# Class Central API

> Class Central returns online course listings and details, available as a workflow and API.

Class Central’s Search courses method returns courses in search order with costs, ratings, durations, dates, languages, and provider details. Search courses requires a topic and can filter by language, free courses, result count, and certificate availability.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/class-central
- Handle: `@class-central`
- Category: [Education](https://fous.com/tools/category/education)
- Source website: https://classcentral.com
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Search courses

Operation `search_courses`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Find online courses on a topic in Class Central’s order, including provider, institution, instructor details, cost, certificate, ratings, duration, start date and language. Instructors are included when listed on a course page.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `topic` | string | yes | `"machine learning"` | Topic or skill to search for, for example machine learning. |
| `language` | string | no | `"Spanish"` | Course language, for example Spanish; use any for all languages. |
| `free_only` | boolean | no | `true` | Only include free courses, for example true. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `5` | Maximum courses to return, for example 20. |
| `with_certificate` | boolean | no | `true` | Only include courses offering a certificate, for example true. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "topic"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "topic": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Topic or skill to search for, for example machine learning.",
      "examples": [
        "machine learning",
        "zxqv nonexisting iridescent axolotl 93719"
      ]
    },
    "language": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "any",
      "description": "Course language, for example Spanish; use any for all languages.",
      "examples": [
        "Spanish"
      ]
    },
    "free_only": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "default": false,
      "description": "Only include free courses, for example true.",
      "examples": [
        true
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum courses to return, for example 20.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        5,
        4
      ]
    },
    "with_certificate": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "default": false,
      "description": "Only include courses offering a certificate, for example true.",
      "examples": [
        true
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "topic": "machine learning",
      "max_results": 5
    },
    {
      "topic": "machine learning",
      "language": "Spanish",
      "free_only": true,
      "max_results": 4,
      "with_certificate": true
    },
    {
      "topic": "zxqv nonexisting iridescent axolotl 93719"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `courses` | array |  | Courses in Class Central search order. |
| `courses[].cost` | string or null | `"Paid Course"` | Cost label as shown by Class Central. |
| `courses[].title` | string | `"Professional Certificate in AI and Machine Learning"` | Course title. |
| `courses[].rating` | number or null | `5` | Average rating out of five. |
| `courses[].duration` | string or null | `"6 months"` | Duration as shown on Class Central. |
| `courses[].language` | string or null | `"English"` | Course language. |
| `courses[].platform` | string or null | `"Simplilearn"` | Learning platform. |
| `courses[].start_date` | string or null | `"Self-Paced"` | Start date or self-paced label as shown. |
| `courses[].institution` | string or null | `"Michigan Engineering Professional Education"` | University or institution. |
| `courses[].instructors` | string or null | `"Michigan Engineering Professional Education"` | Instructor names as shown on the course page. |
| `courses[].number_of_reviews` | integer or null | `2` | Number of ratings or reviews. |
| `courses[].class_central_link` | string | `"https://www.classcentral.com/course/simplilearn-michigan-engineering-professional-certificate-in-ai-and-machine-learnin` | Class Central course page link. |
| `courses[].certificate_available` | boolean | `true` | Whether a certificate is offered. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "topic": "machine learning",
  "max_results": 5
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "courses": [
    {
      "cost": "Paid Course",
      "title": "Professional Certificate in AI and Machine Learning",
      "rating": 5,
      "duration": "6 months",
      "language": "English",
      "platform": "Simplilearn",
      "start_date": "Self-Paced",
      "institution": "Michigan Engineering Professional Education",
      "instructors": "Michigan Engineering Professional Education",
      "number_of_reviews": 2,
      "class_central_link": "https://www.classcentral.com/course/simplilearn-michigan-engineering-professional-certificate-in-ai-and-machine-learning-527802",
      "certificate_available": true
    },
    {
      "cost": "Paid Course",
      "title": "Machine Learning Foundations: A Case Study Approach",
      "rating": 3.95,
      "duration": "7 weeks, 3 hours a week",
      "language": "English",
      "platform": "Coursera",
      "start_date": "Self-Paced",
      "institution": "University of Washington",
      "instructors": "Carlos Guestrin and Emily Fox",
      "number_of_reviews": 40,
      "class_central_link": "https://www.classcentral.com/course/coursera-ml-foundations-4352",
      "certificate_available": true
    },
    {
      "cost": "Paid Course",
      "title": "Predictive Modeling and Machine Learning with MATLAB",
      "rating": 4.85393,
      "duration": "4 weeks, 5 hours a week",
      "language": "English",
      "platform": "Coursera",
      "start_date": "Self-Paced",
      "institution": "MathWorks",
      "instructors": "Michael Reardon, Maria Gavilan-Alfonso, Erin Byrne, Matt Rich, Brandon Armstrong, Adam Filion, Nikola Trica, Isaac Bruss, Brian Buechel, Heather Gorr, and Sam Jones",
      "number_of_reviews": 89,
      "class_central_link": "https://www.classcentral.com/course/coursera-predictive-modeling-machine-learning-17129",
      "certificate_available": true
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@class-central",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_courses",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "topic": "machine learning",
    "max_results": 5
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@class-central\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"search_courses\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"topic\": \"machine learning\",\n    \"max_results\": 5\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@class-central",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_courses",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "topic": "machine learning",
    "max_results": 5
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/class-central`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `search_courses`: Search courses. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-class-central https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/class-central --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Compare course costs, ratings, and durations
- Find free courses in a specific language
- Identify courses offering certificates
- Review course providers and institutions
- Find course start dates and instructors

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this Class Central tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Class Central account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from classcentral.com when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### What courses are available for a topic?

Search courses returns matching courses in Class Central search order when you provide a topic.

### Which courses offer certificates?

Search courses can filter for courses offering certificates with the certificate availability option.

### What languages are courses taught in?

Search courses returns course language and can filter results by a specified language.

## Related

- [Coursera API](https://fous.com/tools/coursera.md): Coursera offers courses, certificates, projects, and degrees; search results follow Coursera’s order, and publicly displayed prices and availability may vary by location.
- [Udemy API](https://fous.com/tools/udemy.md): Online courses in professional and personal skills.
- [MIT OpenCourseWare API](https://fous.com/tools/mit-opencourseware.md): Free MIT course materials open to everyone.
- [College Scorecard API](https://fous.com/tools/college-scorecard.md): College Scorecard returns US college costs and outcomes, including admissions, graduation, debt, and earnings; some figures may be missing, and comparisons cover 2–5 colleges.
- [QS Top Universities API](https://fous.com/tools/qs-top-universities.md): QS Top Universities provides rankings and profiles with latest world ranks, student figures, up to five subject ranks and listed tuition; subject editions may differ.
- [Craigslist API](https://fous.com/tools/craigslist.md): Craigslist offers local ads and searches public listings newest by search order; available listing details omit hidden contacts, and renewals may have older dates.
- [Meetup API](https://fous.com/tools/meetup.md): Find local groups and public events.
- [Open Library API](https://fous.com/tools/open-library.md): Open Library returns book search results, catalog details, and author works; availability reflects listed editions, not current loan availability, and catalog details may be missing.
- [All Education tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/education)