This summer, any American can add ‘Harvard University’ to their resume — for free.
The university has offered free online courses for several years, but with tensions rising in relation to the Trump administration, more attention is on the institution than ever.
Since the start of Donald Trump’s second term as president, he has waged war with Harvard, threatening to withhold federal funds from the institution if its leadership does not comply with his demands.
These demands include “audits” of academic programs and departments (including the viewpoints of students, faculty, and staff), and changes to Harvard’s governance structure and hiring practices, according to the Harvard Gazette.
“The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in a message to the community as a response to these demands.
He added: “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
As a result, the Trump administration has frozen more than $3 billion in research grants and attempted to revoke the school’s ability to enroll international students.
Harvard is suing the federal government for both of these actions.
Most recently, President Trump has sent a letter to all federal agencies, instructing them to end contracts with Harvard, totaling about $100 million, and essentially severing ties between the federal government and the university.
Still, Harvard is holding strong, maintaining its reputation as a cultural and educational institution that represents the American people.
“I don't know fully what the motivations are, but I do know that there are people who are fighting a cultural battle. I don't know if that is what is driving the administration. They don't like what's happened to campuses, and sometimes they don't like what we represent,” Garber told NPR.
“What I can tell you is Harvard is a very old institution, much older than the country. And as long as there has been a United States of America, Harvard has thought that its role is to serve the nation.”
In its commitment to serving the American people, the university has expanded its financial aid offerings this year.
Harvard has also released 122 free courses for 2025 that anyone with access to a computer can take, completely free of charge.
While it is unclear if these courses have been offered in response to the Trump administration, 40 government classes (some free, others with a fee) are available online to anyone who wants to learn.
Of the free government classes offered, some include lessons on constitutional foundations, U.S. public policy, citizen politics in America, an overview of the three branches of government, civic engagement in a constitutional democracy, and how to build public leadership.
Harvard offers free courses in multiple disciplines, including humanities, art and design, business, health and medicine, computer science, and more. Some courses include a brief one-time lecture, while others can last up to 16 weeks.
Many courses are available for free, and enrollees simply must create an online account to access them. Those who want to get a verified certificate after completing a course can pay a fee. And since all of the courses are available online and for a wide range of students, they can be taken at any pace.
Other free courses that are not categorized as government subjects include other helpful social skills, like salary negotiating, resilient leadership, strengthening community health programs, humanitarian response to emergencies, the health effects of climate change, and even an introduction to critical thinking.
Although free courses have long been an offering of the university — and others, including MIT and Yale — thousands on social media are responding with pride to Harvard’s ongoing commitment to accessible education and free expression.
“They’re offering free, college-level courses online for every U.S. citizen — and not just random stuff,” TikTok creator Tall Nate shared online this weekend, in a video reaching more than 5 million viewers.
“There’s no gatekeeping, there’s no tuition; just access. So yeah, that means I go to Harvard now. And so do you!”
Commenters flooded Tall Nate’s video, expressing enthusiasm for the offerings, sharing what classes they have already signed up to take, and even eagerly bragging about their new Harvard sweatshirts to represent their “new” school.
“I learned how to code from Harvard’s free resources back in COVID,” one person commented. “I took their classes and even ‘graduated’ with a certificate. It helped me land a job … I will definitely take this course, too, to learn and to support!”
“The whole catalog is poppin’ tbh,” another wrote.
“Let’s get educated,” another said. “May Harvard always remain on the right side of history; with the people, for the people.”
Those interested in enrolling can find a full catalog of free courses online now.
Header image by Grace DuVal/Harvard University
