Not Quite Ready for a Degree? Explore Ways to Start Learning Now

At Ficus Education, we believe education is a pathway,  not a pressure point.

While many team members are excited about beginning an accredited degree program at Cumberlands (with tuition and required books fully covered), others may want to build confidence before committing to a full academic pathway. That’s completely understandable.

There are reputable, low-cost learning platforms that can help team members:

• Explore career interests

• Build confidence

• Develop foundational skills

• Prepare for future college coursework

These resources can introduce new skills. It’s important, however, to understand how they differ from accredited university degree programs.

Here are a few commonly used options: 

1. Grow with Google

Best for: Introductory career skills
Cost: Many courses available free; certificate tracks may carry fees

Google’s professional certificate programs introduce learners to areas such as IT Support, Data Analytics and Project Management. While some courses carry ACE credit recommendations, transfer acceptance varies by institution. These programs are designed for skill exposure rather than degree progression.

2. Saylor Academy

Best for: College-level academic prep
Cost: Free courses; low-cost proctored exams for possible credit

Saylor offers more than 150 free college-level courses. Credit recognition depends on individual institutional policies. These courses can be useful for strengthening academic readiness prior to enrolling in a degree program.

3. Coursera

Best for: Exploring professional interests
Cost: Many free courses available; paid tracks required for credit-bearing programs

Coursera is a third-party learning marketplace that partners with universities and companies to offer short-form online courses. Most free options provide certificates of completion rather than accredited academic credit. While these courses can build familiarity with a topic, they do not confer university degrees and are not typically a substitute for an accredited academic pathway.

4. OpenLearn (The Open University)

Best for: Academic exploration
Cost: Free

OpenLearn provides short, structured courses for subject familiarity. These courses are generally non-credit and are best suited for academic confidence-building.

5. State Technical Programs (Georgia Example)

For team members interested in hands-on or trade pathways, state technical systems can provide workforce-aligned options in high-demand fields.

These programs may be an excellent alternative for individuals pursuing technical careers outside traditional academic degrees.

Important Considerations

Before enrolling in short-term certificate programs:

• Credit recognition varies widely.

• Self-paced formats require discipline.

• Career advancement often requires long-term credential depth.

How This Fits with Cumberlands

For team members ready to pursue an accredited academic pathway, Cumberlands offers Associate, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees delivered online in structured 8-week terms with six start dates per year.

Tuition is fully covered.
Required textbooks are fully covered.
There are no graduation fees.

Cumberlands is a regionally accredited university serving more than 22,000 online students with infrastructure designed for working adults.

Degree pathways provide long-term mobility, leadership development, and credential durability that short-term certificates alone typically cannot replace.

Education can begin with exploration.
Sustainable advancement requires accredited depth.

If you're unsure which path makes sense for your team, we’re here to help you think through the options.