first course with Modern States logo
On Learning

How to Start Your First Free College-Level Course on Modern States (CLEP Prep)

Are you ready to go back to school—without the price tag? This post walks you through the first steps to getting a free college-level course using ModernStates.org. Whether you’re planning to take a CLEP exam or just want to explore free learning options, this walkthrough will get you moving.

By the end you’ll know how to:

  • Navigate the platform like a pro
  • Enroll in your first class (Micro-economics, AP courses, etc.)
  • Understand exactly what you get inside a Modern States course (videos, slides, quizzes, textbook PDFs)
  • Turn on daily email summaries so nothing falls through the cracks

Watch the 14-minute walkthrough video below, or skip straight to the steps. Either way, you’ll have your first course open before your next semester—or the kids finish their morning cartoons.

Jump to: Steps ↓ | Quick Terms | Transcript

Watch the Walkthrough

Timestamps

  • 00:14-00:22 Main website
  • 01:28-01:36 Orientation (introduction)
  • 02:10-02:18 Platform layout
  • 02:19-02:27 Top menu
  • 03:35-03:43 Navigation menu
  • 04:40-04:48 Notifications
  • 06:52-06:59 Enrolling in first course
  • 07:56-08:04 Viewing new course
  • 09:38-09:46 What you get in each course
  • 12:22-12:30 Section navigation menu (top)
  • 12:44-12:52 Breadcrumb navigation

Quick Terms to Know

  • Modern States: A nonprofit platform offering 100% free, college-level courses—then pays for your CLEP exam.
  • CLEP: College-Level Examination Program. Pass the test, skip the (paid) class.
  • Voucher: A free exam coupon Modern States sends after you complete a course.
  • Course Dashboard: Your private classroom inside Modern States.
  • D2L by Brightspace: The familiar LMS powering all videos, quizzes, and slide decks.
  • Breadcrumbs: Navigation links that help you move back and forth between pages.
  • See the full glossary >>
A selection of courses on Modern States screenshot

Step-By-Step Walkthrough

  1. Land on ModernStates.org: Scroll through the course catalog—Microeconomics, Psychology, History, even AP classes.
  2. Create an account (free)Click Sign Up → name → e-mail → password. Takes less than 5 minutes.
  3. First login—finish the 5-minute onboarding tour. You’ll be greeted by a short welcome video + navigation checklist.
  4. Set up daily e-mail digestsClick Profile → Notifications → daily summary at 7 a.m. = no missed deadlines.
  5. Add your first course Homepage → Enroll → choose your course, e.g., Principles of Microeconomics → Enroll. Done.
  6. Inside the course
    • Overview (syllabus link)
    • Video lessons (download + optional transcript)
    • Slides (100 % printable)
    • PDF textbook (free)
    • Auto-graded quizzes after every module—score 70% or higher and the system records “attempted”
  7. Finish the course. Completion bar hits 100% → Modern States emails you a CLEP voucher → schedule the $0 test date.

Watch next: Inside a Modern States Course: Layout, Quizzes, and Progress Tips (coming soon)

Principles of Microeconomics course screenshot

About Modern States

Modern States is a nonprofit education initiative offering free online courses that prepare students for CLEP exams and college credit. I was a 2024 Modern States Ambassador. Read more on what is Modern States.

One Step

Have you enrolled in your first course in Modern States? If yes, what was your experience when you first enrolled? If not, enroll in one course today. Leave a comment.

Finish Line

By next semester you’ll have real college credit—and $200+ you didn’t spend on tuition. Drop your course title in the comments when you’re ready to cheer each other on.

Related Blog Posts

  • How I studied for CLEP exams: Modern States to the rescue
  • Inside a Modern States Course: Layout, Quizzes, and Progress Tips (coming soon)
  • What Is Modern States? Free CLEP Prep Explained | Class 097 (coming soon)
  • CLEP Exams FAQ for Adults: What They Are, Who They’re For, and How to Pass | Class 099 (coming soon)

Links and Resources

Questions?

X/Tweet @tracyaltheide #moveupfam. If there’s enough questions, I’ll add an FAQ section here or add a related post.

Transcript

In this video, I’m going to walk you through how to start your first free college course on Modern States. Hi, nice to meet you—let’s jump in…

(Full 1,500-word transcript continues—toggle open arrow below)

00:00:01 – 00:00:12

In this video, I’m going to walk you through how to start your first free college course on Modern States. Hi, nice to meet you—let’s jump in.

00:00:14 – 00:00:18

Okay, so this is what the Modern States website looks like.

00:00:18 – 00:00:42

You’ll notice that it’s very straightforward. You can see the basic steps and how everything works. It even plays a quick intro video. Scrolling further down reveals the different courses that are available.

00:00:42 – 00:01:13

There are even some AP courses for those interested. What I’m going to do is scroll back up, log in, and for anyone new to the program this may be your moment to sign up.

00:01:13 – 00:01:28

All right—I’ve logged in, and I’ll blur this section because my credentials are visible.

00:01:31 – 00:01:54

When you log in for the first time after registration, you’ll see a five-minute welcome video. Let’s walk through this section together. You’ll see a simple welcome banner and an invitation to watch the video.

00:01:54 – 00:02:06

I’ll go ahead and press play, watch the first few seconds, then pause and continue through the introduction.

00:02:10 – 00:02:19

We’ll work left to right, top to bottom. In the top-left corner you’ll spot the Home button.

00:02:19 – 00:02:42

Directly below that is the Courses button—I like to call it the “waffle.” You’ll also find subscription alerts and a general update bell for non-course notifications.

00:02:42 – 00:03:03

Any other platform-wide updates will appear in the center. I’m giving you a first-look tour, so if any details shift, I’ll clarify them later.

00:03:03 – 00:03:29

Navigation bar items from left to right:

  • Enroll – to add courses
  • Awards & Voucher Requests – after course completion
  • Test Center Reimbursement – used only for paid proctoring sites
  • Modern States Help vs Brightspace Help – platform vs course questions

00:03:29 – 00:04:14

Click Notifications → set your preference. I like a daily summary email sent at 7:00 a.m. If you want real-time pushes inside the site, adjust those options here. Click Save when you’re finished.

00:06:30 – 00:06:51

Adding a course—let me hit Enroll.

I need Principles of Microeconomics; I select it and click Enroll. I’m now successfully registered.

00:06:51 – 00:07:18

My dashboard shows the course in the left sidebar:

  • 20 attempted quizzes
  • Course list ready to launch

00:07:18 – 00:11:03

Inside the course you’ll find:

  • Video lessons
  • Printable slide decks
  • Open-source PDF textbook
  • Auto-graded quizzes after each moduleTotal asynchronous college-level experience, all free.

00:11:06 – 00:14:23

Use breadcrumbs and next/previous buttons to navigate individual modules. First module → quick quiz → on to the next. Every element is intentionally identical to an accredited asynchronous course.

End—like, subscribe, and check the description for the full video.

(Blog post guide coming soon!)

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Tracy helps self-starters and project finishers find the tools, strategies, and confidence to complete the work that matters most. She shares actionable tips, book notes, reviews, and personal experiments to help you start strong and finish well.