Cheapest online courses for skill-building
On Wall Street, I built businesses by betting on talent and continuous learning. Skills compound like capital — and online courses let you grow without draining your budget. With global e-learning projected to hit $645 billion by 2030 (Global Market Insights, 2023), here are the cheapest platforms delivering real ROI.
1. Coursera
- Cost: free to $49/month.
- Offers certificates from Yale, Google, and Meta.
- ROI: industry-recognized credentials at a fraction of tuition.
2. Udemy
- Courses as low as $10–$20 during sales.
- Covers coding, design, business, and more.
- ROI: lifetime access with one-time payment.
3. Khan Academy
- Cost: free.
- Strengthens fundamentals in math, finance, and science.
- ROI: zero-cost education with global credibility.
4. Skillshare
- Cost: $14/month (often free trials available).
- Creative and entrepreneurial courses.
- ROI: project-based learning for side hustles.
5. LinkedIn Learning
- Cost: $29.99/month (first month free).
- ROI: badges directly tied to your LinkedIn profile — boosts career visibility.
Final Word
On Wall Street, the smartest investments were in people, not products. Cheap online courses follow the same principle: low cost, high return in career growth. The best asset you can build is yourself — and it doesn’t need to cost a fortune.
