Online courses can be a great way to study information technology because they allow you to learn from home and study at your own pace. In addition to providing you with new skills, some offer formal credentials that may be attractive to prospective employers. Whether you’re just starting in IT or want to level up your skill set, these nine online courses in information technology are a good place to start:
- edX — UWashingtonX’s IT Project Management — Top Pick
- edX — IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Programming — Best Advanced Course
- edX — IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Cybersecurity and Social Implications — Best for Exam Prep
- edX — IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Software Development — Most Specialized
- Udemy — Information Technology Essentials — Most Affordable
- Udemy — IT for Beginners, IT for Dummies, IT for Non-IT — Shortest Course
- Udemy — IT Project Management for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide — Best for Beginners
- Udemy — IT for Recruiters and Talent Management Professionals — Best for Non-IT Professionals
- Coursera — Technical Support Fundamentals — Best for Professional Outcomes
Our Ranking Criteria
The quality of online IT courses can vary widely, so we reviewed almost 20 of the best online IT classes to narrow them down to these top nine. The right course for you will depend on several factors, including your skill level, budget, and the amount of time you have available to study. We took the following criteria into account to create our list:
Basic ranking criteria
Before selecting a course, it’s important to make sure that you meet the prerequisites, will have enough time to complete it, and will receive a suitable certificate at the end. We’ve made note of how each course compares in terms of these four factors:
Time to complete. Some courses can be completed in just a few hours, while others take longer and require a longer commitment. Most courses estimate how long they’ll take to complete or the total number of hours of learning materials included.
Prerequisites required. Most of the courses on our list don’t require you to have any prior IT experience, but some working knowledge of the industry may help.
Flexible schedule. Many online courses allow you to study independently, but some may have time-sensitive assignments or learning modules. We’ve focused on courses that offer the most flexibility regarding scheduling and self-directed study.
Certificate of completion. Some courses provide a formal credential that you can put on your resume, while others simply provide a certificate of completion. Be sure to check what kind of certificate you’ll receive if you intend to use it professionally.
Advanced ranking criteria
The above criteria can be used to assess almost any online course, but if you’re looking for a course on information technology, there are more industry-specific requirements. Here are a few advanced criteria we used to put together our list:
- The course has a comprehensive syllabus, either for the overall subject matter or for a specific area of focus (such as programming or cybersecurity).
- The course is presented by IT professionals or academics with IT industry experience.
- The course is backed by a university or another trusted educational provider.
- The course was produced recently (within the past 5 years) to keep up with the latest industry trends.
- The course has positive reviews and ratings (at least 4 stars).
- The course is available on a user-friendly platform with good customer support.
- The course includes a mix of theory and practical IT concepts.
- The course covers material relevant to job seekers or IT industry professionals (i.e., based on industry-standard exams or credentials).
- The course includes transcripts and/or subtitles for easier study.
The 9 Best Online Information Technology Courses
edX
UWashingtonX’s IT Project Management
Intelligent Award: Top Pick
This edX course is offered by the University of Washington, which may lend extra credibility when adding it to your resume. It comes with a high price tag ($747), but you’ll get a UWashingtonX IT Project Management Professional Certificate when you’re done. The full program includes three courses on portfolio management, governance, and other IT leadership and management topics. The suggested completion time is five months with two to five hours of study per week, but you can move at your own pace. Although there aren’t any prerequisites, the subject matter is more advanced than some other courses.
- Price: $747
- Time to complete: 5 months (2 to 5 hours per week)
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is ideal for those who are already IT professionals but want to deepen their skill sets in project and program management.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Professional instructors | Quizzes aren’t very comprehensive |
| University-backed certificate | More theory-based than practice-based |
| Reasonable weekly commitment |
edX
IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Programming
Intelligent Award: Best Advanced Course
This course is provided by UPValenciaX and backed by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia in Spain. It’s delivered in English with an English transcript and can be taken at your own pace on your own time. You can access all course materials for free, or pay $69 to receive a verified certificate when you finish the course. The IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals program includes five courses and is designed to prepare you for the CLEP ISCA exam. You’ll learn about pseudo code, SQL language, data warehousing, and object-oriented programming. You’ll need at least some prior experience with math and computers.
- Price: Free (Add a Verified Certificate for $69)
- Time to complete: 3 Weeks (3 to 6 hours per week)
- Prerequisites required: Yes
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is perfect for learners who want to take the CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications exam and work in IT.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Experienced instructors | Not for beginners |
| University-backed certificate | No academic credit |
| Free option available |
edX
IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Cybersecurity and Social Implications
Intelligent Award: Best for Exam Prep
This course is also part of UPValenciaX’s Fundamentals for Business Professionals program. You can enroll in it for free or pay $69 to receive a verified certificate when you’re done. You’ll need basic math and computer knowledge to follow along, but you can work through the material at your own pace. Most participants take around three weeks to complete it, with around three to six hours of weekly study. Both the lessons and the transcripts are available in English, and the material will prepare you for the CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications exam. Topics of study include e-commerce, business strategy, and cybersecurity.
- Price: Free (Add a Verified Certificate for $69)
- Time to complete: 3 Weeks (3 to 6 hours per week)
- Prerequisites required: Yes
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is best for IT professionals who want to take the CLEP ISCA exam and pursue more advanced opportunities in the IT industry.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| University-backed certificate | No academic credit |
| The syllabus is based on the ISCA exam | No class exercises |
edX
IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Software Development
Intelligent Award: Most Specialized
This course is focused primarily on software development and covers everything from the software development lifecycle (SDLC) to various tools, methods, and standards. You’ll learn about user interface design and the roles of a software project team. As with the previous two courses on our list, this is offered by UPValenciaX, and you can take it as a standalone class or as part of a 5-course series. Enrollment is free, and a verified certificate of completion is available for an extra $69. The curriculum is based on CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications exam material.
- Price: Free (Add a Verified Certificate for $69)
- Time to complete: 3 Weeks (3 to 6 hours per week)
- Prerequisites required: Yes
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is aimed at professionals who work alongside software developers, including those in managerial and administrative positions.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Backed by a major university | No academic credit |
| Suitable for non-developers |
Udemy
Information Technology Essentials
Intelligent Award: Most Affordable
The Information Technology Essentials course was created by Destin Learning and is designed to provide an overview of IT technology’s history and current state using easy-to-understand language. You’ll learn about computer hardware, networking, cloud computing, programming, and more. Specific topics include the software development life cycle (SDLC), Amazon AWS, and database management systems. It’s intended for anyone who wants to learn more about the IT industry or explore IT careers, with the final section covering the top IT jobs for 2021. Lessons are broken down into 51 lectures that run for about 4.5 hours.
- Price: $99.99
- Time to complete: 4.5 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is aimed at “entry-level computer science students” and non-IT professionals considering a career in the industry.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Lectures come in manageable sizes (typically 5-15 minutes each) | Some materials are very basic |
| Includes downloadable resources | Typos in some of the slides |
| No IT experience required |
Udemy
IT for Beginners, IT for Dummies, IT for Non-IT
Intelligent Award: Shortest Course
This course contains 1.5 hours of content broken down into 32 lectures, making this the shortest course on our list. You’ll get an overview of jobs in the IT industry, including UX designers, system administrators, and project managers. Then, you’ll cover cloud and IoT technology, programming languages, and development methodologies. You’ll also learn how to differentiate between front-end and back-end problems. Exercises include designing a database and building a simple if/then game to help you get into the mindset of a programmer. This course is priced at $54.99. Once you finish it and pass the quiz, you can request a certificate from the instructor.
- Price: $54.99
- Time to complete: 1.5 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is designed for “non-technical professionals in an IT environment.”.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Provides a broad overview of the IT industry | Minimal technical information |
| Includes job titles and descriptions | |
| Can be viewed on a laptop, smartphone, or tablet |
Udemy
IT Project Management for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide
Intelligent Award: Best for Beginners
This course is intended for those new to project management or who want to learn about key project roles and stages. Most of the course focuses on creating a project management plan, with lessons on risk management, issue management, change management, and more. There are quizzes after each section to test your comprehension of the material, and you’ll get a certificate once you’ve completed the entire course. There are 32 lectures in all for a total of about three hours, which you can complete at your own pace. The course is available on Udemy for $94.99 and has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Price: $94.99
- Time to complete: 3 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? Although there are no prerequisites, this course is designed for first-time project managers or those who want to level up their skills.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Comprehensive quizzes | Mostly slideshow-based |
| Experienced instructor | Few practical examples |
Udemy
IT for Recruiters and Talent Management Professionals
Intelligent Award: Best for Non-IT Professionals
This course differs from the others because it’s not designed for IT professionals or to teach you specific IT skills. Instead, it’s meant to give recruiters, HR professionals, and talent managers who work in the IT industry a better understanding. While you won’t learn how to code or develop software, you’ll learn what questions to ask in an interview and how to use lingo like SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS. The instructors claim it will help you “speak [the] language” and improve your business relationships. There are no prerequisites, but some recruitment experience is recommended. The course is available for $64.99 and takes 2.5 hours to complete.
- Price: $64.99
- Time to complete: 2.5 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? As the name implies, this course is intended for recruiters and talent managers who want to understand the IT industry more deeply.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Designed for non-IT professionals | Audio is not always easy to follow |
| Includes Bright Boost Basic Certification upon completion | |
| Subtitles available |
Coursera
Technical Support Fundamentals
Intelligent Award: Best for Professional Outcomes
Technical Support Fundamentals is designed to train you as an entry-level IT Support Specialist. It’s part of the Google IT Support Professional Certificate program, which provides students with an official certificate upon completion. You can enroll in the course as part of Coursera Plus, which costs $59 per month and includes additional courses, or pay $49 per month for a single course. The course covers customer support, binary code, Linux, and troubleshooting, and it offers subtitles in multiple languages. Financial aid may also be available for some students.
- Price: $49 per month
- Time to complete: Approximately 23 hours
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This course is a good introduction for learners who want to apply for a customer-facing IT support role, but it may be too basic for other learners.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Provides a high-level introduction to the material | Video introductions are repetitive |
| Included with Coursera Plus | No option to test out of skills |
| Learners get an official Google Career Certificate |
Online Course Comparison Chart
| Course | Price | Features |
| edX — UWashingtonX’s IT Project Management — Top Pick | $747 | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Verified certificate |
| edX — IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Programming — Best Advanced Course | Free (Add a Verified Certificate for $69) | X No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Verified certificate |
| edX — IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Cybersecurity and Social Implications — Best for Exam Prep | Free (Add a Verified Certificate for $69) | X No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Verified certificate |
| edX — IT Fundamentals for Business Professionals: Software Development — Most Specialized | Free (Add a Verified Certificate for $69) | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Verified certificate |
| Udemy — Information Technology Essentials — Best for Database Management | $99.99 | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule X Verified certificate |
| Udemy — IT for Beginners, IT for Dummies, IT for Non-IT — Shortest Course | $54.99 | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Verified certificate |
| Udemy — I.T. Project Management for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide — Best for Beginners | $94.99 | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Verified certificate |
| Udemy — IT for Recruiters and Talent Management Professionals — Best for Non-IT Professionals | $64.99 | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Verified certificate |
| Coursera — Technical Support Fundamentals — Best for Professional Outcomes | $49 per month | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible schedule ✓ Verified certificate |
Tips for Succeeding in an Online Information Technology Course
1. Consider the cost
How much do online information technology classes cost?
Online IT courses vary widely in price — from free to over $500. Expect to pay more if you’re taking a course provided by a major college or university, or if you’ll get a professional credential when the course is finished. Many online courses offer frequent discounts, so keep your eye on the price.
Will my employer pay for me to take the course?
That depends. If you can explain to your employer how the course material is related to your job and will benefit the company, they may be willing to pay for it as a professional development expense. On the other hand, if you’re just starting out in the industry, you may be expected to acquire appropriate training yourself before being hired.
2. Get your tech squared away
Many online courses are delivered via video lessons, so you’ll need a reliable internet connection and a computer that can handle streaming video content. Most courses aren’t delivered live, so you won’t need a webcam or microphone. If your course has any additional hardware or software requirements, these should be explained in the course description. Be sure to test out any equipment you need ahead of time.
3. Use the right study resources
Some courses may have their own required reading materials, but if you want to brush up on your knowledge of IT basics, consider checking out one of these books: Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzold is a good place to start, as is Information Technology Essentials by Eric Frick.
Frequently Asked Questions About Information Technology Courses?
What jobs can you get after completing an information technology course?
An IT certificate can open doors to a wide range of jobs, from website development to IT help desk support. An introductory course might qualify you for entry-level and mid-level positions, while more advanced positions typically require a bachelor’s degree in IT.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for all IT occupations is $104,420, and the field is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade.
Are there free online information technology courses?
Yes, several of the courses on this list are free and only cost money if you want to get a formal certificate upon completion.
How long is the average online information technology course?
Some online IT courses can be completed in less than 5 hours of study. Others contain multiple modules and are designed to take several weeks or months.
Can I get an IT degree online?
Yes, you can get a bachelor’s degree in IT entirely online, but this will likely take two or more years, just like any other college course.
Can I teach myself information technology?
That depends on how you define “self-taught”. Some IT professionals get into the field without a formal degree, but they may still take online courses to learn new programs and refine their skills. Many online IT courses are self-directed, so you can learn independently while benefiting from a structured lesson plan.
Which IT skills are in demand?
While the field is always changing, the most in-demand IT skills include data science, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and machine learning.
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.