Coursera For Military Family — Offers & Discounts

Coursera offers multiple options to help active duty members, and veterans, upskill and reskill through its courses, making Coursera a dependable learning solution for military families

These learning options include individual course subscriptions, Coursera Plus subscriptions, and free courses offered by the Veteran Service Organization and United Service Organization’s Pathfinder Transition program.

In this article, you’ll learn about how military families can use Coursera, about Coursera military discounts and deals for military families, the best Coursera courses for military families, and more.

Leave your worries because I’ve got your back. 

Does Coursera Offer Military Discounts?

There is no particular Coursera discount for military families, but there are alternative ways to access Coursera courses at a reduced cost or even for free.

When I reached out to the Coursera Help Center to find out whether they offer veteran discounts on Coursera, I received the following reply.

Coursera support clearly stated that it does not have an active promo for veterans. However, the Coursera account will receive all the promos available from time to time. They also recommended checking the email for promo availability.  

How Can Military Families Use Coursera?

According to a study conducted by USO, the average military spouse moves eight to ten times during a 20-year military career. 

They need assistance in upgrading and reorienting their skills during and after the service. Coursera offers various plans for purchasing courses or subscriptions.

I have enlisted the best Coursera plans for you to benefit from. These are as follows:

• Individual course subscriptions
• Coursera Plus subscription
• Free Coursera courses by joining a VSO
• Coursera-USO Pathfinder Transition Program. 

Let’s understand these plans in detail.

1. Individual Course Subscriptions

Active personnel, veterans, and family members must pay for an individual course in this mode to earn a Coursera certificate. You can access a single course with a one-time payment or installment payment.

Here’s an example of an individual Coursera course: Stanford University’s Introduction to Statistics course costs $79.

Here are the Coursera products that you can access with individual course subscriptions.

1. Individual courses: Coursera offers more than 8,845 individual courses. Some are free, while others are paid. The paid versions of the courses come with a course completion certificate issued by Coursera and its partner.
2. Guided Projects: Guided projects are the best way for learners to work on real-world practical projects and demonstrate their skills. Coursera currently offers more than 2,996 Guided projects in its catalog. Guided projects do not take more than two hours to complete, so they can easily accommodate your busy schedule since they cost only $9.99.
3. Specialization: These are a series of related courses that focus on a single topic. Each course includes video lectures, interactive exercises, assignments, quizzes, and certificates. Coursera offers more than 1,050 options to choose from. Specialization is the best way to master a particular skill.
4. Professional Certificates: These are designed in partnership with universities and organizations to impart industry-ready skills and knowledge. Coursera offers about 153 Professional certificate courses. The cost of a professional certificate starts at $39/month.
5. MasterTrack Certificates: These certificates are a university-backed online certificate program. After successful completion, you get a university-issued certificate and college credit. The starting price of a Coursera MasterTrack certificate is $2,000, and many certifications offer the option to pay in monthly installments or one payment. 

It is hard to choose from so many options. Consider a subscription plan if you feel these individual courses are out of your league.

2. Coursera Plus

Coursera has a subscription plan if you do not want to take individual courses. This subscription plan is called Coursera Plus. 

Coursera Plus provides unlimited access to over 90% of Coursera’s course catalog, including Specializations, Projects, and Professional Certificates.

Coursera Plus allows you to learn online and earn valuable credentials from top universities like Yale and Michigan.

Coursera Plus offers a range of benefits including:

• Unlimited access to over 7,000 courses covering a wide range of topics and fields.
• Hands-on projects and job-ready certificate programs to help you develop practical skills.
• The ability to learn at your own pace, with flexible start and end dates.
• A community of learners and instructors to connect with and learn from.
• There is a 14-day money-back guarantee to try Coursera Plus risk-free.

Coursera Plus is an excellent option for active military personnel, veterans, and military spouses, whether you’re starting a new career or switching a field. 

With Coursera Plus, you can gain the skills you need to succeed for $59 per month or $399 per year.

3. By Joining A Veteran Service Organization (VSO)

If you are a US veteran or Military spouse and want to get free access to Coursera, you can do so by taking help from a Veteran Service Organization (VSO).

Veteran Service Organization is a not-for-profit organization that aids and serves veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors. 

Coursera has partnered with some Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) for an initiative called Coursera for Military Family.  The initiative aims to support military families, particularly spouses, in achieving their career goals and overcoming the challenges of frequent relocation and career disruptions.

To join the Coursera for Military Family program, you must be a partnered VSO member. So, first, you have to enroll in a VSO whose services are right for you. 

Please remember not to enroll with multiple VSOs at the same time. The VSOs that have partnered with Coursera for this Military Family initiative are:

1. Veteran Transition Support
2. Hire Heroes USA, Allegiant Giving, 
3. Elite Meet, 
4. The Warrior Alliance, 
5. Veterans2Work,
6. Act Now Education,
7. Reveille Foundation
8. USO.

After joining a VSO, ask the organization about the process of joining Coursera for the Military Family program. These organizations will then invite you to enroll in a learning program on Coursera.

Requirements to apply:

You have to meet at least one of the following criteria to avail the benefits of Coursera for the Military Family program. 

1. A service member with over 20 years of service
2. Service members one year out or less from separating from the military
3. Spouse of a veteran
4. Spouse of an Active Duty Military member
5. National Guard
6. Reservist

If you fulfill the above criteria, you are eligible for courses with certificates free from Coursera.

4. The USO’s Coursera Partnership

The United Service Organisation (USO) has partnered with Coursera to energize the USO Pathfinder Transition Program. 

This program provides free online training and certification opportunities to active duty members, spouses, and veterans in preparation for life after the military.

This partnership aims to help service members and their families acquire new skills and knowledge to succeed in the transition to civilian life.

Through the partnership, you can get access to courses, certifications, and degrees from top universities and companies, including Yale, Michigan, Stanford, and Google.

Coursera Deals For Military Families To Consider

Coursera is a popular online learning platform that offers various promotions and deals throughout the year to help individuals save money on purchases. 

Here are some of the best deals Coursera offers.

1. Coursera Annual Subscription Discount

The Coursera Plus plan, which covers unlimited access to 90% of the course catalog, costs $59/month. This subscription can be canceled at any time.

The annual plan costs $399, which is a discounted rate compared to the monthly plan. By paying upfront for the yearly plan, you can save up to $309 compared to the monthly plan.

2. Coursera Black Friday-Cyber Monday Deals

Coursera Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are inactive but expected to go live on November 29, 2024, and December 2, 2024, respectively.

During the Black Friday & Cyber Monday sale 2023, Coursera rolled out a discount offering $100 off on its annual subscription, making it an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and gain certificates.

We can surely anticipate similar deals in the 2024 Black Friday & Cyber Monday sale. However, such deals are only available for a limited time, so be sure to act quickly to take advantage of these offers when announced.

Remember to check the Coursera website for the latest information on the deals.

3. Coursera $1 Referral Offer

Coursera offers a referral program allowing you and me to refer friends to the platform and earn rewards. According to this offer, when you sign up for Coursera Plus using a friend’s referral link, you can get your first month for just $1.

If you are the first friend the referrer has referred, they will also receive a reward to get their first month of Coursera Plus for $1.

To find your Coursera referral link, you can go to the Coursera website. You can then share the referral link with your friends using email. 

You can also share your friend’s referral links and earn rewards when they sign up for Coursera Plus.

Note: This offer does not require coupons; the reward must be redeemed by January 1, 2025.

4. Coursera Financial Aid 

Coursera offers financial aid to eligible learners—veterans or military spouses—to help them access its courses and degree programs. 

You can apply for financial aid if you can not afford to pay for a certificate. But remember that not all courses may offer a financial aid option. 

Moreover, you can only apply for up to 10 Coursera courses at once. You can apply for financial aid by clicking on the link on the course home page. 

The following image shows the application form to be filled out for financial assistance. 

You can access all the course content and earn a certificate once approved. To apply for financial assistance, you must fill out an application form with information about your educational background, career goals, and economic circumstances.

5. Auditing A Course In Coursera 

Auditing a course on Coursera allows you to access all the course materials, including video lectures, readings, and discussion forums, without paying for the course.

When you audit a course, you won’t be able to submit assignments, but you’ll still be able to learn from the course content and participate in discussions with other learners.

You can upgrade to a paid course certificate at any time during or after your audit, and your grades will be transferred to your paid certificate.

Note: Not all courses are available for auditing, and you need to check for each course individually as shown in the above image. Also, an audited course does not provide a certificate of completion.

Best Courses Available Through Coursera For Military Families

Coursera offers a range of courses and programs specifically designed for active military personnel, veterans, and military spouses to build a fulfilling post-military future.

Here are some of the best courses available through Coursera for military families:

1. Making Your Military Transition A Transformation

The course “Making Your Military Transition A Transformation” is designed to help transitioning military members and their spouses transform their post-military experience by designing the life they truly want.

The course covers common transition pitfalls and walks participants through the process of analyzing their motivations, prioritizing their career pursuits, and creating a career journey map.

This course amalgamates Coursera’s online learning resources and the USO’s 80 years of military support experience.

You can enroll in the “Making Your Military Transition A Transformation” by clicking here.

2. Google IT Support Professional Certificate

Google’s IT Support Professional Certificate is designed to prepare you for entry-level IT support jobs. It includes realistic practice and real-world examples and is supposed to be completed in under six months. 

Upon completing the program, you will receive a digital certificate from Google, which you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

You can join the “Google IT Support Professional Certificate” by clicking here.

3. Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate

Meta’s Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate will help you develop skills in social media marketing by providing practical experience. 

This Social Media Marketing Certificate is actually a six-course series. These six courses underline different aspects of Meta.

After completing this certification course, you’ll receive a Professional Certificate. The entire course will help you prepare for the industry-recognized Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate exam.

Access the “Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate” by clicking here.

Related Pots:

• Coursera Pricing
• Coursera Plus Student Discount

Conclusion: Military Families Have Multiple Ways To Use Coursera!

According to Dosomething, US military families relocate ten times more frequently than civilian families, on average, every two or three years. Therefore, military personnel, veterans, and their spouses struggle with employment, upskilling, and reskilling.

Coursera offers multiple ways to enhance your capabilities and skills through online learning courses. Veterans and military families can choose between a single course and a Coursera Plus subscription.

Similarly, free courses through the Coursera For Military Family program and USO’s Pathfinder Transition program allow users to access Coursera courses without paying for a certificate. 

These options allow military families to gain valuable skills and knowledge to improve their career prospects and personal development.

Make use of this fantastic opportunity to revamp your career.

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