How to Save on Professional Development

When you finally graduated after 4 years of grinding away at the books in college, you might have promised that you would never open a book again. But, it doesn’t take long to realize that your education really just started with your appropriately named “commencement address” at your graduation.

In many professional fields, the turnover of information is often over 50%. That means that if you don’t actively keep up your skills, in a few years you are guaranteed to be obsolete. On the job training is useful, but can lead you to be pigeon-holed into a single, narrow skill-set, so it is important to keep up your professional education after you graduate.

Take control of your money, optimize your spending and grow your savings automatically

It might be hard to imagine going back to school when you have just started paying back your student loans, but here are some ways to save some money without scrimping on your most important asset, your mind. (For even more no-cost ideas, see our guide on how to continue your self-education for free.)

1. Read

Maybe it seems simple, but reading is still the fastest way to get information into your head.

• Read a book – whether it is self-help or non-fiction on a specific topic, find a type of book that interests you and will teach you something. Most good self-help books will tell you the same thing: read more books and watch less TV (and fewer YouTube videos). If you have an e-reader, you can read while riding public transportation, or just sitting on a lunch break, without any real effort.
• Read the newspaper – the average 30-minute news program contains the same amount of information as the front page of a newspaper. So whether it is online or in your hand, you will get far more information from 5 minutes with a newspaper than 30 minutes with the TV.
• Read pamphlets – whether you are waiting at the doctor’s office or walking down the street, there is always something interesting to pick up and read. Once it becomes a habit, you will be surprised at how much you learn on the go.

2. Find People Like Yourself

You are not the only person who is into personal development. Almost every young professional knows the importance of life-long learning, so find them and see what they are doing.

• Toastmasters is a great, worldwide organization that is geared toward helping people not only speak in public, but build the skills necessary to succeed in whatever profession you are in.
• Your local chamber of commerce is one of the most underused resources that a young professional has. Not only can you network, you can talk to the leaders in your community to know exactly what skills they are looking for and how other people are developing them.
• Community college courses cover anything from how to chop wood to how to succeed as a day trader. Check out your local community college for low cost courses on almost any topic.

3. Take Free Courses Online

There are hundreds of websites that offer free courses on almost any topic. If you have the personal drive to complete them, this is a great way to learn new skills.

• Duolingo is a great way to learn a new language. Not only is it free, it is available on your mobile device! Understanding even the basics of another language makes you comfortable and confident when meeting people of other cultures. And, your boss will be impressed when you are able to greet your overseas partner in their mother-tongue.
• Other online resources like Coursera, edX, and Study.com offer free courses on specific topics to help you dig deeper into your specialty or get familiar with other fields that you might like to move into.
• Study at a university for free – If you have ever wanted to say, “When I was studying at Yale University, I …,” then now is your chance. Hundreds of universities are making their courses available online for free. Simply sign up and take courses from almost any university including Yale, Stanford, or MIT.
• Learn with AI – modern AI tools can act as free, on-demand tutors: ask them to explain a concept, quiz you, or build a study plan. The same tools help with money too – here’s how to make a budget using ChatGPT.

4. Enroll in a University

Work toward another degree, or just enjoy the extra motivation of someone watching over your shoulder. These universities offer full credit — and it’s worth asking your HR department whether they reimburse professional development courses.

• Most universities now let you take at least some courses online, or you can approach the professor of a course and request to complete it as a reading course.
• You might also consider taking a course at a university like the Open University based in England, that lets you study and earn university credit and a degree for far lower tuition fees than most American universities.
• Take the tax break – many of the education tax deductions and credits that are available to full-time students are also available to adults who are taking university courses for credit.

5. Listen As You Walk or Work

Companies like The Great Courses Plus offer courses on almost any topic for very reasonable prices. They are entertaining and very informative on a variety of topics from robotics to travel photography, or even a 24-lecture course on how we learn.

FAQ

How can I fund professional development without paying out of pocket?

Start by asking your HR department – many employers reimburse courses, certifications, or offer a professional development stipend. Beyond that, free platforms like Coursera, edX, and university OpenCourseWare let you learn at no cost.

Does my employer have to pay for professional development?

Not always, but many companies offer it as a benefit. It’s worth asking whether your employer provides a development budget, tuition reimbursement, or paid time for learning – these often go unused simply because employees don’t ask.

Can you get professional development for free?

Yes. Free courses from Coursera, edX, Khan Academy, and university OpenCourseWare (like MIT and Yale), plus free tools like Duolingo, cover a huge range of skills. Libraries and industry groups like Toastmasters add even more at no cost.