Online finance courses allow you to grow your financial literacy. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or simply looking to improve your finances, online finance courses can help. However, there are many choices when it comes to these programs. Finance courses can be expensive and time-consuming. To help save you time, money, and energy when making this decision, we’ve reviewed the nine best finance online courses below.
- Coursera — Finance for Non-Financial Professionals — Top Pick
- Coursera — Financial Markets — Most Affordable
- Coursera — Corporate Finance Essentials — Most Flexible Schedule
- Coursera — Introduction to Corporate Finance — Best Free Trial
- Coursera — Essentials of Corporate Finance Specialization — Best for Corporate Finance
- edX — ColumbiaX’s Corporate Finance — Most Hands-On
- edX — Finance for Everyone — Best for Personal Finance
- Udemy — The Complete Financial Analyst Course 2021 — Best for Beginners
- Udemy — Introduction to Finance, Accounting, Modeling, and Valuation — Shortest Course
Our Ranking Criteria
The best online finance courses help improve your ability to make smarter business decisions in any domain. We researched nearly 100 online finance courses before choosing the nine stand-out programs to feature. To determine which courses to include and which to skip, we based our decisions on the following criteria.
Basic Ranking Criteria
You should know some basic details before signing up for any online course. These details include time commitment, prior experience, the flexibility of schedule, and what you get at the end. For every online finance course reviewed in this guide, we looked at these four factors as the foundation for our selections.
Time to complete. We looked for online finance courses that could be completed in a reasonable amount of time. The courses covered in this guide can be completed within five months.
Prerequisites required. This list of online finance courses is tailored toward professionals and individuals looking to improve their personal skills. We sought standalone courses that, for the most part, do not require prerequisites.
Flexible schedule. We realize many people interested in finance already have busy schedules. Therefore, we gave high value to courses that offered self-paced, self-directed, and other creative options for learning.
Certificate of completion. Some courses issue certificates of completion, for a fee or for free, which can be a valuable resume and self-confidence builder. We have noted whether or not the courses reviewed offer such certificates.
Advanced Ranking Criteria
Finance is a broad term, so we created a list of courses catering to a wide range of finance subtopics and professional skill levels. After culling an extensive list of nearly 100 finance courses, we screened them based on the following.
- The course is dedicated to some aspects of finance.
- The course has excellent student reviews.
- The course is offered regularly, either on-demand or once every few months.
- The instructor has proven expertise in the subject matter.
- The syllabus thoroughly covers the course topic.
- Assignments replicate real-world situations and are engaging.
- The course utilizes common tools students will need to be familiar with once they are hired.
9 Best Finance Online Courses
Coursera
Finance for Non-Financial Professionals
Intelligent Award: Top Pick
With just a six-hour commitment, Coursera’s online course Finance for Non-Financial Professionals is a solid introduction to basic finance and accounting concepts. It’s offered by the University of California, Irvine’s Division of Continuing Education, and is part of their 10-course Career Success Specialization program. You don’t have to take the other courses, but they’re an option if you’d like. Finance for Non-Finance Professionals can be completed at your own pace, with flexible deadlines. Specific concepts covered in this very well-rounded course include financial analysis, planning, forecasting, budgeting, cash flow, and strategic financing. While the video-heavy course is taught in English, subtitles are offered in many other languages. Due to an excellent professor, rich syllabus, and reasonable time commitment, the course offers the best learning/time ratio reviewed here.
- Price: $49 per month following a 7-day free trial
- Time to complete: 6 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is a smart option for anyone with less than intermediate or advanced finance knowledge, especially those with full schedules.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Short completion time. | No interaction with an instructor. |
| Flexible deadlines. | |
| 7-day free trial. |
Coursera
Financial Markets
Intelligent Award: Most Affordable
The Financial Markets course is unique from the other courses on this list in its goal of bettering society through a solid understanding and use of finance. This real-world-focused course is brought to you by Yale University and taught by a professor from the Ivy League school’s economics department. Don’t let that intimidate you; it’s for beginners in finance and uses simple language. Specific topics covered include financial markets, behavioral finance, nonprofits, and careers in finance. The course also teaches important leadership skills needed for a career in finance. It takes 33 hours to complete and includes readings, quizzes, and videos you can work on at your own pace. Videos are dynamic and feature lectures, student salons, chalk talks, and interviews. The course is free unless you’d like a certificate of completion.
- Price: Free without a certificate; $49 with a certificate
- Time to complete: 33 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: For $49
Who should take this course? This course from Yale University is perfect for knowledge seekers interested in the real-world implications of finance and what their role in the industry could be.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Free without a certificate. | Mid-range time commitment. |
| Taught by an Ivy League instructor. |
Coursera
Corporate Finance Essentials
Intelligent Award: Most Flexible Schedule
Corporate Finance Essentials by Coursera is offered by IESE, the graduate business school of the University of Navarra in Spain. The course is taught in English, with subtitles available in numerous languages, including Arabic, Spanish, and Korean. You can sign up for a 7-day free trial, but the cost is $79 a month afterward. It takes most learners 13 hours to complete the course, but it’s self-paced so you can do it quicker or slower. This course is the third in the school’s four-course Think Like a CFO Specialization and focuses on corporate finance, financial risk, evaluation, and investment. You don’t have to take the other courses, but they’re an option. A unique goal of this course, not mentioned by others on this list, is for students to better understand what they read in the financial press upon completion.
- Price: $79 per month following a 7-day full-access free trial
- Time to complete: 13 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? Professionals interested in pursuing Chief Financial Officer roles will benefit from this specialized course.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| 7-day free trial. | The monthly fee is on the costlier side. |
| Self-paced. | |
| Availability in many languages. |
Coursera
Introduction to Corporate Finance
Intelligent Award: Best Free Trial
Coursera’s Introduction to Corporate Finance can be described as a brief introduction to finance fundamentals. It’s offered by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and taught by a professor of finance. This course is part of the school’s Introduction to Finance and Accounting Specialization, an optional program that takes one month to complete on Coursera. Specific topics covered in Introduction to Corporate Finance include the time value of money, interest rates, and return on investment. The course, which offers the most detailed syllabus in our guide, is self-directed and takes seven hours to complete. If you use the seven-day free trial option on Coursera and are efficient, you can complete the course for free. While there are no prerequisites, some Coursera reviewers note prior accounting coursework could be helpful.
- Price: $79 per month following a 7-day full-access free trial
- Time to complete: 7 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course will benefit professionals looking to pursue careers in accounting or finance at a corporation. However, those without a basic understanding of accounting may struggle with its content.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Short completion time. | An accounting background could be helpful. |
| Detailed syllabus. |
Coursera
Essentials of Corporate Finance Specialization
Intelligent Award: Best Specialized Course
Coursera’s Essentials of Corporate Finance Specialization is the most specialized finance program on the list, focusing on corporate finance. It’s offered by the University of Melbourne in Australia and taught by business and economics faculty from the school. Five courses in accounting principles and financial analysis comprise the two-month program, created via a unique, real-world partnership with Bank of New York Mellon. It concludes with a hands-on capstone project tying the five courses together. It’s important to note that this very thorough program has the most prerequisites, including basic knowledge of statistics, simple algebra, data summarization skills, and familiarity with Microsoft Excel or a functionally equivalent spreadsheet program.
- Price: $49 per month following a 7-day full-access free trial
- Time to complete: 2 months (at 10 hours per week)
- Prerequisites required: Yes
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? If your primary interest is corporate finance and you have several months to commit, this highly focused, hands-on program by the University of Melbourne is an excellent choice for furthering your career.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Hands-on capstone project. | Numerous prerequisites. |
| Move at your own pace. | Narrower in scope. |
edX
ColumbiaX’s Corporate Finance
Intelligent Award: Most Hands-On
ColumbiaX’s Corporate Finance program from Edx offers expert instruction over three months, culminating in a professional certificate of completion. This self-directed program is modeled after a first-year course taught in the Columbia Business School’s MBA core program. It is geared towards learners looking to advance their careers in various finance professions, including investment banking, private equity, general management, consulting, and CFO-track jobs within a corporation. Three courses that make up the essential foundation for a career in finance are included: Introduction to Corporate Finance, Free Cash Flow Analysis, and Risk & Return. It is the most expensive online finance course on the list, but ColumbiaX’s top-notch instructors and Ivy League name recognition are worth it. ColumbiaX also prides itself on hands-on learning via real-world transactions and case studies.
- Price: $675
- Time to complete: Three months at 3 to 4 hours a week
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? Anyone looking to enhance their knowledge of company valuations should take this course. Those working in investment banking and private equity will especially benefit.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Modeled after Columbia Business School MBA core course. | Highest cost. |
| Flexible schedule. | Longest time commitment. |
edX
Finance for Everyone
Intelligent Award: Best for Personal Finance
Edx’s Finance for Everyone course offers a beginner-friendly introduction to the world of financial literacy for both personal and professional use. The online finance course is sponsored by MichiganX, which provides free online programs from the University of Michigan. While the course is free in audit mode, you’ll want to upgrade to the verified track for a certificate of completion and other perks. It takes five to six hours a week over six weeks to complete, and you need an understanding of high-school algebra and other basic mathematics concepts. Topics covered in Finance for Everyone include stocks and bonds, the time value of money, and different frameworks for decision-making.
- Price: Free in audit track; $59 in the verified track
- Time to complete: 6 weeks (at 5 to 6 hours a week)
- Prerequisites required: Yes
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes for verified track only
Who should take this course? The breadth of subjects MichiganX covers makes this course appealing for those with some math background who are interested in learning more about finance for both personal and professional use.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Free in audit mode. | Prerequisites required. |
| Extensive curriculum. |
Udemy
The Complete Financial Analyst Course 2021
Intelligent Award: Best for Beginners
Udemy’s Complete Financial Analyst Course 2021 covers finance fundamentals for aspiring financial analysts with minimal background in the field. It’s very practical in its approach, teaching basics such as how to use Microsoft Excel and create professional PowerPoint presentations. You’ll learn about balance sheets, financial statements, solvency, profitability, and more. Material is presented via 21.5 hours of on-demand video and 17 articles. Also, interactive challenges are assigned, like calculating a company’s sales in Excel. These challenges are returned to you with personalized feedback from the instructor. If you don’t understand a concept, you’ll receive an answer within one business day. While no experience is necessary or expected in this course, you will need Microsoft Excel (2010 or newer) and Microsoft PowerPoint (2010 or newer) to complete the interactive learning portions of the class.
- Price: $199.99
- Time to complete: 21.5 hours of on-demand video
- Prerequisites required: No, but some software is required
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? Anyone who is responsible for financial analysis and reporting at their company should take this course to gain a basic understanding of what to look for and how to structure their reports.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Inexpensive. | Some software is needed. |
| Practical curriculum. | |
| Personalized feedback. |
Udemy
Introduction to Finance, Accounting, Modeling, and Valuation
Intelligent Award: Shortest Course
Rated the number one best-selling accounting course on Udemy, Introduction to Finance, Accounting, Modeling, and Valuation is taught by Chris Haroun, a venture capitalist, MBA professor, and author. With a commitment of just 4.5 hours of video learning and a price tag of $159.99, it’s the most expensive course on the list when broken down by time. While you don’t need any accounting or finance experience, you do need access to and have a basic understanding of Microsoft Excel. The instructor is known for his ‘edutainment’ and visualization teaching approach as a way to make complex finance topics easy to understand. Topics covered include valuation methodologies, profitability ratios, and discounted cash flow.
- Price: $159.99
- Time to complete: 4.5 hours
- Prerequisites required: Yes
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is best for anyone who wants a brief introduction to both finance and accounting basics. It is not the course for you if you lack a basic understanding of Excel.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Good for beginners. | Expensive when broken down by hour. |
| Entertaining teaching style. |
Finance Online Courses Comparison Chart
| Course | Price | Features |
| Coursera — Finance for Non-Financial Professionals — Top Pick | $49 per month following a 7-day free trial | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Includes verified certificate of participation |
| Coursera — Financial Markets — Most Affordable | Free without a certificate; $49 with a certificate | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Includes verified certificate of participation |
| Coursera — Corporate Finance Essentials — Most Flexible Schedule | $79 per month following a 7-day free trial | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Includes verified certificate of participation |
| Coursera — Introduction to Corporate Finance — Best Free Trial | $79 per month following a 7-day free trial | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Includes verified certificate of participation |
| Coursera — Essentials of Corporate Finance Specialization — Best Specialized Course | $49 per month following a 7-day free trial | X No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Includes verified certificate of participation |
| Edx — ColumbiaX’s Corporate Finance — Most Hands-On | $675 | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Includes verified certificate of participation |
| Edx — Finance for Everyone — Best for Personal Finance | Free in audit track; $59 in the verified track | X No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Includes verified certificate of participation |
| Udemy — The Complete Financial Analyst Course 2021 — Best for Beginners | $199.99 | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Includes verified certificate of participation |
| Udemy — Introduction to Finance, Accounting, Modeling, and Valuation — Shortest Course | $159.99 | X No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Includes verified certificate of participation |
Tips for Succeeding in a Finance Online Course
1. Consider the cost
How much do online finance courses cost?
You can expect an online finance course to cost you $0 to $675. Quite a few courses offer a seven-day free trial, which could be enough time to complete some of the courses. More than likely, you’ll need more than seven days to complete the course, in which case you will have to pay a monthly fee. Other programs allow you to take the course for free, but you’ll have to pay if you want a certificate of completion. Still, others charge a flat rate per course, with a certificate included in the fee.
Will my employer pay for me to take the course?
Some employers will pay for their workers to take online finance courses. This arrangement can be mutually beneficial; you receive further education, and your employer improves the talent of their workforce. Check with your boss or HR department to see if this is an option for you.
2. Get your tech squared away
Some online finance courses require Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. Be sure to check the FAQ area of the course webpage to see if other programs are required. For any online finance course, your computer will need to be able to support streaming video. At a minimum, you should have an i5-level processor and 8 GB of RAM.
3. Use the right study resources
While many courses start with material covering finance fundamentals, some programs assume you already have a solid foundation. If you need help in this area, check out Khan Academy’s free course on finance and capital markets. Also, The Richest Man in Babylon by George Samuel Clason, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki, and On My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girl’s Guide to Personal Finance by Manisha Thakor and Sharon Kedar are good introductory finance books to check out.
Frequently Asked Questions About Finance Online Courses
What jobs can you get after completing an online finance course ?
After completing an online finance course, you’ll have the skill set required for various entry-level positions in the finance industry. These potential jobs that do not require a finance degree include bank teller, loan officer, state-level tax agent, bookkeeping clerk, financial clerk, and account collector.
Are there free online finance courses?
Yes, there are many free online finance courses. Most of them do not come with a certificate of completion, but if you are fine taking the course simply for knowledge there are abundant choices out there.
How long is the average online finance course?
Online finance courses can be as short as four hours and as long as five months. Generally, they take a few weeks. Many online finance courses can be completed at your own pace.
How do I start studying finance?
Taking one or more courses in this guide is a great way to start studying finance. You can also read introductory books on personal finance and books on finance and business. Consider subscribing to personal finance blogs and podcasts, as well as joining a network of finance professionals.
Is finance a good career?
Finance is a great career for people who are analytical thinkers, strong communicators, and seekers of continuous personal and professional growth. Due to the allure of high-paying salaries at the top of the field, finance can be a challenging career to break into. For those who do, excellent wages and an exciting, growth-filled career awaits.
Interested in a degree instead?
Learn more about online degrees, their start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.