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Tired of struggling with money? Consider an online class to get a handle on your spending, debt or improve your credit rating. Some courses even show you the ropes for investing in the stock market or real estate and you can start learning in minutes.
Benzinga is here to help you find the best financial class for your budget and busy lifestyle.
Quick Look: Best Financial Classes
Here’s a quick glimpse at Benzinga’s top picks:
- Acorns’ Guide to Personal Finance by Udemy
- Personal Finance by PurdueX
- The Complete Personal Finance Course: Save, Protect and Make More by Udemy
- How to Create a Personal Financial Co-Pilot by Udemy
- Get Out of Debt Fast – A Proven Plan to Stay Debt-Free Forever by Udemy
- Credit Repair: The 2020 Total Guide to a Great Credit Score by Udemy
- Investing 101: How to Start Investing in 4 Simple Steps by Udemy
- Investing Basics for Millennials by Skillshare
- 8 Steps to Wealth Through Real Estate by Udemy
What Makes a Financial Class Great?
You can find several online financial classes to choose from, but not all are worth your time and money. Keep these factors in mind when researching and evaluating your options to find the most suitable course for you.
Facilitated by Subject-Matter Expert
The best financial classes are led by individuals well-versed in personal finance and who have extensive experience teaching others. Review the instructor’s biography to learn more about his or her professional background. It’s also a good idea to read reviews from past and current students to gauge whether the course may be a good fit.
Self-Paced
Depending on how much you know about finances, you may find that some material takes a bit to fully grasp. You want a self-paced course that allows you to spend as much time as you need on those challenging lessons. That way, you can apply what you learn to your finances.
Affordable
If you’re serious about getting a handle on your finances, the last thing you want to do is invest in an expensive course that breaks your budget. Instead, consider options you can comfortably afford or start with free classes if money’s tight.
Our Top Picks
We scoured the web to compile a list of the best financial classes. Our top selections are from edX, Skillshare and Udemy.
We’ve organized the classes by skill level — beginners, intermediate students and advanced students. You’ll also find a description and pricing information included below to facilitate the decision-making process.
Financial Classes for Beginners
Start with these courses if you want to learn the basics of personal finances before diving into more advanced concepts.
1. Acorns’ Guide to Personal Finance by Udemy
Who it's for: Beginners
Price: On sale
Presented by popular micro-investing app Acorns, this Udemy bestseller features 1 hour of on-demand video and 21 downloadable resources to help get your finances in shape. You will watch a series of video lessons and complete exercises throughout the course that brings you one step closer to achieving your financial goals.
Acorns’ Guide to Personal Finance includes 32 lectures, categorized as follows:
- Introduction to Building Wealth
- Step One: Budget Better
- Step Two: Pay Down Your Debt Faster
- Step Three: Save More Money
- Step Four: Earn More Money
- Step Five: Invest Successfully
- Conclusion
Facilitator Jennifer Barrett is the chief education offer and Grow editor-in-chief at Acorns.
2. Personal Finance by PurdueX
Who it's for: Beginners
Price: Free
Personal Finance is a 5-week course that delves into credit, insurance, retirement and investments. Consumer economics professor Sugato Chakravarty answers common questions related to these topics and teaches the essentials by incorporating simulations.
It’s divided into 4 segments:
- Investments
- Credit
- Insurance
- Retirement
There’s no cost to enroll. You also have the option to upgrade your enrollment and add a verified certificate for only $49.
3. The Complete Personal Finance Course: Save, Protect and Make More by Udemy
Who it's for: Beginners
Price: On sale
The Complete Personal Finance Course: Save, Protect and Make More explores proven strategies employed by millionaires to earn more. Udemy best seller also dives into income boosting, saving and money preservation tactics.
You will learn how to create a budget, boost your credit score and more. Plus, there are lessons on estate planning, wills, trusts and investments.
Register today for instant access to 16 hours of on-demand video, 1 article and 7 downloadable resources. You will also get a certificate of completion when you finish the course.
Instruction is provided by venture capitalist and award-winning MBA professor Chris Haroun.
Intermediate Financial Classes
Move beyond the basics of personal finance with these interactive intermediate courses.
4. How to Create a Personal Financial Co-Pilot by Udemy
Who it's for: Intermediate students
Price: On sale
Do you want to create realistic financial goals, build a budget and eliminate debt? Consider this intermediate course to show you the ropes.
Led by personal finance expert Brett Romero, How to Create a Personal Financial Co-Pilot is divided into 4 sections:
- Introduction
- Hands-On – Implementing the System
- A New Way to Add Expenses
- Creating Goals That Actually Stick
When you enroll, you will receive full lifetime access to 12 on-demand video lectures. Also, know that the course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied for any reason.
5. Get Out of Debt Fast – A Proven Plan to Stay Debt-Free Forever by Udemy
Who it's for: Intermediate students
Price: On sale
Money Girl Podcast host and personal finance guru Laura Adams shares tips to help you break the chains of debt bondage forever in this highly-rated course. You will also learn how to prioritize and minimize the cost of debt, select the most suitable debt-management method for you, create a plan of action and more.
Get Out of Debt Fast – A Proven Plan to Stay Debt-Free Forever involves 6 modules:
- Introduction
- Assessing Your Finances
- Make a Debt Reduction Plan
- Reduce Your Short-Term Debt
- Reduce Your Long-Term Debt
- Conclusion
Take advantage of the promotional pricing by enrolling today. The registration fee includes 2 hours of on-demand video, 5 downloadable resources, a certificate of completion when you reach the finish line and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
6. Credit Repair: The 2020 Total Guide to a Great Credit Score by Udemy
Who it's for: Intermediate students
Price: On sale
Credit Repair: The 2020 Total Guide to a Great Credit Score is designed for individuals who are tired of living with poor credit and seek ways to improve their score. In just an hour, this Udemy bestseller teaches the tricks of the credit repair game so you can start working on your credit.
Facilitator Craig Randall shares everything you need to know about credit repair in these in-depth lessons:
- Start Improving Your Credit in One Hour or Less!
- The Credit Score and the Credit Report
- How to Get Your Credit Report for Free
- Your Credit Report Made Simple
- Removing Negative Items from Your Credit Report
- Disputing with the Credit Bureaus
- The Personal Statement
- Powerful Next Steps
- The Squeaky Wheel and Other Potent Methods
- Working on the Major Credit Destroyers
- Collections and Collection Agencies
- Dealing with Specific Issues
- Where Do We Go From Here?
- Summary
Get started today in just minutes. You will unlock 49 lectures and 3 downloadable resources when you sign up.
Advanced Financial Classes
Check out these advanced courses if you’re interested in investing to make your money work harder for you.
7. Investing 101: How to Start Investing in 4 Simple Steps by Udemy
Who it's for: Advanced students
Price: On sale
Investing 101: How to Start Investing in 4 Simple Steps features 13 lectures that teach you how to make your money work harder for you through investing. Registered paraplanner and investment professional Nathan Winklepleck covers the various types of investments, how they work, tips for evaluating investments, wealth-building tips and more.
Here’s a glimpse of the 4-step process:
- Step #1: Set a Foundation of Wealth-Building
- Step #2: Learn the Fundamentals of Smart Investing
- Step #3: Build Your Investment Portfolio
- Step #4: Automate and Maintain
Enroll right now to access 1.5 hours of on-demand video and 1 downloadable resource.
8. Investing Basics for Millennials by Skillshare
Who it's for: Advanced students
Price: Free
Investing Basics for Millennials is another ideal course if you’re interested in growing your money with smart investments. You’ll learn how to play the investing game with confidence and not second-guess your decisions. Plus, you will have the opportunity to implement your skills through a mock trading platform.
Here’s how investment expert Lindsay Marsh breaks down the class:
- Class Preview
- The Power of Compound Interest
- Risk/Reward and Different Investment Types
- Housing and Alternative Investments
- Case Studies and Finding the Right Mix
Enrollment is free with a Skillshare trial.
9. 8 Steps to Wealth Through Real Estate by Udemy
Who it's for: Advanced students
Price: Free
Presented by serial entrepreneur and real estate investor Scott Picken, 8 Steps to Wealth through Real Estate is the perfect course if you’re ready to dive into the real estate market.
He takes you through the following steps to get up and running:
- Welcome
- Step 1: Investor Test
- Step 2: Pillars of Wealth
- Step 3: Your Journey Plan
- Step 4: Your Flight Path
- Step 5: Get Started
- Step 6: Track Progress
- Step 7: 7 Laws of Nature
- Step 8: Celebrate and Enjoy
The enrollment fee includes 17 lectures jam-packed into 2.5 hours of on-demand video and 2 articles.
Find the Best Financial Classes for You
Don’t continue to put your finances on the back burner. Take the first step toward addressing any pressing financial issues and building a solid financial foundation by enrolling in a course from our recommendations list.
They’re facilitated by subject-matter experts committed to helping you win with money. Even better, you can get started for a fee you can afford and work when it’s convenient.
Southern New Hampshire University Online
SNHU Online Offers:
- Flexible schedules
- Affordable tuition
- Online tutoring
- Access to electronic research materials
- Specialized academic advising
- Supportive online community