Comprehensive GetSmarter Review in 2023

GetSmarter offers online short courses from many of the greatest universities in the world. This includes Yale, Oxford, Harvard, MIT, Cambridge and Stanford, to name a few.

GetSmarter is the only online short course provider to provide courses through these institutions. Only edX, which is also owned by GetSmarter’s parent firm 2U Inc., is an exception to this rule.

GetSmarter therefore seems like an interesting platform if you’re a student looking to attend the greatest universities in the world without going broke.

However, you may wonder if all the hype around this learning platform is worth it.

We have created this review so that you can get a clearer idea surrounding GetSmarter. We will discuss what this site has to offer you, including courses, prices, advantages and disadvantages. 

TLDR; Online Learning Platform GetSmarter by edX

GetSmarter, in collaboration with edX, offers online short courses from top universities, making them a compelling choice for learners. They have over 15 years of experience in online learning, ensuring high-quality educational offerings. Here’s why you should choose GetSmarter:

1. Future-focused expertise: GetSmarter analyzes future skills requirements and develops market-led executive education courses that equip professionals with the expertise needed for the workplace of the future.
2. Partnership with leading institutions: With edX, a 2U company, GetSmarter ensures that renowned universities and institutions serve as expert guides, providing valuable educational content and resources.
3. Career support and resources: GetSmarter provides access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering exclusive resources and tools to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.
4. Data-driven course selection: GetSmarter’s expertise in market research and data analysis ensures that they select the most relevant courses that align with future skills requirements.
5. Outcomes-based design: The career-focused curriculum uses multimedia formats to optimize learning outcomes, enabling learners to acquire industry-relevant, university-verified skills. They have achieved an impressive 90% course completion rate.
6. People-mediated delivery: GetSmarter’s courses are designed to fit into professionals’ busy lifestyles, and each student is assigned a Success Adviser for 24/7 assistance. This personalized support has resulted in a high satisfaction rating of 95% in 2019.

Overall, GetSmarter offers a comprehensive and supportive learning experience, helping professionals gain relevant skills and advance their careers.

About GetSmarter Online Courses?

GetSmarter is an online education company that provides courses from some of the top colleges in the world.

On this online learning platform, you can enroll in courses that are provided by prominent universities like Oxford, Yale, MIT and Stanford etc.

GetSmarter was established in 2008 and debuted in Cape Town, South Africa. It was developed by Rob and Sam Paddock. In 2017 the online education firm 2U, Inc. purchased it.

GetSmarter already had a lot to offer, but this merger expanded what it could provide.

With nearly two dozen distinct agreements currently, compared to just a few partner colleges in 2016, it has an even larger selection of online courses.

You can go deeply into a variety of different topics when you enroll in courses through GetSmarter. Even though the classes on the GetSmarter site are regarded as short courses, this does not mean that they are invaluable.

Marketing, design, cybersecurity, human resources, finance, data science and analysis, business, and other topics are among the many you can study here.

On this e-learning platform, you can enroll in over 250 different online courses. Although there may not seem to be many courses, they prioritize quality over quantity.

Each class can take around 6 weeks to complete. 

Is GetSmarter Legit or a Scam?

Yes, GetSmarter is a legitimate online learning platform. GetSmarter has been operating for over 15 years and has established partnerships with renowned universities and institutions to offer executive education courses.

They collaborate with edX, which is a reputable online education company owned by 2U. GetSmarter’s courses are expert-led, and they provide comprehensive support to their students. Additionally, GetSmarter has a track record of high course completion rates and positive student satisfaction ratings. Therefore, GetSmarter can be considered a legitimate and reliable platform for online learning.

Prices And Plans

GetSmarter has a fairly complex price structure, but it’s critical to comprehend it before enrolling in a course there.

This is because the costs are substantially higher than those you might encounter on other online learning sites like Coursera or Udemy.

Depending on the institution you select and the particular course you choose to enroll in, the pricing structure varies.  The price of a single lesson could range around $2000 to $3000 or maybe more.

Again, the cost varies according to the class, but everything is disclosed and explained in advance, so there are no surprise fees.

Also, there is a choice of payment plans. These are as follows:

Single Payment – With this payment schedule, the entire sum is paid in advance of the course’s start date. You pay the price that is listed on the course page in full without any additional fees. This is offered for all GetSmarter courses.

Split Payments – You pay for the class in two installments throughout the term of the part-payment plan. You will pay the entire cost of the course + 3% in fees if you choose this payment method. Again, this is offered on all GetSmarter courses.

3 Payments – The only difference between this and the split payment plan is that you make 3 payments rather than two. It’s only accessible for courses that take at least 10 weeks to complete.

Support Available 

GetSmarter offers some of the greatest customer services around. If you have a problem with the program enrollment, registration, paying, or anything else, you can contact customer support for assistance.

Contact options include phone, chat, and email. Customer service is offered here around-the-clock

The level of support offered here is considered to be among the best in the business.

Deadlines can be postponed or extended. In some situations, students can get their money back if they decide not to finish a course of study.

Pros Of GetSmarter

Below are some of the major advantages from using GetSmarter.

High Ranking University Courses

The fact that you will be allowed to enroll in a course from one of the top colleges and universities in the world at a fraction of the cost is, of course, the largest benefit of GetSmarter.

You can get the elite education from Harvard, Stanford, or Cambridge here if those are the universities you’ve always desired to attend. 

You will be taking part in courses from the best ranked universities in the world. Which is a great opportunity for a lot of people. 

High Class Success Rates

Although, statistics of completion may not seem important to you as you search for the best online course provider.

They actually should because they can be used to gauge the effectiveness and general user experience of a virtual learning platform.

Over GetSmarter’s entire history, their platform boasts an astounding 90% course completion rate. This is among the highest in the sector.

It’s even more astounding when you know that the majority of other online education providers have completion rates of under 13%.

You may wonder why these rates are so high. This is thanks to the partner lineup with such fantastic colleges, the superior customer assistance, and the professional and faculty contacts that you’ll acquire.

A lot of GetSmarter reviews praise all of these elements. 

You can’t deny, though, that attending a lesson on GetSmarter is entertaining and engaging. Also, the experience you get there is truly unmatched.

Online Learning Classes Are Taught By World Leading Professors

You won’t be listening from a college dropout making YouTube videos in their bedroom when you enroll in a class on GetSmarter.

Instead, you’ll be receiving instruction from distinguished professors. These teachers can back up what they’re teaching you with their academic credentials

Since these courses are given by significant industry partners like MIT, you will be taught by actual MIT academics like Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee.

You will have the opportunity to work closely with these highly respected and educated teachers while you complete your coursework. 

Hence, you will receive valuable feedback from professors that know what they are talking about.

This makes these courses more trustworthy and reliable as you know you are being taught by top class experts. 

Simple Easy To Use Interface

The website for GetSmarter has a contemporary feel to it and is easy to use.

Finding courses is fairly easy, the information on their landing sites is instructive and helpful. While the course UI itself is extremely user-friendly.

This is fantastic since it makes learning much less stressful and more pleasant. Everything is simple to use, and you can quickly and easily discover anything you need.