JMU × Koala Finance Rolling Admissions Self-Paced 6 Months Koala Free

Master Your Money.
Earn Your Certificate.

The official James Madison University Personal Finance Certificate course — built in partnership with Koala Finance. Learn real skills. Use your real finances. Build a plan that lasts.

Enroll Now — $199 → View Curriculum

Modules

30+

Video Lessons

JMU

Issued Certificate

$199

One-Time

Your Koala Dashboard

Financial Progress

Monthly Budget 74% used

Emergency Fund 55% funded

Course Progress Module 5 of 9

Current Net Worth

+$2,840

How It Works

Learn. Apply. Earn.

This isn't a lecture course. Every lesson pairs financial education with real action inside Koala Finance — so you're building real skills with real money from day one.

Enroll & Set Up Koala

Create your free account, connect your bank accounts securely through Plaid, and get your complete financial picture in one dashboard. Takes less than 10 minutes.

Work Through Each Module

Watch short video lessons, complete knowledge checks, and apply each concept directly inside Koala Finance with your own finances. Self-paced — go at your speed.

Submit Projects & Earn Your Certificate

Complete hands-on projects for each module. Finish the Capstone Financial Plan and earn your official JMU Personal Finance Certificate.

Full Curriculum

9 Modules. Every Skill You Need.

From your first budget to your complete financial plan — this course covers it all. Every module includes video lessons, Koala Finance activities, and a hands-on project.

Financial Foundations & Setup

Build the right mindset, calculate your financial snapshot, create your Koala account, and link your bank accounts.

4 lessons Koala Setup

Budgeting — The Blueprint

Learn the 50/30/20 rule, zero-based budgeting, and pay-yourself-first. Build your first live budget inside Koala Finance.

4 lessons Build Budget

Expense Tracking & Habits

Find your money leaks, audit subscriptions, categorize transactions, and build better spending habits using Koala.

4 lessons Track Spending

Net Worth — Your Real Number

Understand why net worth matters more than income. Calculate yours, add assets and liabilities, and track progress in Koala.

4 lessons Net Worth Tracker

Savings Goals

Build your emergency fund, set SMART savings goals, and create automated savings habits that work while you sleep.

4 lessons Set Goals

Debt Management & Credit

Understand student loans, learn how credit scores work, apply avalanche and snowball strategies, and track payoff in Koala.

5 lessons Debt Tracker

Income, Taxes & Your Paycheck

Read a pay stub, understand federal and state taxes, learn student filing basics, and optimize your W-4 withholding.

4 lessons Concept Module

Investing Basics

Learn compound interest, 401k vs. Roth IRA vs. brokerage accounts, diversification, and how to start investing on any budget.

4 lessons Concept Module

Your Complete Financial Plan CAPSTONE

Synthesize all 8 modules into a one-page financial plan. Set 1, 3, and 5-year goals. Earn your JMU Certificate.

4 lessons Certificate Project

What You Get

Everything You Need to Succeed

This course isn't just videos — it's a complete financial education system designed to build real skills and real habits.

30+ Video Lessons

Professional instructional videos in two formats: talking-head concept lessons and screen-recording app tutorials. Watch on any device, at your own pace.

6 Months Koala Premium — Free $48 VALUE

Includes 6 months of Koala Finance Premium (normally $8/month) — free with enrollment. Connect your real accounts, build your real budget, and track your actual net worth with your own numbers.

9 Hands-On Projects

Each module concludes with a real-world project — from your first budget screenshot to your complete one-page financial plan. Learning by doing, not just watching.

184 Knowledge Checks

Short quizzes throughout each module to reinforce what you've learned. Minimum 70% score required per module — ensuring you actually understand the material.

Templates & Worksheets

Financial Snapshot worksheet, One-Page Financial Plan template, tax calculation worksheets, pay stub exercises, and more — all included at no cost.

JMU Certificate of Completion

Finish all 9 modules, submit all projects, and complete the capstone — earn an official James Madison University Personal Finance Certificate. Add it to your resume.

Your Money. Finally Understood.

Koala is an AI-powered personal finance dashboard included with every lesson in this course. Connect your accounts, and Koala's AI automatically categorizes every transaction, tracks your net worth, and answers financial questions in plain English — no manual tracking required.

Connect 12,000+ banks and financial institutions via Plaid — read-only, bank-level encryption
AI auto-categorizes 98–99% of transactions automatically — no manual tagging
Ask Koala AI anything: "How much did I spend on dining?" or "Can I afford this?"
Real-time net worth tracking — assets minus liabilities, updated automatically
Budget building with real spending categories and live tracking
AI agents work 24/7 to surface insights, flag duplicate charges, and optimize spending
Available on web at trykoala.ai and on iOS — set up in under 5 minutes

Koala Dashboard AI

$12,480

Net Worth

$843

Budget Left

18%

Savings Rate

Net Worth — Last 6 Months

Ask Koala AI anything...

JMU Issued

Earn Your Official JMU Personal Finance Certificate

Complete all 9 modules, pass the knowledge checks, submit your projects, and finish your capstone financial plan. You'll earn an official James Madison University Personal Finance Certificate — recognized on your resume and LinkedIn profile.

9 modules completed

All projects submitted

Capstone plan required

JMU issued & recognized

Personal Finance Certificate

FAQ

Common Questions

Who can enroll in this course?

Any current James Madison University student can enroll. The course has rolling admissions — start any time, go at your own pace. No prior finance knowledge required.

How much does the course cost?

The course is $199 — a one-time enrollment fee for JMU students. That includes 6 months of Koala Finance Premium (normally $8/month, a $48 value) at no extra cost. We're actively working with JMU to explore a subsidy model.

Do I have to connect my real bank account?

Connecting your bank account is recommended for the full experience, but not required. You can use manual account entry for privacy — though connecting real accounts makes the lessons much more impactful.

Is my financial data safe?

Koala Finance uses Plaid for bank connections — the same technology used by Venmo, Cash App, and Robinhood. Access is read-only. Koala cannot move money or make transactions on your behalf.

How long does the course take?

The course is self-paced, so it's entirely up to you. Estimated total time is 17–22 hours. Most students complete one module per week, finishing in about 9 weeks.

What does the JMU certificate look like on a resume?

List it under Certifications: "Personal Finance Certificate — James Madison University / Koala Finance." It demonstrates financial literacy — a skill employers increasingly value.

Do I need prior knowledge of personal finance?

No. The course starts from absolute zero. Module 1 covers foundational concepts before introducing any tools or advanced topics.

What's your refund policy?

We offer a full refund within 7 days of enrollment, no questions asked — as long as you haven't completed more than 2 modules. After that window, refunds aren't available. To request a refund, email support@ashlr.ai.

What if my question isn't answered here?

Email us at support@ashlr.ai for help with enrollment, course access, or any questions.

$199 · JMU Students Only

Start Your Financial Journey

One-time enrollment fee of $199. Includes 6 months of Koala Finance Premium free (a $48 value). Open to all current JMU students. Start immediately after enrolling.

Master Your Money. Earn Your Certificate.