An MBA-equivalent education, with coursework from the Penn, MIT, Northwestern, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Michigan.

Back when massive open online courses (MOOCs) were new, I (Laurie) started a project to complete the equivalent of an MBA, using free courses. Platforms such as Coursera and edX were making headlines, and when I learned that leading universities (including business schools) were distributing online courses for free, I was inspired to construct a business education rather than pay an exorbitant amount for a degree.

I called the project the “No-Pay MBA” and I blogged about it at www.NoPayMBA.com. I finished my business education in 2016, and wrote a book to guide others interested in doing a self-made MBA (Don’t Pay For Your MBA, HarperCollins, 2017).

After I started working for Class Central, I wondered how would I approach this project, given the wealth of new courses and tools that are now available?

When I was doing my No-Pay MBA, there were only a few business MOOCs available, so I basically signed up for all of them.

Fortunately or unfortunately, it would be impossible to do that today. More than 3,000 free business courses from numerous universities around the world are currently listed on Class Central.

Through my studies, I also came to believe that putting together an MBA-level education requires much more than simply ticking through a checklist of course topics. That’s partly because MOOCs differ from on-campus courses in scope, length, and rigor; and partly because creating your own MBA offers a tremendous opportunity to tailor the curriculum to your needs.

My advice: start by learning some foundational business concepts in introductory-level courses, then develop some general business skills, and finally, dive deep in an area of concentration.

Below is a sample course list that follows this advice, drawn entirely from business schools in U.S. News & World Report’s top ten. I cross referenced the U.S. News list with Class Central’s database to find around 90 courses from top ten schools, including the including the University of Pennsylvania (#2), Northwestern (#3), Stanford University (#4), Harvard University (#5), MIT (#6), Yale University (#7), Columbia University (#8), and the University of Michigan (#10).

I used only courses from these schools not because there aren’t great MOOCs from business schools lower down in U.S. News’ ranking (the full course catalog of the University of Illinois’s iMBA, for example), but simply because A) I had to cut down the number of courses somehow, and B) I wanted to demonstrate that the content for a top-tier MBA is there for the taking.

Note: The curriculum below is a pretty solid MBA program. However, it doesn’t include every topic that might be included in an MBA. Some notable gaps: project management, micro- and macroeconomics, and business ethics. It’s also rather light on operations management.

Another Note: While many of these courses do involve fees, all of them can be audited for free, either in full or in part. If you’re new  to online learning, take a look at our Beginner’s Guide.

Index

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More Courses

If you don’t find what you need in the lists below, Class Central’s got you covered. Browse our catalog of 100K+ courses or visit these collections: Massive List of MOOC-based Microcredentials

Foundational Business Concepts (4-5 courses)

The Business Foundations Specialization from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business is a popular starting place for those new to the world of business. The first five courses can be audited for free, but you can only access the Capstone after completing the others (including graded items). Some courses are also available in Spanish and Chinese.

Introduction to Marketing, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Introduction to Financial Accounting, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Managing Social and Human Capital, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Introduction to Corporate Finance, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Introduction to Operations Management, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Introducción al Marketing, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Introducción a la Contabilidad Financiera, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Introducción a las Finanzas Corporativas, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Introducción a la Gestión de Operaciones, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

市场营销概论 (中文版), University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

财务会计概论（中文版), University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

企业金融概论（中文版), University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

运营管理概论（中文版), University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

CS50’s Computer Science for Business Professionals, Harvard University via edX

Becoming an Entrepreneur, Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX

How to Create a Good Business, University of Michigan via Coursera

Free Online Courses in Business Strategies and Management (4-6 courses)

Quantitative modeling, negotiation, project and people management, decision-making, leadership, and communication are important skills regardless of industry. I recommend taking at least one course that covers each of the aforementioned topics, for a total of between four and six courses.

Business Strategies for A Better World, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera (Specialization)

Business Strategies for Social Impact, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Building High-Performing Teams, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Management Fundamentals, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Creating a Team Culture of Continuous Learning, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

The Power of Team Culture, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Managing Talent, University of Michigan via Coursera

Leading Teams, University of Michigan via Coursera

Leading Diverse Teams & Organizations, University of Michigan via Coursera

Reigniting Employee Engagement, University of Michigan via Coursera

High Stakes Leadership: Leading in Times of Crisis, University of Michigan via Coursera

Scaling Operations: Linking Strategy and Execution, Northwestern University via Coursera

High Performance Collaboration: Leadership, Teamwork, and Negotiation, Northwestern University via Coursera

Leadership Communication for Maximum Impact: Storytelling, Northwestern University via Coursera

Leadership Through Design Innovation, Northwestern University via Coursera

Leadership Through Social Influence, Northwestern University via Coursera

Organizational Analysis, Stanford University via Coursera

How to Start a Startup, Stanford University via Independent

Design Thinking: Transforming Teams, Stanford University via YouTube

Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles, Harvard University via edX

Improving Your Business Through a Culture of Health, Harvard University via edX

Connected Leadership, Yale University via Coursera

Inspiring and Motivating Individuals, University of Michigan via Coursera

Making Successful Decisions through the Strategy, Law & Ethics Model, University of Michigan via Coursera

Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills, University of Michigan via Coursera

Removing Barriers to Change, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Managing Social and Human Capital, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Introduction to Data Analytics for Managers, University of Michigan via edX

Concentration (8-10 courses)

I advise anyone pursuing self-directed education to develop deep knowledge and skills in an area of concentration. This is where you can reap the real value of a self-directed education. Focus on a discrete area, take courses that are rigorous, and put what you learn into practice in real world scenarios. We’ve listed various possible MBA concentrations that could be constructed from courses offered by the top ten business schools, excluding pre-packaged options such as the MicroMasters in Supply Chain Management from MIT.

Free Online Courses in Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is the obvious choice for someone interested in starting a business. Added bonus: if you’re planning on being your own boss you won’t have to defend the value of your self-directed education in a job interview.

Entrepreneurship 1: Developing the Opportunity, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Entrepreneurship 2: Launching your Start-Up, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Entrepreneurship 3: Growth Strategies, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Entrepreneurship 4: Financing and Profitability, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Social Impact Strategy: Tools for Entrepreneurs and Innovators, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Creation, Stanford University via edX

Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, Harvard University via edX

Entrepreneurship 101: Who is your customer?, Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX

Entrepreneurship 102: What can you do for your customer?, Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX

Entrepreneurship 103: Show Me The Money, Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX

Improving Communication Skills, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Free Online Courses in Marketing

With plenty of courses and many opportunities to use your skills in the real world, digital strategy makes for an excellent area of concentration. Being a relatively new field, it may also be easier to get a job in this area without a traditional degree.

Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

What is Social?, Northwestern University via Coursera

Leadership Through Marketing, Northwestern University via Coursera

The Importance of Listening, Northwestern University via Coursera

Engagement & Nurture Marketing Strategies, Northwestern University via Coursera

Content, Advertising & Social IMC, Northwestern University via Coursera

The Business of Social, Northwestern University via Coursera

Content Strategy for Professionals: Engaging Audiences, Northwestern University via Coursera

Content Strategy for Professionals: Managing Content, Northwestern University via Coursera

Content Strategy for Professionals: Expanding Your Content’s Reach, Northwestern University via Coursera

Content Strategy for Professionals: Ensuring Your Content’s Impact, Northwestern University via Coursera

Free Online Courses in Finance

Finance is a more risky area of concentration, since it can be hard to break into the industry without the right credentials. However, if you already have a foot in the door, there are plenty of finance courses at the MBA level.

Introduction to Corporate Finance, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Modeling Risk and Realities, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

The Free Cash Flow Analysis, Columbia University via edX

Business and Financial Modeling, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera (Specialization)

Fundamentals of Quantitative Modeling, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Introduction to Spreadsheets and Models, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Modeling Risk and Realities, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Decision-Making and Scenarios, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Fundamentals of Finance, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Lending, Crowdfunding, and Modern Investing, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Foundations of Modern Finance I, Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX

Foundations of Modern Finance II, Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX

Derivatives Markets: Advanced Modeling and Strategies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX

Mathematical Methods for Quantitative Finance, Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX

Fundamentals of Entrepreneurial Finance: What Every Entrepreneur Should Know, Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX

Raising Capital: Credit Tech, Coin Offerings, and Crowdfunding, University of Michigan via Coursera

Free Online Courses in Accounting

More Introduction to Financial Accounting, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Management in Engineering: Accounting and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology via edX

Free Online Courses in Business Analytics

Business Analytics Specialization, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera (as in the Business Foundations Specialization, the Capstone course is only available to learners who have completed the graded items in all the other courses).

Customer Analytics, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Accounting Analytics, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Operations Analytics, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

People Analytics, University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Demand and Supply Analytics, Columbia University via edX

Analytics in Python, Columbia University via edX

Data, Models and Decisions in Business Analytics, Columbia University via edX

(Original post by Laurie,revised by Pat.)