Programs with free training, some written for HBCU students, alumni and faculty and some open well beyond them. Each card says whether the credential is covered too, links to the sponsor’s own page, and has who can apply in the sponsor’s words, usually behind a tap.
01. Built for HBCUs
5 of 18 programs here name HBCU students, alumni or faculty in their own eligibility.
02. Every program
18 programs. 8 include the credential at no cost, and 1 has a dated round open today.
HBCU Founders Initiative
Free trainingA startup pre-accelerator for HBCU founders, with weekly virtual sessions, mentorship and in-person programming at partner HBCUs.
“Our virtual cohort is open to students and alumni from all HBCUs nationwide.”
Amazon Web Services
Free trainingSelf-paced cloud and AI lessons with free hands-on labs.
“AWS Educate is open to any individual, regardless of where they are in their education, technical experience, or career journey.”
“Learners as young as 13 can register for AWS Educate with just an email address”
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Free trainingThe federal cybersecurity agency’s online courses, including prep for Ethical Hacking, CISM and CISSP certifications.
“CISA Learning is available to federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) government staff and contractors, Veterans and military personnel, and U.S. residents.”
Harvard University
Free, credential includedEleven weeks of material. Passing the problem sets and final project earns a free CS50 Certificate; edX’s verified certificate is separate and paid.
“Even if you are not a student at Harvard, you are welcome to “take” this course for free”
freeCodeCamp
Free, credential includedA coding curriculum from a nonprofit, with verified certifications of around 300 hours each.
“all freely available to the public.”
Society for Financial Education & Professional Development
Free, credential includedEight modules from budgeting and credit to student loans, investing and estate planning. Scoring at least 70% on the assessments earns a digital badge through Credly.
“Each online digital credentialing module takes approximately one hour to complete and is available to all currently enrolled HBCU students for free.”
“If you are not a college/university student and are interested in taking the Mind Over Money Skills online financial literacy course, please contact certificate@sfepd.org”
Modern States
Free trainingCollege-level courses that prepare you for CLEP exams, which a college may accept for credit. A voucher covers the CLEP exam fee once you pass the course.
“Anyone 13 and older is eligible to create a Modern States account, take Modern States courses, and earn CLEP exam vouchers”
“some test centers may charge an additional administration fee that students must pay separately.”
CodePath
Free trainingTen-week, virtual, instructor-led courses in areas like AI engineering, web development, cybersecurity and interview prep.
“CS students and CodePath alumni enroll at no cost.”
Generation
Free trainingThree weeks of help with your resume, LinkedIn and interviews, with one live evening session a week and three months of job search support.
“Currently reside in and have the legal right to work in the United States”
“The absolute minimum age is 18 years old, however this may vary per program.”
KR Scholars and Grow with Google
Free, credential includedGoogle certificates in IT support, UX design, data analytics, cybersecurity, digital marketing and project management, and the form also lists a Google AI certificate. The form asks if you can finish within four months.
“Current HBCU undergraduate (sophomore, junior, senior) or graduate student”
“Minimum 3.0 GPA”
“Preferred majors: Computer Science, Information Technology, Business, Marketing”
“Please use your .edu email address that was provided by your HBCU”
“Please provide your LinkedIn Profile URL”
“By submitting this form, you consent to the use of your headshot for promotional and marketing purposes related to KR Scholars and the Grow with Google partnership.”
Red River
Free, credential includedA competitive scholarship that trains HBCU educators to teach Cisco networking and CyberOps.
“for educators and administrators currently teaching at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).”
IBM
Free trainingOnline lessons in AI, cybersecurity and data, with separate tracks for adult learners, university students and high school.
“IBM SkillsBuild for Adult learners is designed for learners (18+) seeking employment in the immediate future.”
“IBM SkillsBuild for High school students is designed for learners at the career exploration stage (aged 13 to 18).”
“Students from IBM’s partner Universities can earn digital credentials”
NPower
Free trainingUp to 20 weeks of instructor-led virtual IT training, with the opportunity to earn CompTIA certifications.
“Individuals aged 18-26 with a high school diploma or equivalent, OR military veterans and spouses over 21 (transitioning active-duty service members through the DoD SkillBridge program / honorably discharged / member of the Guard or Reserves) Applicants must reside in Baltimore, Brooklyn/New York City, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, St. Louis, Kansas City, Raleigh”
Per Scholas
Free, credential includedLive, instructor-led courses, most of them full-time, in IT support, cybersecurity, cloud, software engineering and Salesforce, remote, in person or hybrid.
“live within the eligible area for a Per Scholas campus (applies to in-person, remote, and hybrid courses); have basic digital literacy; meet our pre-training income policy guidelines; be able to meet attendance requirements for the duration of training (for most courses, this is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday); be 18 or older; have a high school diploma, GED, or higher; provide proof of valid U.S. work authorization; be able to read, write, and speak English; and be ready to launch a tech career immediately after training.”
SANS Institute
Free, credential includedA competitive, self-paced program of SANS courses with GIAC exams, chosen by an aptitude assessment. Spring and fall application windows.
“Who is Eligible: U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents Applicants who show cybersecurity aptitude through an online assessment Active-duty service members must be within 6 months of separation (due to the program’s intensity) Not Eligible: Full-time students (due to the program’s intensity) Anyone with a graduate degree in cybersecurity or a related field (undergraduate degrees are okay)”
Break Through Tech
Free trainingVirtual training in data science, AI and machine learning for undergraduates. Dates vary by cohort, and an interest form gives notice when applications open.
“Break Through Tech programs are open to undergraduate students attending a U.S.-based college or university pursuing tech-related fields.”
Year Up United
Free trainingJob training for young adults in a year or less, virtual and in person, with an internship phase and an educational stipend throughout.
“You must not be over the age of 29 when you are accepted into the program as a Career Pathways student.”
“require you to be 18 years old before the first day of your internship.”
“As long as you have not obtained a Bachelor's degree you are eligible to apply to the program”
“as long as you will receive your diploma or GED before Year Up United orientation.”
“all students must have U.S. work authorization, and be within commuting distance of a Year Up United location throughout the duration of the program.”
Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Google Cloud
Free, credential includedNine weeks of cloud and generative AI training with mentorship, ending in a voucher for Google Cloud’s Generative AI Leader exam.
“Enrolled full-time in an accredited HBCU, HBCC, or PBI”
“Must be in good academic standing with no disciplinary infractions”
“This program is open to all university students within the TMCF network.”
How programs get here
Each program is copied from the sponsor’s own site and checked again before it goes up: the page has to load, and the lines naming the program, saying it is free and saying who can apply all have to still be on it. The date on each card is the day that check last passed.
Free has two meanings here. “Free, credential included” means the sponsor’s page says the certificate or the certification exam is covered too. “Free training” means the lessons cost nothing and a credential may not; check the sponsor’s page. Where a sponsor says a learner can still be charged, the card quotes that line.
Who can apply is the sponsor’s decision, so it is quoted rather than summarized. Read the sponsor’s page before applying, because programs change between rounds. A listing here is not an endorsement or a partnership, and nobody pays to be on this page.
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