How to Make $100,000 Without a Degree: Online Courses Edition

Hitting that $100,000 mark sounds huge, but you don’t need a college degree to get there—seriously. The internet cracked the old rules wide open. There are people making more than doctors and lawyers just by picking up real-world skills using online courses, then putting those skills to work. Most big-paying jobs today care about results, not where you went to school.

The trick is zeroing in on stuff people actually hire for—think tech (like coding, digital marketing, design), writing, social media management, or even running a YouTube channel. These jobs don’t care about your diploma; they care whether you can deliver work that people need. Tons of these skills can be learned from home, watching video lessons on your own time, maybe even while your cat tries to walk across your keyboard (shoutout to Whiskers here).

Online learning isn’t just about Googling free videos, though. Picking the right, legit courses can mean the difference between crickets in your inbox and job offers jumping in. Don’t just grab the first course you see—some teach old info, others barely scratch the surface. Later on, I’ll show you exactly how to sift the good from the bad so you don’t waste time or cash.

• Understanding What Pays: Skills That Matter
• How to Choose Online Courses That Get Results
• Turning Skills Into Cash: Real Paths to Six Figures
• Pitfalls to Dodge and Pro Tips For Success

Understanding What Pays: Skills That Matter

If you want to jump to $100,000 without a degree, you need to know what people actually pay for. The market is loud, but certain skills make bank no matter what trends come and go. Let’s break it down.

The big deal right now? Make money online skills. Think coding, web development, graphic design, digital marketing, video editing, and managing ads on platforms like Facebook or Google. If you’re good at writing, copywriters and content specialists are always needed. Into numbers? Data analysis, bookkeeping, and even simple Excel mastery open doors to high-paying roles.

What’s cool is that these gigs pay for skill, not for where you studied. According to Coursera’s 2024 Global Skills Report, tech and business jobs are the top earners for remote work, and most don’t need a diploma. Here’s what’s hot and how much you can pull in:

This doesn’t mean you have to become a hardcore coder. Pick something that feels doable, then dive into online courses that focus on real skills with portfolio projects to show off. Even better, stack your skills. For example, learn digital marketing and video editing together—you just made yourself harder to ignore.

Here’s a thought from Alison Beddard, LinkedIn’s Head of EMEA Talent Solutions:

“Skills-based hiring is now front and center. More companies want what you can do over what you studied for.”

If you’re starting totally from scratch, that’s fine. Try a free intro course to see what clicks before you go all in. And if your cat is sitting in your lap while you’re learning—hey, it’s all part of the remote work life.

How to Choose Online Courses That Get Results

Lining up a course that’ll actually help you make more money isn’t about luck—it’s about knowing what to look for. Not every shiny ad from an influencer equals a golden ticket. A good course is all about practical info, proven outcomes, and industry respect.

First up, always check if the course is really up-to-date. When it comes to stuff like coding, digital marketing, or *any* tech skill, old info is practically useless. For example, you wouldn't want to take a Facebook ads course from 2019—the platform's features change every year. Look for published or last-updated dates before you buy in.

• Check the instructor’s actual experience—Google their name, peek at their LinkedIn, see if they do the stuff they teach.
• Scan for real reviews, not just the testimonials on their sales page.
• Dig into the course outline. Does it start with basics and move into advanced work you’ll actually use on the job?
• Ask if there’s hands-on, project-based learning. You want stuff you can put in your portfolio.
• See if there’s a student community or mentor support—you’ll get stuck, and it helps to have backup.

Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning have ratings, instructor bios, and legit user comments, which helps weed out the duds. Tech giants like Google and Meta now offer their own professional certificates, which recruiters start to take seriously. There’s nothing wrong with bootcamps either—many people land their first high-salary jobs right after finishing one.

Here’s a quick look at what most people pay for make money online courses versus average completion rates:

The punchline? Don’t just buy a course—commit to finishing it and applying what you learn. That’s the difference between adding skills to your resume and having them collect dust.

Turning Skills Into Cash: Real Paths to Six Figures

You’ve picked a real-world skill using courses online—now what? Making $100K starts with getting paid gigs, building up to bigger jobs and, eventually, charging premium rates. Here’s what that journey really looks like for regular folks, not just internet rockstars.

First, focus on skills with a strong demand. Coding (from web development to app building), digital marketing, graphic design, video editing, and copywriting are all hot right now. For example, freelance developers on Upwork sometimes earn $100 an hour or more once they prove their chops. Social media managers with a track record can clear six figures managing just a few business accounts. And copywriters who crack the code of selling with words are some of the most quietly rich people online.

But getting those first clients can feel like a leap. Start with freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Skillshare for teaching, or Toptal for higher-end projects. Even pitching small local businesses through Instagram DMs can work—lots of people grow from tiny side jobs to full-on businesses this way. It’s less about where you start and more about building proof you can deliver results.

• make money online with a portfolio. Document every finished project, even if you did it for free or a small fee. Screenshots, before-and-afters, and client testimonials are gold.
• Build a simple website (think Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress) to show off your best work. Add a clear “hire me” button.
• Don’t fear small projects or one-off gigs—they stack up quicker than you think. Fast, reliable, and good? You’ll start getting referrals without even asking.
• Keep learning. Every skill, from editing Instagram reels to setting up Facebook ads, levels up your rates. Try to pick up adjacent skills so you can offer “bundles.” Like, if you design websites and write copy? Double the offers, double the income streams.

After you lock in your first few clients, raise your rates as your confidence and results grow. High earners often spend time networking in Facebook groups, LinkedIn, and niche Slack communities—sometimes the biggest contracts come from just chatting about what you do, not just applying for posted jobs.

Don’t forget, there’s passive income tracks too. If you’re good at something, build your own online courses, ebooks, or offer coaching. Course creators in niche fields—think dog training, Excel tricks, or video game design—hit six figures every year teaching from their living room. No traditional degree required.

Pitfalls to Dodge and Pro Tips For Success

When you’re trying to make money online through courses, things aren’t always smooth sailing. Plenty of folks trip up on stuff you can totally avoid if you know what to look out for.

For starters, don’t fall for those hyped-up “get rich quick” offers. If someone’s promising you six figures for zero work or says you’ll make $10,000 your first week, run the other direction. Those are usually scams—or, at best, totally unrealistic. According to a 2023 survey by OnlineCourseReport, only about 24% of online course-takers saw their income jump by over $20,000 within a year. Real growth happens, but it takes effort and smart choices.

Here’s where most people get tripped up and how you can sidestep it:

• Wasting cash on low-quality courses: Don’t buy a course just because it has flashy ads. Check for lots of recent reviews, updated materials, and if possible, trial lessons. Compare what’s covered to what real employers want.
• Trying to learn everything at once: Focus on one skill and get really good at it—don’t spread yourself too thin. Hiring managers care about depth, not just a mile-wide list of basics.
• Not building an actual portfolio: Just finishing a course isn’t enough. You’ve got to show real work: code, designs, writing samples, case studies—something you can show potential clients or employers.
• Underestimating networking: Most high-earning freelancers or job-hunters say personal connections and online communities got them their best gigs. Don’t go at it alone—share your projects on LinkedIn, Reddit, or niche Discord groups.
• Skipping over mindset: The folks who usually hit the six-figure mark stick with it. They know it’s normal to feel stuck sometimes, but pushing through makes all the difference.

Here’s a quick bite-size cheat sheet comparing common missteps with what actually works, based on feedback from over 1,000 people moving into new careers through online learning:

Here’s a fun fact: Upwork’s 2024 survey showed nearly 70% of their six-figure freelancers learned their main skill online. None of them made it overnight, but sticking to a reliable plan (and not being afraid to ask questions online) paid off big time.

Stick with one thing, finish what you start, and don’t fall for shortcuts. The wins stack up faster that way—and you’ll keep learning skills that actually matter in the real world, not just racking up certificates for your wall.