted or needed to know regarding edX pricing. Some of the major take-homes are that it is possible to learn and take courses for free but with limitations on access to tools, the paid courses and programs are priced affordably compared to in-person courses at the same institutions and universities, and edX offers various payment methods including financial aid and scholarships. Earning certificates and degrees on edX are highly recognized and valued academically and professionally.

This article is dense with information, but it’s not to say every single doubt can be resolved just by reading it. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to leave a comment below. I’m more than happy to help guide you through your online learning journey.