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Financial aid on Coursera

From Coursera Wiki, the independent encyclopedia
Financial Aid Summary
Eligibility Individual courses and Specializations
Review duration Up to 16 calendar days
Grant validity 180 calendar days upon approval
Coursera Plus Excluded (Must apply course-by-course)
Status portal Account > My Purchases > Financial Aid
Trial warning Starting a free trial cancels pending aid

Financial aid on Coursera is a need-based fee remission program designed to ensure that learners facing financial hardship can earn verified Course Certificates and complete graded assessments without paying standard retail enrollment fees.[1] Applications are submitted and evaluated on an individual course-by-course basis.[1]

Application process and timelines [edit]

  • Application Portal: Accessible directly beside the "Enroll" button via the "Financial Aid Available" link on individual course pages.[1]
  • Processing Timeline: Official documentation states applications take up to 16 calendar days to be reviewed by Coursera's automated and administrative verification systems.[1]
  • 180-Day Expiration: Approved aid is valid for 180 days. If the course is not finished within this window, a new application must be submitted.[1]

Free trial cancellation conflict [edit]

Critical Policy Rule: If a student submits a financial aid application and subsequently starts a 7-day free trial for that course or parent Specialization during the 16-day review window, Coursera automatically cancels the financial aid application.[1] Learners must wait until approval notification arrives before enrolling.

Historical copay policy updates [edit]

Coursera did not eliminate financial aid, but shifted from automated 100% full tuition waivers toward an affordable contribution copay model ("How much can you afford to pay?"), frequently requesting a modest copay (typically $10–$20) based on learner income disclosures.[1]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Apply for Financial Aid or a Scholarship — Official Rules & Review Timelines". Coursera Learner Help Center. 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-29.