Free or Discounted Classes/Seminars
A lot of veterans do not realize this, but real free education exists after service.
These are not discounts or sales pitches, they are fully funded programs that cover leadership training, certificates, college level courses, and career skills.
The problem is they are scattered, hard to find, and buried under a lot of meaningless programs and outright scams that waste time and energy.
This page exists to cut through the noise and put the real opportunities in one place, because service should come with real follow through and a future should not depend on money.
Harvard develops and teaches its own courses using Harvard faculty and curriculum. Veterans can access many of these courses for free online, especially in leadership, government, ethics, and public service.
The content is Harvard owned and academically identical to what is taught on campus, even when taken online.
Harvard University
Free courses created by HarvardedX
edX is an online learning platform that hosts courses from many universities and institutions, including Harvard.
It does not create the content itself, but delivers courses built by schools like Harvard, MIT, and others. Many edX courses are free to access, and veterans often use edX as the entry point to reach Harvard and other university programs.
Online platform hosting free coursesOnward to Opportunity is a Department of Defense funded program that provides free professional certifications to veterans and military families. Training includes IT, project management, human resources, and business skills with no tuition or fees.
Syracuse University Onward to Opportunity
Career certifications at zero cost
Centenary University Veteran Ventures Program
Free entrepreneurship educationVeteran Ventures offers free online entrepreneurship training for veterans and their families. The program focuses on business planning, financial foundations, and mentorship without charging tuition.
Through veteran focused partners, Coursera provides one full year of free access to courses and certificates from universities and industry leaders. Programs cover business, technology, leadership, and career skills, and cost nothing once military status is verified.
Coursera for Veterans
Free certificates from major universitiesThe VET Academy is an intensive executive education program designed for senior enlisted leaders and officers transitioning to civilian careers. Tuition is typically fully covered through philanthropic and institutional funding for accepted participants.
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School VET Academy
Executive education for senior veterans
Microsoft Software and Systems Academy
Free pathway into tech careersMicrosoft offers a fully funded training academy focused on technology, cloud computing, and software careers. Veterans receive instruction, certification preparation, and access to employer networks at no cost.
IBM SkillsBuild provides over one thousand free courses for veterans and military families. Training includes cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, with recognized digital credentials.
IBM SkillsBuild
Free digital and technology training
NPower Tech Fundamentals for Veterans
No cost IT career trainingNPower delivers free instructor led technology training designed to help veterans enter IT careers. The program includes certification preparation, mentoring, and job placement support with no tuition required.