Saylor University review

Saylor University ranks seventh but is the best value for anyone who needs a certificate without paying for it. The nonprofit offers 164 self-paced courses, all free, from professional skills to college-level subjects, and its digital certificates of completion are free as well. Learners can also pick up tuition-free college credit through partner schools, and Saylor now runs four tuition-free master's degrees, starting with an MBA in 2024. In 2026 it was approved to operate as Saylor University by Florida's Commission for Independent Education and earned accreditation through ASIC. Courses are curated from open online resources by educators, and you set your own deadlines. The catalog is much smaller than the commercial platforms, and the course format is more reading-based than the video-heavy competition. We compared documented features and published prices only.

Who it is for

Learners who want free courses and free certificates

Price

Free: 164 self-paced courses and free digital certificates.

We have 164 courses, all self-paced and all free
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• 164 self-paced courses, all free
• Free digital certificates of completion
• Tuition-free college credit through partner schools
• Four tuition-free master's degrees, including an MBA
• Accredited through ASIC and approved by Florida's Commission for Independent Education in 2026

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Courses and certificates both cost nothing
• Strength: Deadlines are under the learner's control
• Strength: Run by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit since 2008
• Weakness: Catalog of 164 courses is far smaller than Coursera or Udemy
• Weakness: Course materials are curated from open resources rather than produced as video series
• Weakness: Brand recognition with employers is lower than for big university names

Key facts

• Courses: 164, all free
• Certificates: Free
• Master's degrees: 4, tuition-free
• Operating since: 2008

Where it ranks

Saylor University is No. 7 in our Best Online Course Platforms For Learners verdict.