Cato Courses

Explore the ideas of liberty. Free, self-paced learning about the forces shaping your future.

Start a Free Course →
No Credit Card
Beginner friendly
Under 1 hour each
Progress saved

Cato Courses Scholarship

Earn up to $10,000 just by learning what you love

Every free course you finish brings you closer to the Cato Courses Scholarship. Take five short courses, share what you learned in a quick video, and you could win up to $10,000 toward your education.

No application fee  â€¢  No essays  â€¢  No catch, just curiosity

The best part? You can start right now. 0 of 5 courses

Your very first course counts toward your five. Begin today and you’re already on your way.

How it works

1 Learn Take any 5 free courses at your own pace. Each one is under an hour.
2 Create Make a fun 2–3 minute video about an idea that stuck with you.
3 Win Submit it for a shot at the $15,000 prize pool, with $10,000 for first place.
Start a Free Course →

Applications open July 4, 2026.  â€¢  Open to learners ages 16–25 in the US.

Applications open in
00 Days
:
00 Hours
:
00 Minutes
:
00 Seconds
Start completing your courses now. You will need 5 to be eligible.

Recommended First Course

Begin with Capitalism, our foundational course on free markets, entrepreneurship, and economic freedom.

Illustration of a historical figure in profile against a city skyline with clock tower, in warm orange and yellow tones.

🕒 Self-paced 📖 Interactive

Capitalism

Discover the system that has lifted billions out of poverty and expanded individual freedom. This foundational course explores free markets, entrepreneurship, and economic freedom.

Start the Free Course →

Explore More Courses

Dive into key topics shaping the world today, built to make classical liberal
ideas engaging and relevant.

Hands holding out under a stream of water from a faucet, washing them.

Human Progress

Explore the remarkable pace of the world’s progress and the key drivers of success.

Start Learning
The Statue of Liberty with an American flag flying on a flagpole nearby, against a blue sky with a few clouds, and trees in the foreground.

Immigration

Learn how immigrants have long advanced America’s freedom and prosperity.

Start Learning
Close-up of a metallic Lady Justice statue with a blindfold, holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other, in a blurred background of legal books

Criminal Justice

Journey through the evolution of the criminal justice system and how to create a more just society.

Start Learning
A man standing in front of a digital collage of diverse people, including children and adults, smiling and engaging in various activities.

Globalization

Dive into the extraordinary pace of global progress propelling human advancement worldwide.

Start Learning
A woman and four children holding hands walk toward a school building on a sunny day, surrounded by trees with autumn foliage.

K–12 Education

Examine the current state of education and innovative solutions.

Start Learning
A US hundred-dollar bill partially covered by a blue American flag with white stars.

Fiscal Policy

Understand US fiscal policy and why debt, taxes, and spending shape economic growth.

Start Learning
Woman stands on a rock with a backpack, holding a megaphone, facing a digital world with city skyline and floating social media icons at sunset.

Free Speech in the Digital Age

Explore the challenges and opportunities of expression in a connected world.

Start Learning

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.

Open magazine or booklet with text and a play button icon on the right page.

Short, Fun Courses

Understand big ideas through clear lessons, real-world examples, and guided questions.

Illustration of a computer screen showing AI-related content, with a speech bubble containing 'AI' and checkmark for successful processing.

AI-Powered Chatbots

Ask questions, test arguments, and explore ideas with AI-powered historical guides.

Digital quiz game on a tablet screen with multiple choice options and a timer clock in the top right corner.

Fun Quizzes

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.

Stylized portrait of Thomas Paine with the text "Chat with Thomas Paine" and the Cato Institute logo at the bottom.
Start Chatting
Digital poster for a talk with Adam Smith, featuring a portrait painting of Adam Smith, an 18th-century economist, with text that reads 'Chat with Adam Smith' and the Cato Institute logo at the bottom.
Start Chatting
Promotional poster for a chat with Cato the Younger, featuring a close-up profile of a sculpture or statue of Cato with curly hair and a serious expression, against a blue gradient background.
Start Chatting

Ready To Take Your First Course?

Explore the ideas that shape our world. Create your free account today.

Create Your Free Account

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.

Get Started →

This website is powered by capitalism, the best system on (and for) Earth.

View All Newsletters