[2026] Massive List of MOOC-based Microcredentials

Microcredentials are part of the higher education trend toward modularity and stackability. They bundle small, individual learning units into broader qualifications that act as stepping stones toward bigger educational goals, occupying the space between a single course and a full degree. Most are paid products: some platforms let you preview part of a course before enrolling, but graded assignments and the credential itself require payment, though a few providers offer financial assistance or scholarships.

Class Central has tracked MOOC-based microcredentials since 2013, when edX launched the first one: the XSeries. Since then, every major platform has rolled out its own branded version. Coursera packages courses into Specializations, Professional Certificates, and MasterTracks; edX offers XSeries, Professional Education, Professional Certificates, MicroBachelors, and MicroMasters. More recently, skills-focused platforms have entered with their own format: LinkedIn Learning, CodeSignal, Codecademy, and others bundle courses into Paths, while Udacity offers project-based Nanodegrees.

In 2018, we analyzed 450 microcredentials and found little consistency among them. Cost and effort varied widely and we saw as much variation within each type as across different types.

The hype has cooled somewhat in favor of online degrees, but the catalog keeps growing. The growth is increasingly coming from skills platforms rather than the university-MOOC pioneers. In 2026, Class Central lists 6,629 microcredentials from 16 platforms. Coursera still dominates: its Specializations alone make up nearly 45% of the total, with 1,003 new ones added in 2026. But Path-style credentials from LinkedIn Learning, CodeSignal, Codecademy, and others now account for more than a third of everything tracked, making the Path the second most common credential type, behind only the Specialization. More than 70% of all microcredentials focus on technology and business.

Below, you’ll find currently available microcredentials, broken down by platform and type. Click a link to jump to the relevant section.

FAQ:

What are some examples of microcredentials?
Common examples include Coursera Specializations and Professional Certificates, edX MicroMasters and MicroBachelors, Udacity Nanodegrees, and skills-platform Paths from LinkedIn Learning, CodeSignal, and Codecademy. This page links all 6,629 that Class Central currently tracks.

Which platform has the most microcredentials?
Coursera is by far the largest, with 3,232 across Specializations, Professional Certificates, and MasterTracks. LinkedIn Learning is next with 1,563 Paths, followed by edX with 749.

Are microcredentials free?
Generally, no. Microcredentials are paid products, and the free-audit option that Coursera once offered has disappeared. Some platforms let you preview a portion of a course (often the first module) before you pay, and a few providers offer financial aid or scholarships, but completing the credential and earning the certificate requires payment.

What’s the difference between a Specialization, a Professional Certificate, and a Path?
A Specialization (Coursera) is a themed sequence of courses capped with a hands-on project. A Professional Certificate targets job-ready skills for a specific role and is often built with an industry partner like Google or IBM. A Path (LinkedIn Learning, Codecademy, CodeSignal, and others) is a curated route through a platform’s own catalog, usually included in a subscription rather than priced per credential.

Platform	Microcredentials
Coursera	Specialization (2978), Professional Certificate (225), MasterTrack (29)
LinkedIn Learning	Path (1563)
edX	Professional Certificate (540), MicroMasters (73), Professional Education (67), XSeries (57), MicroBachelors (12)
CodeSignal	Path (463)
Codecademy	Path (149)
FutureLearn	ExpertTrack (139)
Udacity	Nanodegree (121)
Zero To Mastery	Path (79)
IBM Training	Path (42)
MongoDB University	Path (29)
Corporate Finance Institute	Specialization (17), Professional Certificate (6)
University of the People	Professional Certificate (14)
Niel Asher Education	Specialization (8)
Aalto University Executive Education	Professional Certificate (5), Path (3)
Unity Learn	Path (6)
TrainSec	Path (4)

Coursera Specialization (2978)

Python for Everybody from University of Michigan ★★★★★(428)
Computational Social Science from University of California, Davis ★★★★★(146)
Critical Thinking: A Brain-Based Guide for the ChatGPT Era from Deep Teaching Solutions ★★★★★(77)
Practical Data Science with MATLAB from MathWorks ★★★★★(31)
Digital Marketing ★★★★★(14)
Data Science from Johns Hopkins University ★★★★★(9)
Project Management Principles and Practices from University of California, Irvine ★★★★☆(4)
TESOL Certificate, Part 1: Teach English Now! from Arizona State University ★★★★★(4)
Software Design and Architecture from University of Alberta ★★★★★(4)
Executive Data Science from Johns Hopkins University ★★★★★(4)
Real-World Product Management from Advancing Women in Tech ★★★★★(3)
Meta React Native from Meta ★★★★☆(3)
Learn English: Advanced Grammar and Punctuation from University of California, Irvine ★★★★★(2)
UI / UX Design from California Institute of the Arts ★★★★★(2)
Biostatistics in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University ★★★★★(2)
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) from University of California, Davis ★★★★★(2)
Google AI Essentials from Google ★★★★★(2)
Epidemiology for Public Health from Imperial College London ★★★★★(2)
Entrepreneurship: Growing Your Business from University of Virginia ★★★★★(2)
TESOL Certificate, Part 2: Teach English Now! from Arizona State University ★★★★★(2)
FinTech: Finance Industry Transformation and Regulation from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology ★★★★★(2)
Computer Security and Systems Management from University of Colorado System ★★★★★(2)
Generative AI for UI UX Design from IBM ★★★★★(2)
Getting Started with Generative AI API from Codio ★★★★★(2)
Healthcare Law from University of Pennsylvania ★★★★☆(1)
Creative Writing from Wesleyan University ★★★★★(1)
Intellectual Property Law from University of Pennsylvania ★★★★★(1)
Graphic Design from California Institute of the Arts ★★★★★(1)
Photography Basics and Beyond: From Smartphone to DSLR from Michigan State University ★★★★★(1)
Social Media Marketing from Northwestern University ★★★★★(1)
Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers from University of Minnesota ★★★★★(1)
Finance & Quantitative Modeling for Analysts from University of Pennsylvania ★★★★★(1)
Good with Words: Writing and Editing from University of Michigan ★★★★★(1)
Introduction to Cyber Security from New York University (NYU) ★★★★★(1)
Improve Your English Communication Skills from Georgia Institute of Technology ★★★★★(1)
Epidemiology in Public Health Practice from Johns Hopkins University ★★★★★(1)
Songwriting: Writing, Arranging, and Producing Music from Berklee College of Music ★★★★★(1)
Strategic Leadership and Management ★★★★★(1)
Career Success from University of California, Irvine ★★★★☆(1)
Investment Management from University of Geneva ★★★★☆(1)
Engineering Project Management from Rice University ★★★★★(1)
Palliative Care: It’s Not Just Hospice Anymore from University of Colorado System ★★★★★(1)
Bioinformatics ★★★★★(1)
Business Strategy from University of Virginia ★★★★★(1)
Game Design: Art and Concepts from California Institute of the Arts ★★★★☆(1)
Virtual Teacher from University of California, Irvine ★★★★☆(1)
An Introduction to Programming the Internet of Things (IOT) from University of California, Irvine ★★★★★(1)
Entrepreneurship: Launching an Innovative Business from University of Maryland, College Park ★★★★☆(1)
Futures Thinking from Institute for the Future ★★★★★(1)
Sales Operations/Management from West Virginia University ★★★★★(1)