Are Coursera Certificates Worth It In 2024? Expert Advice

Coursera is one of the leading platforms offering a wide range of courses and certifications. However, it’s a common question: Are Coursera Certificates worth it? Are they even valid?  

As someone who has personally completed three courses on Coursera in 2024, In this article I have shared my honest review and answered all the common questions on Coursera Certificates.

Read on to know more.

What are Coursera Certificates?

Coursera certificates are digital credentials awarded upon completing courses, specializations, or professional certificate programs available on the Coursera platform.

Once you complete a Coursera, you will be awarded a valuable certificate, and the validity of those certificates depends on your dedication to the subject.

Here are the key features of Coursera Certificates:

1. Coursera certificates, including identity verification, are typically verified to ensure the person receiving the certificate can be identified. This means your name will be given on the certificate.
2. Digital Format: Coursera certificates are issued digitally, making them easy to share on social media profiles, LinkedIn, and with potential employers.
3. Universally Recognized: These certificates often bear the logos of the partner institutions (universities or companies) that developed the course, adding credibility.
4. There are different kinds of Coursera certificates that you can choose from. Not all of them are accredited.

How Much Do Coursera Certificates Cost?

The cost of Coursera certificates depends on the type of program you subscribe to:

1. Individual Courses: Individual course certificates typically cost between $49 and $79. Prices can vary based on the course content and the issuing institution.
2. Coursera Plus: By signing up for Coursera Plus, you can also get unlimited access to 7000+ courses on Coursera. There are two Coursera Plus programs that you can sign up for. The monthly Coursera Plus program has a 7-day free trial which is $59/month, totaling $708 annually. The Coursera Plus Annual Program is priced at $399 per year, providing a 50% discount compared to the monthly subscription. It also comes with a 14-day free trial.

If you are looking for MasterTrack certificates or degree programs, you simply need to request more information on Coursera. I can assure you that they are more affordable than traditional on-campus degree programs.

Online degrees offered through Coursera can cost anywhere between $8,000 and $20,000, depending on the program and the university. While this is a significant investment, it is often less expensive than traditional on-campus degrees.

You can also sign up for a Coursera Plus Free Trial to try out the platform for FREE, and figure out if it works for you with many free courses.

Are Coursera Certificates Recognized?

While Coursera itself is not an accredited institution, many of its courses are developed in partnership with accredited universities and organizations.

Not all Coursera courses are accredited, but you can earn accredited certificates recognized by 325 universities and organizations, including Stanford, Illinois, Michigan, Duke University, Google, IBM, Meta, Dell, Accenture, and more.

Types of Certificates Offered by Coursera

When I first joined Coursera, I was a little confused about the variety of certificates offered by the platform and had to spend some time browsing through the website to understand.

I have made it simpler for you by sharing the different types of certificates on Coursera and what they offer:

Course Certificates

Course certificates are awarded upon the completion of individual courses. They are for learners looking to acquire specific skills or knowledge in a particular subject area.

Courses range across various fields, including business, technology, health, and the arts. There are about 1172 courses on Coursera that you can individually pay for and get a certificate for completion.

Note: Some certificates are simple certificates of completion, while others are accredited, like Google’s Cybersecurity Course.

Specialized Certificates

The specialization consists at Coursera are designed to help learners master a specific topic.

You’ll need to complete a series of demanding courses and require hands-on projects, and only then can you earn a Specialization Certificate to share with your professional network and potential employers.

Coursera offers 104 such Specializations. This type of certificate shows a better understanding and commitment to a subject.

Note: These certificates are all officially recognized globally.

Professional Certificates

Professional certificates are career-focused programs designed in collaboration with industry leaders. Coursera has a catalog of 68 professional certificate courses.

These certificates aim to provide learners with job-ready skills. Famous examples include the Google IT Support Professional and Facebook Social Media Marketing Professional certificates.

Note: These certificates are all officially recognized globally.

MasterTrack Certificates

MasterTrack certificates are awarded upon completing master’s degree programs, which are broken down into smaller, cheaper online modules in Coursera. These certificates also offer a way to earn credit points towards a full degree if you enroll in one.

Note: This certificate is officially recognized globally + gives you credit points.

Degree Certificates

Coursera also partners with universities to offer fully accredited online degrees. These degree programs also have a formal degree certificate from the partner university.

Coursera offers about 18 University certificates. Examples include the University of Illinois’ MBA program and the University of London’s Bachelor of Computer Science. It has the same validity as an Offline on-campus degree.

Popular Coursera Certification Programs in 2024

Because Coursera hosts job-relevant courses and allows you to upskill at a cheaper price.

Google IT Support Professional Certificate

Google IT support professional certificate program is designed to prepare learners for entry-level IT support roles. It covers critical topics like troubleshooting, customer service, networking, operating systems, system administration, and security.

It has been rated 4.8 stars by 173,710 reviews and is for six months, 10 hours a week, with flexible timing.

IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

This IBM data science professional certificate program covers data science fundamentals, including Python programming, data analysis, machine learning, and data visualization.

It has been rated 4.6 by 70,443 reviews and is a collection of 10-course series, and if it is for five months, it is 10 hours a week.

Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate

This program is focused on social media marketing fundamentals, including content creation, strategy, and advertising. It is made for social media marketers and entrepreneurs.

It has a six-course series and a 4.8 rating from 17,358 reviews. It also has a flexible five-month schedule, 10 hours a week.

Click the below button to visit Coursera and check out the complete Coursera course catalog.

Is a Coursera Certificate Worth It?

Now comes the main question are Coursera certificates valid? Here I have shared some of the proofs that show Coursera certificates are genuine and valid globally.

1. The Certificates are accredited.
2. The degree courses also provide credit points towards actual degrees.
3. These courses have honest reviews and testimonials on the website that you can review to determine whether they work for you.

Here are some user testimonials from their website:

Are Coursera Certificates Worth It?

Now, judging from my personal experience, I can definitely say that Coursera certificates have helped me get internships and jobs because I had a competitive advantage over competitors by knowing essential skills and having accredited certificates that I could display on my resume.

Here are a few reasons why these Coursera certificates are worth it:

1. Coursera certificates can be precious if you aim to gain new skills, enhance your resume, or transition into a new career. This is a cost-effective way to gain knowledge from top institutions.
2. Coursera certificates are relatively affordable compared to traditional education.
3. Coursera’s online format allows students to study at their own pace, making it ideal for working professionals and those with busy schedules. The good news is that there is an ongoing Coursera Student Discount to reduce the course cost.
4. The demand for certified professionals is high in fields like IT, data science, and digital marketing. Coursera has certificates in these areas that you can grab anytime.

Can Coursera Courses Get You a Job in 2024?

Absolutely yes! You can use a Coursera certificate in your resume to get jobs, advance in your career, or jump into new fields, and many things.

Remember It would help if you had the skill set required for the job and the important social skills to qualify for interviews.

However, many companies are shifting towards skill-based hiring, where practical skills and certifications are given more weight than traditional degrees.

Coursera certificates can showcase your skills and dedication to continuous learning.

Also, completing projects and assignments as part of Coursera courses can help build a portfolio showing your capabilities to potential employers.

Conclusion

Coursera certificates are a great way to showcase your skills to the world. Companies like Google, Meta, and other organizations highly value the professional certificates offered by Coursera.

I did not find many differences between Coursera vs Coursera Plus and have personally used Coursera certificates to acquire positions in job roles, and I believe you can do the same. It is worth it, and I highly recommend it in 2024.

FAQs on Are Coursera Certificates Worth It?