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Learning the basics of investing can help you better understand stocks, bonds, mutual funds, portfolio construction and the relationship between risk and return. A number of universities and financial education platforms offer free investing courses and educational materials for beginners as well as more experienced investors. Options range from short, self-directed lessons to full college-style courses with lectures and textbooks. Here are several free investment classes and resources available in 2026.
Consider working with a financial advisor as you build your investment knowledge and develop a strategy based on your financial goals.
Potential Investment Classes and Courses
1. Morningstar’s Investing Classroom
| Pros | – Completely free – Can earn investment-related rewards |
| Cons | – Not as thorough as some competitors |
| Best For | – Newbies looking for a general investing overview |
Morningstar is an investment research company that provides market analysis, investment data and educational resources. Its Investing Classroom offers self-directed lessons designed to help investors build their knowledge of topics including stocks, bonds, portfolio construction and mutual funds.
The lessons are organized by subject, allowing investors to focus on individual topics or work through broader areas of investing education. Morningstar also offers educational resources for newer investors, including its Early Investor Education curriculum. Rather than relying on the previous points-and-rewards program, investors can use these resources to supplement Morningstar’s broader investment research and educational content.
2. BUS-123: Introduction to Investments
BUS-123: Introduction to Investments
| Pros | – College-level investing instruction – Course materials available free online – Includes a free online textbook |
| Cons | – More structured and time-intensive than shorter investing tutorials |
| Best For | – Beginners who prefer a traditional college-course format |
If you prefer a more traditional style of learning, BUS-123: Introduction to Investments offers a college-level introduction to investing. The course was developed by Frank Paiano, professor emeritus at Southwestern Community College, and its educational materials are available online for people who aren’t enrolled at the college. The course covers foundational investing concepts without requiring previous investment experience.
BUS-123 covers topics including the stock market, risk and return, mutual funds, dividends, bonds and other investment concepts. Students can also use a free online Introduction to Investments textbook developed for the course through LibreTexts. This combination of lectures and written materials may appeal to beginners who want a more structured introduction to investing than individual articles or short videos provide.
3. Udemy Investing Courses
| Pros | – Wide range of investing topics – Free courses are available – Self-paced learning |
| Cons | – Many courses require payment – Course quality and depth can vary by instructor |
| Best For | – Investors who want to choose courses based on specific topics |
Udemy offers investing courses covering both introductory and more advanced topics. Depending on current course availability, investors can find instruction on subjects such as stock investing, value investing, passive income, cryptocurrency, trading and other personal finance topics. Because courses are created by individual instructors, their length, format and level of detail can vary.
While many Udemy investing courses require payment, the platform also maintains a selection of free investing courses and tutorials. Investors can filter available courses based on factors such as topic, skill level, ratings and course length. Before enrolling, it can be helpful to review the course description, curriculum, instructor background and recent student ratings to determine whether a particular course fits your learning goals.
4. Khan Academy
| Pros | – Free educational content – Self-paced lessons – Covers foundational finance and economics concepts |
| Cons | – Not designed specifically as a comprehensive investment course |
| Best For | – Beginners looking to strengthen their understanding of financial concepts |
Khan Academy is a nonprofit educational platform that provides free lessons across a wide range of subjects. Its economics and financial literacy resources can help investors build foundational knowledge about topics that affect personal finances and investing. Lessons use a combination of videos, articles, exercises and other educational materials that learners can work through at their own pace.
Khan Academy may be particularly useful for beginners who want to understand broader financial concepts before moving into more specialized investment education. Its resources cover subjects such as interest, debt, saving, taxes and investing-related concepts. Because the platform isn’t designed solely as an investing course, investors looking for detailed instruction on securities or portfolio construction may want to combine Khan Academy with more specialized resources.
5. Investopedia University
| Pros | – Large library of investing explainers – Covers beginner and advanced topics – Many educational articles are free |
| Cons | – Less structured than a traditional investment course |
| Best For | – Investors who prefer learning about individual topics as needed |
Investopedia provides a large library of educational articles covering investing, personal finance and financial markets. Investors can use the site to learn about subjects ranging from basic investment terminology to stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), portfolio management, trading and other financial concepts.
Unlike a traditional course that follows a set curriculum, Investopedia’s educational content is particularly useful as a reference for researching individual topics. Beginners can start with basic investing concepts and move into more detailed subjects as their knowledge develops. This format may appeal to investors who prefer reading articles and explainers as questions arise rather than completing a structured series of lessons.
Bottom Line
Free investment classes can provide an accessible way to learn about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, portfolio management and other investing concepts before putting your own money at risk. Morningstar, Southwestern Community College, Udemy and other educational platforms offer free resources in different formats, ranging from short lessons and videos to full college-style courses. The right resource may depend on your experience level and how you prefer to learn. Beginners may want to start with foundational lessons on risk, diversification and different types of investments before moving into more advanced topics. Educational resources can help you understand investing concepts, but they aren’t a substitute for evaluating investments based on your individual goals, time horizon and risk tolerance.
Tips for Navigating the Investment Market
- Investing is a tough world to break into. Financial advisors can make great partners for newbies, though. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- One of the best ways to become an educated investor is to gather information about a number of investment types. Arguably, the most important among these are exchange-traded funds (ETFs), equities, bonds and mutual funds.
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