20 Best Computer Science MOOC / Non-credit Programs Online
We compared 20 Computer Science courses currently listed on Coursera, edX and Udemy, priced from $19.99 to $1,122.30. 18 of them teach the subject directly and 2 are built around a certification exam. 12 come from a named university or institution, including Goldsmiths, University of London & University of London, Princeton University and Institute of Science Tokyo. They are ordered by our CourseAsk score, which is built from how thoroughly each course describes what it teaches, whether it comes from a named institution, and how it compares on price — not from star ratings, which our course data does not include.
- Courses compared
- 20
- Price range
- $19.99 – $1,122.30
- Providers
- Coursera, edX, Udemy
- Last updated
- 30 Aug 2026
How these 20 courses were chosen
Every course below is a real, currently listed course from Coursera, edX, Udemy, matched to "Computer Science" by our catalog and ordered by our CourseAsk score. Courses whose own title names the topic rank above those only tagged with it.
The grade on each entry scores how much the provider publishes about the course before you pay — the length and detail of the description, whether it lists learning outcomes and objectives — and whether a named university or institution stands behind it. A is fully documented and institution-backed; E is little more than a title and a price. Courses with almost nothing published are left ungraded rather than marked down, because an unknown course and a poor one are not the same thing.
There are no star ratings on this page — the course feeds we license do not include them, and we would rather leave a column out than fill it with a number we cannot stand behind. What we do have is price: these range from $19.99 to $1,122.30, as listed by the provider when we last updated the page.
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1
Essential Mathematics for Computer Science
Offered by Goldsmiths, University of London & University of London
The Essential Mathematics for Computer Science specialisation provides the fundamental toolkit needed to excel in computing, data science, and software engineering. Across five courses, you will progress from core mathem...
$49.00listed price -
2
Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose
Offered by Princeton University
The basis for education in the last millennium was “reading, writing, and arithmetic;” now it is reading, writing, and computing. Learning to program is an essential part of the education of every student, not just in th...
$49.00listed price -
3
Introduction to Computer Science and Programming
Offered by Institute of Science Tokyo
The term “Computation” refers to the action performed by a computer. A computation can be a basic operation and it can also be a sophisticated computer simulation requiring a large amount of data and substantial resource...
$79.00listed price -
4
Computer Science
Offered by Florida International University
This Computer Science course on edX is designed to equip you with foundational and advanced knowledge in various computer science concepts. You'll explore essential theories and practical applications, making it a compre...
Price on site -
5
Computer Science for Python Programming
Offered by Harvard University
This course focuses on Python programming within the realm of computer science, guiding you through foundational concepts and practical applications. You'll learn how to employ Python for various tasks and develop proble...
$466.20listed price -
6
Computer Science for Web Programming
Offered by Harvard University
This course focuses on the essentials of computer science as they apply to web programming. You'll explore key programming concepts and technologies used in web development, allowing you to build and maintain dynamic web...
$376.20listed price -
7
Java Programming Essentials: AP Computer Science A
[CS 22][Please watch all preview videos before signing up this course]This course covers the first of AP Computer Science which includes complete introduction for Java programming. The course is suitable for people...
$59.99listed price -
8
AP Computer Science A - Java Concepts and Fundamentals
This course will provide you with a high-level understanding of Java concepts and fundamentals with a focus on succeeding on the AP Computer Science A exam. This course provides videos for each major topic that...
$39.99listed price -
9
Fundamentals of Computer Science
Offered by IITBombay
The Fundamentals of Computer Science course on edX offers a solid introduction to essential computing concepts. You'll explore core areas of computer science, including programming, algorithms, and data structures, setti...
$670.50listed price -
10
Computer Science 101
Offered by Stanford University
Introduction to Computer Science for a zero-prior-experience audience. Play with little phrases of code to understand what computers are all about.
$249.00listed price -
11
Academic Computer Science (ACS 25)
Are you ready to build a strong foundation in computer science? Academic Computer Science is the perfect course for beginners and aspiring programmers who want to master the core concepts of programming using C++.This co...
$24.99listed price -
12
CS50's Introduction to Computer Science
Offered by Harvard University
An introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming.
$219.00listed price -
13
C# Dersleri ile Programlama Temelleri | Visual Studio C#
Offered by Selçuk University
Selçuk Üniversitesi - Bilgisayar Sistemleri Öğretmenliği mezunuyum. 2008 yılından bu yana yaklaşık 11 yıldır Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Liselerinin Bilişim Bölümlerinde, Halk Eğitim Merkezi Müdürlükleri ve Belediyelere ba...
$19.99listed price -
14
University Chemistry
Offered by Harvard University
University Chemistry offers an in-depth exploration of fundamental chemistry concepts, providing a solid foundation for understanding chemical principles. Throughout the course, you'll engage with core topics such as che...
$1,122.30listed price -
15
Compilers
Offered by Stanford University
This self-paced course will discuss the major ideas used today in the implementation of programming language compilers, including lexical analysis, parsing, syntax-directed translation, abstract syntax trees, types and t...
$249.00listed price -
16
Platform Product Essentials
Offered by The University of Maryland, College Park
Gartner Research predicts that by 2024, 65% of application development projects will rely on low-code no-code (LCNC) development. Successfully implement a platform to transform your business. Building business workflows,...
$249.00listed price -
17
Elements, Chemicals, and Reactions
Offered by MGH Institute of Health Professions
Chemistry is often called the central science because it connects the physical world to the biological systems that sustain life. In this course, we will build a strong foundation in the structure and behavior of matter,...
$100.00listed price -
18
TCP/IP and Internet
Offered by Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Master the fundamental protocols and technologies that power the modern internet with this comprehensive TCP/IP and Internet course. Designed for aspiring network professionals and IT specialists, this course takes you t...
$49.00listed price -
19
An Introduction to Cryptography
Offered by University of Leeds
Cryptography is an essential part of secure but accessible communication that's critical for our everyday life and organisations use it to protect their privacy and keep their conversations and data confidential. This co...
$49.00listed price -
20
The GRC Approach to Managing Cybersecurity
Offered by Kennesaw State University
Managing cybersecurity is about managing risk, specifically the risk to information assets of valued by an organization. This course examines the role of Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC) as part of the C...
$79.00listed price
Best Computer Science MOOC / Non-credit Programs Online compared
| # | Course | Provider | Offered by | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essential Mathematics for Computer Science | Coursera | Goldsmiths, University of London & University of London | $49.00 | View → |
| 2 | Computer Science: Programming with a Purpose | Coursera | Princeton University | $49.00 | View → |
| 3 | Introduction to Computer Science and Programming | edX | Institute of Science Tokyo | $79.00 | View → |
| 4 | Computer Science | edX | Florida International University | — | View → |
| 5 | Computer Science for Python Programming | edX | Harvard University | $466.20 | View → |
| 6 | Computer Science for Web Programming | edX | Harvard University | $376.20 | View → |
| 7 | Java Programming Essentials: AP Computer Science A | Udemy | — | $59.99 | View → |
| 8 | AP Computer Science A - Java Concepts and Fundamentals | Udemy | — | $39.99 | View → |
| 9 | Fundamentals of Computer Science | edX | IITBombay | $670.50 | View → |
| 10 | Computer Science 101 | edX | Stanford University | $249.00 | View → |
| 11 | Academic Computer Science (ACS 25) | Udemy | — | $24.99 | View → |
| 12 | CS50's Introduction to Computer Science | edX | Harvard University | $219.00 | View → |
| 13 | C# Dersleri ile Programlama Temelleri | Visual Studio C# | Udemy | Selçuk University | $19.99 | View → |
| 14 | University Chemistry | edX | Harvard University | $1,122.30 | View → |
| 15 | Compilers | edX | Stanford University | $249.00 | View → |
| 16 | Platform Product Essentials | edX | The University of Maryland, College Park | $249.00 | View → |
| 17 | Elements, Chemicals, and Reactions | edX | MGH Institute of Health Professions | $100.00 | View → |
| 18 | TCP/IP and Internet | Coursera | Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani | $49.00 | View → |
| 19 | An Introduction to Cryptography | Coursera | University of Leeds | $49.00 | View → |
| 20 | The GRC Approach to Managing Cybersecurity | Coursera | Kennesaw State University | $79.00 | View → |
Prices shown are the provider's listed price when we last updated this page. Confirm on their site before enrolling.
What the prices here tell you
The 19 priced courses on this page run from $19.99 to $1,122.30, with the middle of the range around $79.00 — a spread of $1,102.31. That is a wide gap for one subject. A higher price on this page usually reflects who is behind the course rather than how much material it contains, so it is worth opening two or three at different price points and comparing their syllabus before deciding.
Who is behind these courses
These courses come from Coursera, edX and Udemy. The platforms differ in how they sell: some charge once per course, others expect a subscription, and the listed price is not always what you pay at checkout after a promotion. 12 of these are produced by a named university or institution, including Goldsmiths, University of London & University of London, Princeton University and Institute of Science Tokyo — which usually means a fixed syllabus and a recognised certificate, rather than an individual instructor’s own course.
Courses versus exam preparation
2 of the entries here are built around a certification exam rather than teaching Computer Science from scratch. They are the right choice only if you already know the material and want to pass a specific exam; if you are starting out, pick one of the taught courses first and come back to exam preparation afterwards.
Before you enrol
Open the provider’s own page and check three things this comparison cannot tell you: when the course was last updated, what the syllabus actually covers in its later sections, and what recent learners say. Prices shown here are the provider’s listed price when we last rebuilt this page on 30 August 2026 — they change often, and a promotion can move them substantially. We earn a commission if you enrol through our links, which costs you nothing and never affects the order courses appear in.