$100,000 sounds huge, right? But you don’t need a fancy diploma taking up space on your wall to reach that goal anymore. Loads of people are jumping into six-figure jobs with zero degrees—just the right skills. And where do most folks get those skills? Online courses. No suit, no campus, just your laptop and some hustle.

The trick isn’t to sign up for random courses, though. You’ve got to know which ones actually help you rake in cash. For example, plenty of coding bootcamps and digital marketing programs claim you’ll be rich in a month—skip those big promises. You want courses that connect you with real work, ones that focus on what companies actually pay for. Stick with learning platforms with lots of positive reviews, actual job outcomes, and support after you finish. If you’re not sure, look up success stories on Reddit or even ask folks who already work in your dream field.

• Why a Degree Isn’t a Must-Have Anymore
• Choosing the Right Online Course for Real Money
• Top Skills That Can Make You $100k (and Where to Learn Them)
• Tips to Land High-Paying Jobs (With No Degree)
• Mistakes to Avoid on Your Road to Six Figures

Why a Degree Isn’t a Must-Have Anymore

A couple decades ago, everyone said you needed a degree to get a good-paying job. Now? That’s not the case—especially for folks looking to make money online.

Big companies like Google, IBM, and Apple have all dropped degree requirements for tons of roles. They care way more about what you can actually do, not what’s written on a diploma. In 2023, over 50% of all tech job listings in the U.S. dropped a degree as a requirement, according to a report from Burning Glass Institute. This shift is wild, but it makes sense. Companies want real-world skills, which you can get from good online courses.

Let’s look at some hard facts:

The internet is packed with stories about people who skipped college, learned something like coding or digital marketing online, and then scored jobs or started their own thing. These skills are in demand, and with the right online courses, you can show what you’ve got. Even more, employers often test candidates with real tasks instead of looking at degrees. So, if you can do the job, you’re in.

No more wasting time or money on a degree if it’s not adding value. Smart folks learn exactly what they need—nothing more, nothing less—and start earning fast. The doors are open if you’ve got the right skill set. That’s way more important than a piece of paper these days.

Choosing the Right Online Course for Real Money

Everybody talks about online classes, but not every course will get you a high income or help you make money online. Here’s what you need to look for before you spend hours (and cash) chasing after a certificate.

• Focus on Skills That Sell: Don’t get pulled in by random topics. Go for skills that employers actually want: software engineering, data analytics, cybersecurity, user experience (UX) design, digital marketing, copywriting. These are hot, and people snag real jobs after learning them.
• Check Job Outcomes: The legit platforms publish hiring rates and salary data. For example, General Assembly reports 91% of their full-time bootcamp grads land a job in their field within 180 days. Schools hiding this info? That’s a red flag.
• Pick Recognized Platforms: Stick to names people know, like Coursera, Udemy, Google Career Certificates, LinkedIn Learning, or Skillshare. Employers trust names they’ve seen before.
• Support After Course Ends: Good bootcamps or programs offer career coaching, interview prep, and resume help. That’s how you get noticed even with no degree.
• Project-Based Learning: The best online courses make you build real stuff. That means you walk away with a portfolio, which is key when you start applying. Nobody cares about a certificate; they care about what you can actually do.

Before you hit “enroll,” read reviews from recent students. Look for feedback about actual job success. If you see lots of people showing off new jobs or sharing real project samples, that’s a good sign you’ve found a winner. And don’t forget—lots of online courses are self-paced. If you’ve got a day job or a family (my wife Megan would laugh at how many late-night videos I crammed in while she watched Netflix), this flexibility is gold.

Top Skills That Can Make You 0k (and Where to Learn Them)

Let’s get real: not every online course is going to change your life. You want ones that turn into legit six-figure jobs. Here are the top skills people are using right now to break that $100K ceiling, even without a degree—plus where you can actually learn them.

• Software Development: Demand isn’t slowing down. If you can code in Python, JavaScript, or even Java, companies are willing to pay big. Places like Coursera, Udemy, and Codecademy have beginner paths, but the most direct ones for jobs are places like freeCodeCamp (totally free), Team Treehouse, and General Assembly.
• Digital Marketing: SEO, running Google Ads, and building email lists might sound boring, but the pay is solid, and every business needs it. Check out Coursera’s Digital Marketing Specialization or Google’s Digital Garage (which is weirdly good and free). If you want hands-on action, HubSpot Academy is gold for certifications.
• Cybersecurity: Protecting businesses from hackers is in huge demand. Entry-level jobs like Security Analyst or Penetration Tester can get you near or over $100K with a solid portfolio. Try the CompTIA Security+ prep courses on Udemy or Cybrary to start with a strong base.
• UX/UI Design: Making websites and apps easy to use pays off—literally. Big brands hunt for designers with an eye for usability. Skillshare, Interaction Design Foundation, and Coursera’s Google UX Design Certificate are standout picks here.
• Data Analysis: Companies want answers from their mountains of data. Learn SQL, Excel, and some basic Python, and you’re golden. DataCamp and Coursera (look for IBM Data Science) are packed with hands-on projects.

Want a quick snapshot of pay? Here’s a look at average salaries for these make money online skills in the U.S.:

The fastest way up: Don’t just finish a course. Build your own simple projects and put them online. Whether it’s a demo website, a sample marketing campaign, or a case study, showing off real work beats a bland certificate any day.

Tips to Land High-Paying Jobs (With No Degree)

Getting one of those high income jobs without a diploma is way more common than it used to be. The main thing? Companies care more about what you can actually do, not where you studied. So, how do you get noticed and land a fat paycheck? Time for some real steps.

• Build a strong portfolio. Don’t just finish the online course—show off what you learned. If you did a coding course, post your projects on GitHub. If you picked up digital marketing, share your campaign results, Google Ads badges, or even business accounts you handled. Real examples beat a regular resume every time.
• Use LinkedIn right. This isn’t just for suits. Create a profile, add your skills, and don’t forget to attach those portfolio pieces. Recruiters do check portfolios even if you don’t have a regular degree. List your online courses and certifications. Make your summary short but punchy—say what you can do right now.
• Look for companies that accept non-degree hires. Google, Tesla, and IBM have ditched degree requirements for many positions. Let’s not forget startups—those guys care way more about your hustle and proof than college paper.
• Network online. Join Facebook groups, Discord servers, and industry Slack channels. Tons of jobs never even get posted—the right connection can mean a job referral before anyone else hears about it.
• Upskill as you go. Don’t just stop at one online course. Employers love folks who keep learning. Certifications from platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Google are actually a big deal—showing them on your profile makes a difference.

Here’s how the numbers stack up for online learners who don’t have degrees, according to a recent Stack Overflow study and LinkedIn’s 2024 Workforce Report:

If you want to stand out: always add results (number of users, sales, or engagement you helped with), show up for interviews with specific stories, and keep proof of your skills handy. Seriously, don’t underestimate referrals—a buddy of mine got his six-figure remote role because someone saw his portfolio in a Slack group and recommended him straight to the hiring manager.

Mistakes to Avoid on Your Road to Six Figures

When you’re trying to make money online with online courses, it’s easy to get tripped up by common mistakes. Plenty of smart people have wasted months—and some even cash—just because they didn’t dodge a few basic traps. Here’s what you want to steer clear of.

• Jumping into every flashy course. Not every course is going to lead to a high income job. Stick with fields where companies are actually hiring, like web development, cloud computing, or digital marketing—not just what’s trending on TikTok.
• Chasing "passion" without thinking about demand. Loving what you do is great, but you also need skills people pay for. Ask folks in the actual industry what’s hot and what isn’t.
• Quitting at the first setback. Nobody becomes a coding wizard or top freelance marketer in a few weeks. You’ll hit walls. Most people who drop out just stop trying after their first tough spot—so don’t bail when things get tough.
• Ignoring the hands-on work. Employers care less about certificates and more about what you can do. You need to have real projects—like apps, websites, or ad campaigns you ran—to show off, not just a “completion” badge.
• Not networking. You can pick up killer skills, but if no one knows you exist, it’s hard to get noticed. Get on LinkedIn, share what you build, and connect with people in your chosen field. Word of mouth gets real results.

Here’s the kicker: A survey by Coursera in 2024 found that 68% of people earning over $100,000 from online courses built a portfolio or networked their way into jobs—they didn’t just stop at the class itself.

The best way to make sure no degree doesn’t become a problem? Stay grounded, keep learning, and connect with real people. Six figures is possible, but only if you avoid these classic tripwires.