Best Online Certificate Programs
Get detailed information about best online Certificate programs and their tuition, accreditation, career prospects, scholarships, admission details and much more
Online Certificate Programs
Education isn’t limited to a four-year bachelor’s degree anymore. Today, you have plenty of education opportunities to choose from, including bachelor’s, associate’s, and master’s degrees, as well as various professional certificates and short-term courses. You even have access to plenty of easy online certifications that can score you employment.
Maybe you already have a degree in your field but want to specialize in a certain niche. Or, you don’t have the time or budget to embark on a four-year degree program, and crave a less time-intensive option.
Some specific career paths also require a certificate either as a stand-alone qualification or in addition to other credentials. There are even certifications you can get online to kickstart or pump up your current career and education.
Luckily, the best online certificate programs offer you all of the above: quality education, flexibility, and advancement opportunities. Ready to take your career and education to the next level with a wicked certificate program? Stay tuned as we walk through 20 top online certificate programs
Why Get an Online Certificate
The best online certificate programs offer you a marketable credential without demanding the same time and financial commitment as a four-year university program. This makes certificate programs attractive to people managing a stressful job while studying, raising children, or other obligations. Moreover, certificates are known to bump salary potential by 13%-25%. For example, project managers who earn a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification enjoy median salaries that are 25% higher than those who are not PMP certified.
Certificate programs are in-depth studies of a particular subject, often specialized and specific to a specific role. They usually take less time to complete than a degree (between six months to two years), and offer more flexibility in study.
Another key aspect of certificate programs is your peers. You might not find your average freshman in a certificate program because many already-working professionals enroll to heighten specific skills and advance their careers.
Some popular certificate courses these days are in the computer science area, like data analytics, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, ethical hacking, and programming languages like Java and Python.
Bottom line? People get certificates to:
- Save on costs
- Improve specific skills
- Advance in existing career paths and increase salaries
- Achieve school-life balance
What's the Difference Between an Online Certificate and a Degree?
One big distinguisher between online certificates and degrees is the time aspect. Most degree completion times range between 2-4 years, even longer for doctoral degrees. Degrees are also more “prestigious” in certain job settings, with some postings demanding a bachelor’s education.
Certificates are much quicker to complete, ranging between six months to two years. In fact, you can even find accredited certification programs online that take a few weeks to a few months to complete. While you’ll receive a certificate of completion upon graduating, the credential isn’t thought to be as strong as a degree in the job market on a broad level. If you’re in a specific niche, though, that’s a different story.
Degree programs offer a more wide range of study, allowing you to specialize in different areas and pursue multiple career paths. Certificates, on the other hand, consist of focused training meant to apply to a specific career. For example, health care specialists can become “certified nursing assistants,” and auto mechanics can obtain certificates in certain repair techniques.
Today, there are a variety of certificate programs available.
Students who do not have a college or university degree can choose from undergraduate certificate programs. Graduate degree holders can choose from both undergraduate and post-graduate certificate programs.
How to Pick from Best Online Certification Programs
If you're considering an online certificate program, remember one thing: not every online course will be right for you. With that in mind, consider these factors as you browse our list of the best online certifications.
1. Cost
Certificate programs vary greatly in price, and you’ll find many cheap certificate programs out there. It’s hard to judge a program only on this factor, but think about it this way:
You don’t need to pay for the most expensive certificate program for a quality education. On the other hand, the cheapest program might not be bad, but it might not necessarily be good either.
Don’t rush into a choice just because of the price. After researching, pair the price with other considerations, like financial aid opportunities, scholarships, and your personal interest in the program.
2. Program Offerings
Not all certificates are created equal. Go through each program offering with a fine-toothed comb to ensure it covers material relevant to your goals and interests. You should also confirm that the name of the certification is consistent with your desired industry’s expectations.
Our advice? Find three programs in the same field that look similar. Find out which one is more attractive in terms of curriculum and course features, and rank them from 1-3. Then, do the same with certificates for a different specialty if you’re considering multiple fields. Find the top online certificate programs for each of your interested fields then compare the top contenders across the board.
3. Program Structure and Schedule
Is your certificate program completely online, or must you go to campus to take exams? Is the schedule full of live lectures you must be present for, or are they pre-recorded, allowing you to attend at your convenience? Think about how you prefer to learn and compare that with each program structure.
4. Program Requirements
Before you apply for a professional certification course, take a look at the course's requirements for working professionals and distance learners.
Pay attention to the following:
- Whether the program requires a high school diploma, undergraduate degree, or master's degree
- Tuition and fees
- Technical requirements and learning times
- Whether there’s a certification exam, and parameters for second attempts
5. Parent University
Many reputable universities host online certificate programs, like Harvard, the University of North Carolina, and many more.
While you won't be attending that university, in most cases, it's important to make sure the college sponsoring the online program or online course is well-known, accredited, and recognized in your field.
Best Online Certificate Programs
1. Leadership Certificate
Anyone in a corporate position can benefit from a leadership certificate, especially if they’re managing other people. The certificate teaches you how to look at your organization with a strategic lens and propel business growth forward.
Top 5 Leadership Certificate Programs
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Notre Dame
- Cornell University (online)
- Liberty University (online)
- Seattle University (online)
2. Business Management Certificate
Business management certificates are similar to leadership certificates, but more broad and applicable to more roles within an organization. It offers you both a resume goodie and solid, marketable skills to improve your performance. Some topics you’ll cover include business communication, accounting, leadership, operations management, and human resources topics. If you’re currently in a business or corporate role, the certificate will help you move up to managing teams more effectively or planning and strategizing better profits and efficiency.
Top 5 Business Management Certificate Programs
3. Data Science
A data science certificate offers you extremely in-demand skills for 2022, with data scientists making a median salary of $100,000 in the US. Any industry could benefit from data science skills to improve decision-making and strategize growth. Some topics you’ll cover include machine learning, probability, programming, cloud computing, and more.
Top 5 Data Science Certificate Programs
4. Project Management
A project management certificate doesn’t only give you actionable skills to improve business strategy and workflows — the renowned PMP Certification also opens up more job and promotion opportunities. Project managers manage workplace goals, progress, deliverables, budgeting, and resource management. They’re also responsible for coordinating teams and partners to work together toward common goals, and managing communication top-down from executives as well as from other stakeholders.
Top 5 Project Management Certificate Programs
- University of Virginia
- University of Washington
- University of Texas at Austin
- Cornell University (online)
- Southern New Hampshire University
5. Paralegal Certificate
Interested in a career in law without the price tag and time commitment of law school? Paralegal certificate programs teach you all about litigation, family and real estate law, civil law, and much more. The career path also has a faster-than-average project growth in the next ten years, promising lots of job opportunities for certificate graduates.
Top 5 Paralegal Certificate Programs
- University of Miami
- California State University
- Hofstra University (Online)
- Villanova University
- Monroe County Community College
Final Thoughts
The best graduate certificates to get depend on a few factors, like your interests, career needs, industry standards, schedule, and tuition costs. Now more than ever, education is accessible to students through various avenues, including flexible, online certificate programs.
Ready to pump up your career opportunities or gain a new, valuable skill? Browse through our list of the best online certificate programs. Then, take a look at our scholarship page to fund your education.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What Certificates Can I Get Online?
You can get many different certificates online, including for project management, data analytics, leadership, human resources, and many more.
2. What Certificate Jobs Pay the Most?
Some of the highest-paying certificate jobs include:
- Data analytics
- IT support
- Coding programs
3. What is the Quickest Certification to Get?
You can find the quickest certification programs on websites like Coursera, with some courses needing only a few weeks of your time. However, the quickest university or college certificates usually take a minimum of six months.
4. What Certifications Are In High Demand?
Here’s a list of certifications in high demand, according to Glassdoor:
- Chartered Professional Accountant
- Human Resources
- Desktop Analyst
- Sales
- Project Management
- Software Certifications (Salesforce)
5. Can Certification Get You a Job?
Absolutely. Some jobs require specific skills that a broader bachelor’s degree might not dive deep enough into to please an employer. You can score a job or promotion with many certifications in the IT, project management, finance, and sociology fields.
Certificate Programs in Media Studies
University of North Carolina (UNC)
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Media Studies Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 12
Avg Tuition: $ 12,500
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,655
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $14,036
Graduation Rate: 91%
Specializations Offered: Communications
Total Programs in Media Studies (2)
Media Studies Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 16
Avg Tuition: $ 4,018
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,042
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $3,865
Graduation Rate: 83%
Specializations Offered: Web Development
Total Programs in Media Studies (2)
Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana
Media Studies Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 12
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,835
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $8,021
Graduation Rate: 76%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Media Studies (2)
Georgia College and State University
Milledgeville, Georgia
Media Studies Accreditation: Request Info
Profit Type: Public
Avg Tuition: $ 3,295
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,350
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $2,558
Graduation Rate: 59%
Specializations Offered: Digital Arts
Total Programs in Media Studies (2)
Graduate Certificate in Arts
Seattle Central College
Seattle, Washington
Media Studies Accreditation: Request Info
Profit Type: Public
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,933
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $2,397
Graduation Rate: 23%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Media Studies (2)
Certificate in Communications
Upper Iowa University (UIU)
Fayette, Iowa
Media Studies Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 15
Avg Tuition: $ 6,615
Avg Federal grant awarded: $3,941
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $15,211
Graduation Rate: 44%
Specializations Offered: Communications
Total Programs in Media Studies (2)
Certificate in Business Administration
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina
Media Studies Accreditation: Request Info
Profit Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Avg Tuition: $ 2,995
Avg Federal grant awarded: $8,558
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $44,543
Graduation Rate: 95%
Specializations Offered: Digital Marketing
Total Programs in Media Studies (2)
Certificate Programs in Applied Science
Idaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho
Applied Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 10
Avg Tuition: $ 4,700
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,463
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $4,329
Graduation Rate: 29%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Applied Science (2)
Joliet Junior College (JJC)
Joliet, Illinois
Applied Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 38
Avg Tuition: $ 5,475
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,784
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $1,679
Graduation Rate: 14%
Specializations Offered: Architecture
Total Programs in Applied Science (4)
Applied Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 14
Avg Tuition: $ 1,064
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,895
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $2,672
Graduation Rate: 15%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Applied Science (2)
Clinton Community College
Plattsburgh, New York
Applied Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 32
Avg Tuition: $ 5,062
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,277
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $2,049
Graduation Rate: 33%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Applied Science (2)
Certificate in Applied Science
Drexel University Online
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Applied Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 15
Avg Tuition: $ 22,425
Avg Federal grant awarded: $5,136
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $27,158
Graduation Rate: 70%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Applied Science (2)
Trident Technical College
Charleston, South Carolina
Applied Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 21
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,950
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $2,043
Graduation Rate: 10%
Specializations Offered: Entrepreneurship , Leadership +1 more
Total Programs in Applied Science (8)
Applied Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 30
Avg Tuition: $ 9,900
Avg Federal grant awarded: $2,428
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $720
Graduation Rate: 33%
Specializations Offered: Child Psychology
Total Programs in Applied Science (2)
Blinn College
Brenham, Texas
Applied Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 33
Avg Tuition: $ 3,630
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,477
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $2,482
Graduation Rate: 8%
Specializations Offered: Medical Billing and Coding
Total Programs in Applied Science (2)
Certificate Programs in Environmental Science
Colorado State University (CSU)
Fort Collins, Colorado
Environmental Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 9
Avg Tuition: $ 4,158
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,580
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $5,717
Graduation Rate: 67%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Environmental Science (2)
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
Environmental Science Accreditation: Request Info
Profit Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $5,680
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $37,115
Graduation Rate: 92%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Environmental Science (2)
Utah State University (USU)
Logan, Utah
Environmental Science Accreditation: Request Info
Profit Type: Public
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,147
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $7,187
Graduation Rate: 47%
Specializations Offered: Public Policy
Total Programs in Environmental Science (4)
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
Environmental Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 21
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $6,920
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $38,434
Graduation Rate: 94%
Specializations Offered: Sustainability Management
Total Programs in Environmental Science (2)
Certificate in Environmental Science
Villanova University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Environmental Science Accreditation: Request Info
Profit Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $9,838
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $27,699
Graduation Rate: 90%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Environmental Science (2)
Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Environmental Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 10
Avg Tuition: $ 3,440
Avg Federal grant awarded: $5,260
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $20,831
Graduation Rate: 59%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Environmental Science (2)
Bismarck State College (BSC)
Bismarck, North Dakota
Environmental Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 30
Avg Tuition: $ 8,400
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,228
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $1,631
Graduation Rate: 45%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Environmental Science (2)
Environmental Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 14
Avg Tuition: $ 5,203
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,972
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $7,434
Graduation Rate: 87%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Environmental Science (4)
Certificate in Science
Environmental Science Accreditation: Request Info
Profit Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $6,860
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $39,639
Graduation Rate: 93%
Specializations Offered: Sustainability Management
Total Programs in Environmental Science (2)
Certificate in Business Administration
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
Environmental Science Accreditation: Request Info
Profit Type: Private For-Profit
Avg Tuition: $ 1,675
Avg Federal grant awarded: $5,884
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $35,592
Graduation Rate: 94%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Environmental Science (2)
Certificate Programs in Law
University of Southern California (USC)
Los Angeles, California
Law Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 12
Avg Tuition: $ 27,636
Avg Federal grant awarded: $5,385
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $31,116
Graduation Rate: 92%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Law (2)
Law Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 13
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,289
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $2,505
Graduation Rate: 37%
Specializations Offered: Cyber Security
Total Programs in Law (10)
Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana
Law Accreditation: ABA
Avg Credits: 6
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,835
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $8,021
Graduation Rate: 76%
Specializations Offered: Cyber Security
Total Programs in Law (6)
Michigan State University (MSU)
East Lansing, Michigan
Law Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 12
Avg Tuition: $ 11,172
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,907
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $9,892
Graduation Rate: 78%
Specializations Offered: Nutrition
Total Programs in Law (4)
Certificate in Law
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina
Law Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 6
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $8,558
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $44,543
Graduation Rate: 95%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Law (4)
Athens State University
Athens, Alabama
Law Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 10
Avg Tuition: $ 2,840
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Law (2)
Michigan State University (MSU)
East Lansing, Michigan
Law Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 14
Avg Tuition: $ 12,569
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,907
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $9,892
Graduation Rate: 78%
Specializations Offered: Legal Studies
Total Programs in Law (4)
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau,, Missouri
Law Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 9
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,294
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $5,018
Graduation Rate: 49%
Specializations Offered: Child Education
Total Programs in Law (2)
Certificate in Education
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Law Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 9
Avg Tuition: $ 1,800
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,629
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $7,209
Graduation Rate: 30%
Specializations Offered: Higher Education
Total Programs in Law (2)
Certificate Programs in History
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois
History Accreditation: Request Info
Profit Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Avg Tuition: $ 488
Avg Federal grant awarded: $6,634
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $36,262
Graduation Rate: 94%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in History (4)
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
History Accreditation: Request Info
Profit Type: Public
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,002
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $8,936
Graduation Rate: 72%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in History (2)
History Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 24
Avg Tuition: $ 10,440
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,445
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $3,313
Graduation Rate: 18%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in History (2)
John Tyler Community College
Chester, Virginia
History Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 15
Avg Tuition: $ 5,233
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,401
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $2,228
Graduation Rate: 20%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in History (2)
