An online certificate is a great addition to any CV, highlighting a zeal for learning, an enhanced skill set, and a passion for professional growth.
Providing the option to learn at your own pace, study from anywhere in the world, and balance work, family, and other commitments—earning an online certification is also a highly convenient way to boost your employability. Even better if your certificate is from one of the world's leading business schools.
Join us as we unpack 11 of the best online certificates available at Harvard, Wharton, Stanford and all the other M7 business schools.
11 of the best online certificates at M7 b-schools
Harvard Business School (HBS) Online
First on our list is arguably the world's most famous business school, Harvard. HBS offers a variety of online certifications across digital transformation, marketing, business essentials, leadership, entrepreneurship, strategy, business in society, and finance and accounting. With the exception of a few more extensive certifications, most programs cost $1,850 and offer a great way to get that prestigious logo on your LinkedIn profile!
©Harvard Business School Online / Facebook
1. Business and Climate Change
Program length: 5 weeks
Cost: $1,850
Taught by Professors Forst, Reinhardt, and Michael Toffel, the Harvard online certification in Business and Climate Change aims to equip students with the ability to identify and communicate climate risk. With the recent LinkedIn Global Climate Talent Stocktake report highlighting that job seekers with green skills experience a 54.6% higher hiring rate than the overall workforce, there’s never been a more relevant time to complete this certification to help future-proof your career.
Participants, who must be 18 years or older, will earn two certifications: a certificate of completion and a certificate of specialization. Additionally, for a limited time only, students who enroll in the course can unlock the GenAI Bonus Bundle, which includes complimentary lessons on AI fundamentals—another very timely skill.
2. Power and Influence for Positive Impact
Program length: 6 weeks
Cost: $1,850
Over the course of six modules, students will learn how to cultivate power to make an impact, avoid the pitfalls of power, build networks as a source of power, and exercise power ethically. By gaining credibility to be more impactful at work, early- and mid-career professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders are best poised to benefit from the course.
Not sure if the course is the right fit? HBS offers a free e-book, How to Become a More Effective Leader, to give an insight into the type of content covered and to help prospective students understand how they might benefit.
Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB)
Stanford GSB provides several on-demand online courses designed by and featuring the school's world-renowned faculty members. Courses include experiential exercises, case studies, videos, podcasts, as well as personal feedback on select assignments.
©Stanford Graduate School of Business / Facebook
3. Create a Happy and Meaningful Life
Program length: 60-day access
Cost: $1,500
Happiness is contagious. As such, positivity and a happy mindset are key ingredients for effective leadership and for building a workforce of happy employees, which is hugely beneficial for business. In fact, a study conducted by Wharton Business School—another school on our list—revealed that companies with high levels of employee happiness tend to consistently outperform.
Therefore, business school students participating in Stanford GSB’s Create a Happy and Meaningful Life online certification can expect to finish the course prepared to become the successful leaders of tomorrow who uplift others.
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Wharton Online offers participants the opportunity to gain essential business skills from anywhere in the world, covering topics such as digital marketing, financial planning, real estate investing, private equity, artificial intelligence, and much more. Again, adding this highly ranked business school to your resume will help show recruiters your commitment to self-improvement.
©The Wharton School / Facebook
4. Business of Healthcare Certificate Online Program
Program length: 4 weeks per module / 4 months overall
Cost: $79 per month / $316 overall
This program—consisting of four separate courses: Financial Acumen for Non-Financial Managers, The Economics of Healthcare Delivery, Management Fundamentals, and Healthcare Innovation—is designed to help participants keep pace with the rapidly changing world of healthcare and navigate its intersection with the business world.
Developed in partnership between Wharton Online and Penn Medicine, the program brings together expertise in business acumen, healthcare management, and healthcare policy. Students may choose to complete the courses separately rather than as a full program; however, the collective is designed to provide the most comprehensive outlook on the industry.
5. Selling Ideas: How to Influence Others and Get Your Message to Catch On
Program length: 6 weeks
Cost: $585
Led by Jonah Berger, distinguished author and expert in consumer behaviour, this program explores the science behind why some ideas catch on and others don't, equipping students with the tools needed to create compelling messages that resonate with their audience.
As the world of business becomes increasingly digital—and one viral video can change a company's entire fate—there has never been a more critical time to learn about reputation and influence.
The course can also be taken as part of the Digital Marketing Certificate Program.
University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
The Booth School of Business offers several professional certificates that are recognized by industry leaders across the globe.
©University of Chicago Booth School of Business / Facebook
6. Selling Ideas: AI for Leaders Certificate Program
Program length: 4 months
Cost: $9,900
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), AI is expected to create 170 million new jobs by 2030. Completing the AI for Leaders Certificate Program, therefore can provide the skill set needed to secure one of these exciting new roles. Through four courses, students will gain the knowledge and strategic insights necessary to use AI to create new value for their organizations.
Potential roles for individuals who complete the course include director of AI strategy, AI innovation leader, AI product manager, and AI solutions architect.
7. Professional Certificate in Data Science for Business
Program length: 10 months
Cost: $12,500
This course—the most expensive on our list—comprises five modules, each lasting a total of eight weeks. These include Data Engineering, Python for Data Science, Statistics for Data Science, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Strategic Data Storytelling.
Altogether, Data Science for Business is designed to equip participants with the mathematics, statistics, and computer science skills needed to extract actionable insights from the large volumes of data that organizations generate.
The program is available in both English and Spanish.
Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School offers one overarching certification in Business Excellence; however, participants can customize their learning journey to meet their personal and professional goals.
©Columbia Business School / Facebook
8. Certificate in Business Excellence (CIBE)
Program length: depends on the pathway
Cost: depends on the pathway
Columbia Business School Executive Education offers several online programs that count toward the school's Certificate in Business Excellence (CIBE), including Leadership Essentials, Business Analytics, Python for Managers, Corporate Valuation, and many more.
Students can earn the certification once they have accumulated 18 certificate credits within four years. Program credits range from 0.5 to 26 credits. Certificate holders also receive a 25% tuition benefit for full-price Executive Education in-person programs, as well as select alumni benefits.
CIBE holders come from a range of desirable industries, including Banking and Finance (26%), Manufacturing (15%), and Government (14%).
Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management
Alongside various short courses, Kellogg offers professional certifications in digital marketing and product management.
©Kellogg School of Management / Facebook
9. Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing
Program length: 5 months
Cost: $6,950
The Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing is designed to provide students with a broad overview of the digital marketing landscape, develop in-demand skills, and help them discover their unique niche in this rapidly expanding domain. Participants will also gain hands-on experience with marketing tools such as SEO, SEM, social media, email marketing, and display ads.
With 20 modules, including a final capstone project, this course is among the most extensive on this list.
10. Professional Certificate in Product Management
Program length: 5 months
Cost: $6,950
The Professional Certificate in Product Management is ideal for those who want to build or formalize their training for product management roles, providing participants with the essential strategic and tactical skills needed to thrive in this fast-growing field.
Students in the certificate program come from a wide range of industries, including tech companies, industrial product companies, and tech-intensive services firms.
Throughout the program, participants will also gain additional certifications in product management tools and methodologies, such as Balsamiq and Google Analytics.
MIT Sloan School of Management
Much like Columbia Business School, MIT Sloan offers an overarching Executive Certificate, made up of four smaller certifications selected by participants. Sloan also offers two fast-track Executive Certificates, which can be earned through just one course: the AI Executive Academy and the Global Executive Academy; however, these are currently only available in-person.
©MIT Sloan Executive Education / Facebook
11. Executive Certificate
Program length: up to 4 years to complete
Cost: depends on the pathway
Launched in 2006, the Executive Certificate allows participants to choose from four different tracks: Management & Leadership, Strategy & Innovation, Technology & Operations, and the newly added Digital Business. With more than 90 short courses available within MIT Sloan's portfolio, participants truly have the opportunity to shape the direction of their certification.
To achieve their qualification, students must enroll in three courses from their selected track plus one additional course; they must also attend at least one course in person or live online.
Upon completion, participants will be featured with a profile in the Executive Certificate Holder Community and invited to join the private Executive Certificate Holder Group on LinkedIn.
