Free Online Supply Chain Management Certificates 2025
One great way to learn more about supply chain management is through certificate programs and courses. Some places offer these for free with financial aid.
Supply chain management is a field that deals with the flow of goods. Certificate programs in supply chain management can help industry professionals understand supply chain networks and the overall global supply chain.
Many places offer supply chain management certificates and courses that are low-cost or free with financial aid. Keep reading to learn more about free online logistics and supply chain courses and the certificates available.
What Is a Supply Chain Management Certificate?
Supply chain management certificates are credentials earned after completing courses that cover this subject matter. They may focus on supply chain management as a whole or on specific facets of supply chain management, like procurement or inventory management.
Certificate programs are available for both beginners and experts in supply chain management. They're available through various sources, including colleges, universities, and online education sites.
Can You Earn an Online Supply Chain Management Certificate for Free?
While there are free online courses for supply chain management, online certificates typically cost money. However, that doesn't have to stop you from learning what you need to know about supply chain management.
Some supply chain management certificate providers accept financial aid to help students cover their costs, while others offer pricing based on your income. You may also be able to have your certificate covered by your employer.
How Do I Enroll?
The enrollment process for an online supply chain management certificate depends on the program. In most cases, you'll be required to input your information and pay the fee.
In some cases, you may need to have completed prerequisite courses or have prior knowledge of supply chain operations. Each program should have information about applying and enrolling.
Top Free Online Supply Chain Management Certificates and Courses
While there are no free certificates in supply chain management, there are free courses and certificate programs that accept financial aid. We've highlighted some of these options below.
Integrated Supply Chain Management Master's Certificate
Michigan State University offers an Integrated Supply Chain Management master's certificate online for students. It includes three courses:
- integrated logistics strategy
- manufacturing planning and control
- strategic sourcing
All three courses take a total of 24 weeks to complete. Students can receive a discount by signing up for all three, and financial aid may be available to some students.
Operations and Supply Chain Management Graduate Certificate
The Operations and Supply Chain Management graduate certificate is offered by Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), a private, non-profit university in Manchester, New Hampshire.
This program is for students who hold a bachelor's degree in a related field. It requires 18 credits and includes courses like:
- mathematics and statistics for business
- operations management
- quantitative analysis for decision making
- Six Sigma quality management
The total cost of this certificate program is $11,466. However, financial aid is available, as are military discounts.
SCM Short Course
The SCM short course is a supply chain management course offered by Oxford Home Study Centre, a British-based private online college. It covers four key topics of supply chain management:
- introduction to supply chain management
- how the supply chain works
- participants in the supply chain
- managing planning and sourcing operations in the supply chain
The course is free; three certificate options are available to students upon completion. However, a small fee is required to obtain those certificates.
Supply Chain Management
Supply Chain Management is a free supply chain management course offered on the online learning platform Udemy. It covers course topics like:
- logistics management
- supplier selection and sourcing
- supply chain accounting
- warehouse management
The course is free on Udemy but does not come with a certificate. Students will have access to course materials like on-demand videos and an e-book.
Supply Chain Management and Capacity Planning
Supply Chain Management and Capacity Planning is a free course offered by Alison, a free online learning platform. It includes three modules:
- supply chain management
- capacity planning and facility layout
- course assessment
The course is free, but if students want a certificate they'll need to pay a fee. Otherwise, a learner record showing that you took and passed the course is available for free.
Supply Chain Management MicroMasters Program
The Supply Chain Management MicroMasters Program is a graduate-level program offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) through the online learning platform edX. It includes supply chain courses covering analytics, fundamentals, design, dynamics, technology, and systems.
The program is instructor-led and takes about 18 months to complete. This program is much less expensive than many other certificate programs, available as low as $1,524.60 with company discounts, but financial aid may also be available.
Supply Chain Management Specialization
The Supply Chain Management Specialization is a five-course series offered by Rutgers University on Coursera, an online learning platform. The specialization includes the supply chain courses, such as logistics, operations, planning, sourcing, and management strategy.
Students can enroll in any of these self-paced supply chain courses for free but will need to pay to receive a certificate. However, financial aid is available, and these courses are also part of CourseraPlus, the company's subscription program.
Supply Chain Planning
The Supply Chain Planning course is an intermediate certificate course offered by the University of California, Irvine through Coursera. It contains four modules:
- demand planning
- supply planning
- contained forecast
- measure results
Students can enroll in and audit the course for free; however, they need to pay a fee to obtain a certificate. Financial aid is available and this course is also included with CourseraPlus.
Supply Chain Principles
The Supply Chain Principles course is offered by the Georgia Institute of Technology through Coursera. It's made up of five modules:
- supply chain concepts
- planning and procurement
- manufacturing and service operations
- warehousing operations
- transportation options
Students can take the course and access course materials for a limited time for free but will need to pay to obtain a certificate. Financial aid is available.
Unilever Supply Chain Data Analyst Professional Certificate
The Supply Chain Data Analyst Professional Certificate is a supply chain certificate program offered by Unilever through Coursera. This beginner-level certificate includes four courses:
- supply chain management and analytics
- using Data analytics in supply chain
- implementing supply chain analytics
- supply chain software tools
Like other Coursera courses, students can enroll and audit these courses for free. They must pay to obtain a certificate, but financial aid is available.
FAQs About Free Online Supply Chain Management Certificates and Courses
Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about supply chain management certificates and courses.
Is a Free Online Supply Chain Management Certificate or Course Worth It?
For many students, online supply chain management certificates and courses can be worth it as they help them develop their project management and supply chain optimization skills.
What Are the Benefits of a Free Online Supply Chain Management Certificate or Course?
The biggest benefit of online supply chain management certificates and courses is that they help students improve their skills so they can excel in supply chain management. Additionally, holding a certificate can help you get hired or increase the likelihood of a promotion.
Can I Get a Free Online Certificate in Supply Chain Management From a Reputable University?
Most reputable universities do not offer free online supply chain management certificates. However, many accept financial aid, and as a result, you may be able to get financial aid that covers the cost of your certificate.