How Legit Is edX? [EdX Explained]

With so many online education providers to choose from, you may be wondering… which ones are legitimate? Can I trust these companies with my time (and money), or am I wasting it studying for something that won’t improve my prospects? 

If you’re considering a new online learning provider, you’ve probably come across edX. edX is more than just a legitimate provider – it has a top-notch reputation in the industry, and its founders are big names you can trust. 

So, if you’re considering edX for your online learning journey, let us put your mind at rest. Read this short edX review and discover everything you need to know about edX like how legit is edX, what edX courses consist of, and what are edX alternatives.

What Is EdX? 

edX is an American online education provider, founded by Harvard and MIT, that offers Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to students across the globe.

With edX, you can gain access to an abundance of free online courses on edX from reputable schools and institutions, with the option to pay for professional certificates at the end of your course material. 

edX was founded in 2012, with the intention of removing some of the most common barriers to education, such as geographical location and expenses. edX is a non-profit that has joined forces with over 90 of the world’s leading universities since it began. 

Although edX open verified courses are free, some boot camps, executive education instructor-paced courses, and professional education self-paced courses will cost to enroll. We’ll explore these courses in depth a little later on. 

Is EdX Legit? 

Before we start walking you through the ins and outs of edX, let’s make one thing clear: it’s completely legit. 

edX has a stellar reputation in the online learning field, and it’s been helping students with their personal and professional development for over 10 years. 

As we’ll see throughout this article, edX offers a variety of courses to students of all ages, abilities, and educational needs, and it’s also partnered with plenty of big-name universities and organizations to provide quality courses and quality instructors. 

If you’re on the lookout for a new quality online course provider, we’d strongly recommend considering edX! 

What Courses Does EdX Offer? 

edX offers over a massive 3,000 courses, and 300 professional certificate programs for students to enroll in. So, if you’re considering using edX as your online learning provider, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Some of the most popular course categories on edX include: 

• Data Science
• Engineering
• Computer science
• Math
• Food and nutrition 
• Law
• Medicine 
• Education and teacher training
• Business and management 
• Architecture 
• Art & design
• Humanities 
• Education and teaching 
• Social sciences 

You’ll find a variety of both free and paid courses in these categories, depending on your needs. For all free courses, you’ll also have the option to buy an edX certificate at the end of your studies. 

With over 3000 courses on offer, it would be hard to list them all! However, you’ll find both free and paid courses in each of these categories.

Courses are also available in multiple languages to improve diversity and accessibility. So, if you’re a non-English speaker, you may still be able to use edX to advance your education or career. 

Although you may want to study your course straight from your laptop, you’ll also have the option to learn on the go. All Android and iOS devices are compatible with edX, so it’s never been easier to learn at your own pace! 

EdX Boot Camps

Earlier, we touched on a few paid options in edX – one being boot camps. 

If you want to advance your learning with a course that requires practical skills, you can take part in a boot camp. Boot camps are all about hands-on learning, and they’re led by industry experts to help build portfolios and increase your skill set. You can find boot camps in some of the following subjects: 

• Coding
• Data Analytics
• Cybersecurity
• Digital Marketing
• Product management
• UX/UI

… and more. 

Boot camps are often more intensive than free courses, and you’ll usually need a GED or higher to enroll. Once complete, you’ll receive a university-backed credential and a portfolio that you can showcase to future employers! 

Executive Education Courses

edX also offers Executive Education Courses. These short courses, like other edX courses, are completely remote and self-paced, and they’ll give you the opportunity to develop analytical, interpersonal, and critical thinking skills. 

These courses include a variety of videos, interactive exercises, and discussion forums with other learners to improve your education journey.

These courses take between 6-8 weeks to complete, and they’re supported by quality instructors and tutors. At the end of the course, you’ll get either a digital badge or a certificate to prove your participation. 

Executive Education Courses are aimed at enterprises, and edX teams in business and market research will crunch the data, and select the courses most relevant to your industry. 

Professional Education Courses 

If you’re a working professional looking to expand your skill set, you’ll also have the option to enroll in a professional education course. These courses often run for a few weeks and are focused on specific industries and skill sets.

You’ll also find plenty of practical, hands-on experiences to enhance your learning experience, and you’ll come away with a certificate of achievement, and either a professional education credit or Continuing Education Units (CEUs). 

These courses cover various industries, including: 

• Accounting 
• Business and technology 
• Communication and teamwork 
• Business data and analysis 
• Networking and interview skills

… and many more. 

Who Is EdX Good For? 

edX courses are often a little more niche than other online learning providers, such as Udemy or Coursera. So, if you have a strong idea of what you want or need to study, edX may be a good option for you. 

Remember: many edX courses are also equivalent to university study, so they can take some time to complete, and the content can be challenging. For these reasons, we’d say the edX platform would be best for: 

• Professionals wanting to gain new skills
• People wanting to learn at their own pace or balance education with work 
• People who want a verified certificate to showcase the skills 
• Anyone wanting more knowledge to advance their career
• People looking for an affordable and beneficial education 

EdX For Business 

Although edX is an attractive option for individuals looking to enhance their education, edX also offers a business plan that can be used to help train and upskill employees.

So, if you want your employees to benefit from remote, self-paced learning, you can sign your business up for the edX business package. 

Unfortunately, these prices seem to be tailored to the business’s individual needs. So, for more information, you’ll need to contact edX directly. 

What Universities Are Partnered With EdX?

edX has plenty of educational (and professional) partners, giving you greater access to top-quality courses. Here are just a few of the universities edX is partnered with: 

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 
• Harvard University 
• Berklee College of Music 
• Cornell University 
• Princeton
• University of Iceland 
• University of Oxford
• University of Notre Dame 
• University of Cambridge
• The University of Tokyo
• Seoul National University

… and many more. 

You’ll also find an abundance of companies, organizations, and non-profits partnered with edX. Some of these include: 

• Amazon Web Services
• American Psychological Organization
• IBM
• Google Cloud
• Google
• Microsoft
• Meta
• World of Business Ideas 

How Much Does EdX Cost? 

It depends. 

Although edX offers plenty of free courses, there are some you’ll have to pay for. For many of the free courses, you’ll have to pay for a certificate at the end of the course materials to prove your studies to future employers and educators. 

Some shorter courses can cost anywhere between $50-$400, whereas full Master’s degrees can set you back $10,000 – $25,000.

The cost of certificates will also vary depending on the type of verified track course you’re studying. You can expect to pay anywhere between $50-$300 for a certificate. 

However, most edX courses are fully accredited. So, investing in a certificate is a great way to prove your studies to educators and employers, and it will genuinely help improve your career prospects. We’d say it’s worth it if you can afford it! 

However, for more expensive courses, you’ll have access to tailored payment plans, and you may even be eligible for financial aid to help cover some of the costs of your edX course. 

Financial aid with edX works in a similar way to most colleges and universities. You’ll apply for financial aid directly through edX, they’ll review your application, and give you an answer within a few days.

If you want to access quality remote education on a budget, this is a great way to do it. 

The Bottom Line 

EdX is a credible online learning platform, founded by MIT and Harvard professors. edX is one of the go-to online learning platforms for those looking for an accessible, affordable provider they can trust to improve their prospects with.

Looking for a new online learning provider? We’d thoroughly recommend edX for working professionals and businesses looking to advance their careers!