Free or Cheap Online Certification Programs to Check Out!

Did you know there are so many ways to build your skillset at little to no cost?

Maybe you have a college degree (or working on one) or maybe you don't. Either way, more and more companies and nonprofits are offering certificate programs that give you hands-on learning experiences to build your skillset.

And here's the best part: they cost so much less than college classes at a university.

Regardless of whether you're a business student, engineer or teacher, there are certificate programs from employers like Google to develop skills for whatever job you're looking for. Earning these certificates beefs up your resume with proof you know what you're doing, and it can also demonstrate well-roundness in skills that your university didn't include in your degree program.

Here are a few certificate programs to check out!

Google Certificate Program

The Google professional training program offers certificates in a variety of areas including data analytics, IT support, UX design, project management and Android development. The course is designed for flexibility with only 10 or fewer hours of study needed each week. The program cost is about $240 for six months, or half that if you finish in three months.

Facebook Programs

Through Coursera, Facebook offers programs like a Facebook Social Media Marketing certificate over the course of five months with five hours of work each week. This program introduces digital marketing concepts and builds on those throughout the program. It's a free program with a test at the end to certify your skills. Even if you're not a marketing professional, knowing your way around Facebook for business is a great skill to have!

Coursera Programs

Coursera is one of the largest online certificate and degree providers in the world right now. It has a variety of offerings from free courses from leading companies to MBA programs from the University of Illinois at a cheaper cost than normal. It offers programs like "Introduction to Japanese", "Machine Learning", and "Introduction to Psychology". Explore Coursera for a wide variety of learning opportunities!

Each of these programs is an opportunity to build your skills in college, in your entry-level job or just for your personal growth. Either way, check out these programs to keep growing!

/ written by Rachel Madden