Explore the Ideas of Liberty.
Cato Courses is a free, self-paced learning platform for students and curious learners who want to understand the ideas behind a free society.
Cato Courses Scholarship Program
Complete five free Cato Courses to become eligible for Cato’s $15,000 Scholarship Video Contest. Applications open Summer 2026.
$15,000
Total Award Pool
1st Place: $10,000
Plus additional prizes for outstanding entries.
Why Apply?
Earn Financial Support
Significant awards for your education.
Go Deeper on Big Ideas
Master ideas of liberty and free markets.
Gain Recognition
Join a community of liberty advocates.
Eligibility Requirements
Complete 5 Courses
Demonstrate your commitment to learning about liberty.
Submit a Video
Create a 2–3 minute video on a Cato Course topic or libertarianism.
Age 16–25
Open to students and young adults living in the United States.
Want to Be Ready?
Applications open in Summer 2026. Take your first course now and begin working toward eligibility.
Recommended First Course
Begin with Capitalism, our foundational course on free markets, entrepreneurship, and economic freedom.
🕒 Self-paced 📖 Interactive
Discover the system that has lifted billions out of poverty and expanded individual freedom. This foundational course explores free markets, entrepreneurship, and economic freedom.
Explore More Courses
Dive into key topics shaping the world today, built to make classical liberal
ideas engaging and relevant.
Explore the remarkable pace of the world’s progress and the key drivers of success.
Learn how immigrants have long advanced America’s freedom and prosperity.
Journey through the evolution of the criminal justice system and how to create a more just society.
Dive into the extraordinary pace of global progress propelling human advancement worldwide.
Examine the current state of education and innovative solutions.
Understand US fiscal policy and why debt, taxes, and spending shape economic growth.
A New Way to Learn
Cato Courses is a dynamic online learning platform designed to teach the ideas of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.
Understand big ideas through clear lessons, real-world examples, and guided questions.
Ask questions, test arguments, and explore ideas with AI-powered historical guides.
Check your understanding as you go and finish each course knowing what you learned.
Get Help From AI Guides as You Learn
Engage in free AI-powered conversations with history's greatest champions of liberty. Ask questions, explore ideas, and deepen your understanding of freedom.
Ready To Take Your First Course?
Explore the ideas that shape our world. Create your free account today.
Learn at your pace. On your terms. Always free.
Sign in to measure your progress.
What is Cato Courses?
Cato Courses is a free online learning platform designed for anyone who wants to understand the ideas behind individual freedom, free markets, limited government, and peace.
Most online content on economics, policy, and institutions is incomplete, one-sided, or hard to engage with. Cato Courses is different. Every course is self-paced, evidence-based, and built to help you think for yourself, not to tell you what to conclude.
Designed for curious individuals ages 16 to 25, as well as anyone who thinks like one.
Whether you're a student, an educator, or a lifelong learner, you'll find courses on the topics shaping the world today: capitalism, globalization, immigration, criminal justice reform, K–12 education, and human progress. Each course pairs short interactive lessons with real-world examples, challenging quizzes, and AI-powered chatbots modeled on history's greatest champions of liberty.
No cost. No prerequisites. Start today.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
How does lifetime access sound? Once you create a free account, you have unlimited access to every course, quiz, and chatbot on Cato Courses. You can return anytime and continue learning at your own pace on any device you use.
-
Cato Courses is completely free. The platform is available at no cost thanks to Cato Institute Partners who champion innovation, freedom, and prosperity.
-
Cato Courses is designed for anyone who wants to understand the ideas that support a free and open society. The platform is especially helpful for:
Students and young professionals who want to explore new ideas and build a strong foundation in economics, policy, and human progress.
Think tank staff and policy experts who want clear, accessible explanations to support research and professional work.
Civic and community leaders who want reliable, evidence-based content to inform public discussions.
Advocates and organizers who want stronger arguments and a deeper understanding of the principles they promote.
-
Yes. Cato Courses is beginner friendly. The platform is designed for learners who may be encountering these ideas for the first time. Each course starts with clear explanations, real-world examples, and short, accessible modules. Whether you are completely new to these concepts or looking to strengthen your understanding, you will find the material easy to follow and rewarding to explore.
-
You do not need anything to get started. All course materials are provided for you. Some learners like to keep a notebook for reflections or key ideas, but it is completely optional.
Ready To Learn?
All you need to access our courses and content is a free account.
This website is powered by capitalism, the best system on (and for) Earth.