TL;DR

YouTube is one of the best free study resources available — if you know which channels to watch
3Blue1Brown for math visualization, Organic Chemistry Tutor for STEM, CrashCourse for everything
Use YouTube to supplement lectures, not replace studying — watching isn't the same as learning
Match channels to your learning style: visual learners, conceptual learners, and problem-solvers all have different needs
Create playlists by course topic to build your own free textbook alternative

Why YouTube Is a College Student's Secret Weapon

Let's be honest: sometimes your professor's explanation just doesn't click. Maybe their teaching style doesn't match your learning style. Maybe the textbook reads like it was written by robots for robots. Maybe you missed a class and the recording is unwatchable.

That's where YouTube comes in. The best educational YouTubers have spent years perfecting their explanations of concepts that trip up millions of students. They use animations, examples, and plain language that textbooks don't.

The key is knowing which channels are actually good — because for every excellent educational channel, there are dozens of mediocre ones that waste your time.

Here's your curated guide, organized by subject.

Mathematics

3Blue1Brown

Best for: Understanding why math works, not just how to do it Level: High school through college-level linear algebra, calculus, and beyond

Grant Sanderson's animations are legendary. He makes abstract math concepts visual and intuitive. His series on linear algebra and calculus are genuinely beautiful — and they'll help you understand concepts your professor might have rushed through.

Must-watch: "Essence of Linear Algebra" series, "Essence of Calculus" series

Professor Leonard

Best for: Full lecture-style explanations for calculus, statistics, and algebra Level: College math (Calc I, II, III, Statistics)

If you missed class or your professor goes too fast, Professor Leonard is your man. His videos are long (full lecture length) but incredibly thorough. He explains every step and works through numerous examples. Students consistently say he's better than their actual professors.

Must-watch: His Calculus 1, 2, and 3 playlists

The Organic Chemistry Tutor

Best for: Worked examples and problem-solving across ALL math and science subjects Level: High school through college

Despite the name, this channel covers way more than organic chemistry. It's probably the most comprehensive STEM channel on YouTube. Every video walks through practice problems step-by-step.

Must-watch: Whatever topic you're currently struggling with — he's probably covered it

PatrickJMT

Best for: Quick, focused math explanations Level: Algebra through calculus and differential equations

Patrick's videos are concise — usually 5-15 minutes — and focus on showing you how to solve specific types of problems. Great for when you need help with a particular concept without watching a full lecture.

Sciences

Khan Academy

Best for: Comprehensive coverage of nearly every subject Level: High school through introductory college

Khan Academy needs no introduction. Their biology, chemistry, physics, and math playlists are extensive and well-organized. The explanations are clear, and the accompanying practice problems on their website are excellent.

Best for: Filling gaps in foundational knowledge, AP and introductory college courses

Professor Dave Explains

Best for: Organic chemistry, biochemistry, and general chemistry Level: College-level science

Professor Dave has a talent for making complex science accessible. His organic chemistry series is particularly popular among pre-med and chemistry students. He's also great at debunking pseudoscience, which is a fun bonus.

Must-watch: Organic Chemistry playlist, Biochemistry playlist

Bozeman Science

Best for: AP Biology and college biology Level: AP through introductory college

Paul Andersen's biology videos are clear, well-organized, and directly tied to common exam topics. His use of visuals helps with memorization-heavy biology content.

AK Lectures

Best for: Biochemistry and advanced biology Level: Upper-division college

If you're in biochemistry or advanced biology and need detailed explanations of metabolic pathways, enzyme kinetics, or molecular biology, AK Lectures is your channel.

Tyler DeWitt

Best for: General chemistry with humor Level: High school through intro college chemistry

Tyler makes chemistry fun (yes, really). His enthusiastic teaching style and use of everyday examples make abstract chemistry concepts relatable.

History

CrashCourse

Best for: Overview of major historical periods and themes Level: AP through introductory college

CrashCourse World History and U.S. History are fast-paced, engaging, and packed with information. They won't replace reading primary sources, but they're excellent for building context and understanding the big picture.

Must-watch: World History series (both seasons), U.S. History series

OverSimplified

Best for: Understanding specific historical events and conflicts Level: All levels

Complex historical events explained with humor and clear animations. The videos on WWI, WWII, the French Revolution, and the Cold War are both entertaining and educational. Great for getting the narrative before diving into analysis.

Historia Civilis

Best for: Ancient Roman and Greek history Level: College-level

If you're taking a course on ancient history, this channel provides detailed analysis of political and military events using simple block animations. The videos are surprisingly deep and well-researched.

Extra History

Best for: Narrative-driven historical storytelling Level: All levels

Extra History tells historical stories in multi-part series with engaging animation. Great for understanding historical context and seeing how events connect.

CrashCourse Psychology

Best for: Introductory psychology Level: AP through intro college

Hank Green's psychology series covers every major topic in Psych 101. The videos are 10-12 minutes each and provide a solid foundation for understanding psychological concepts.

Academy of Ideas

Best for: Philosophy and psychology Level: College-level

Deep dives into philosophical concepts, psychological theories, and their modern applications. The videos are more thoughtful and less textbook-style, making them great for essay preparation.

TED-Ed

Best for: Understanding specific concepts across disciplines Level: All levels

TED-Ed's animated lessons cover everything from psychology to economics to literature. They're short (5-10 minutes) and great for getting a quick, clear explanation of a specific concept.

EconplusDal

Best for: Economics (micro and macro) Level: AP through college

Comprehensive economics videos that cover theory, diagrams, and exam technique. If you're struggling with supply and demand curves, market structures, or macroeconomic models, this channel has you covered.

Jacob Clifford (ACDC Econ)

Best for: AP and introductory economics Level: AP through intro college

Jacob's enthusiasm for economics is infectious. His videos are organized by topic and include both conceptual explanations and graph-drawing tutorials.

English and Writing

CrashCourse Literature

Best for: Understanding literary works and literary analysis Level: High school through college

CrashCourse Literature covers classic and contemporary works with analysis that goes beyond plot summary. Great for understanding themes, symbols, and literary techniques.

Folding Ideas

Best for: Media analysis and critical thinking Level: Advanced

Dan Olson's video essays demonstrate how to analyze media critically — a skill that transfers directly to writing analytical essays in English and media studies courses.

Writing with Jenna Moreci

Best for: Creative writing and storytelling Level: All levels

If your course includes creative writing components, Jenna's practical advice on plotting, character development, and revision is incredibly helpful.

Computer Science

CS50 (Harvard)

Best for: Introduction to computer science Level: Introductory college

Harvard's CS50 lectures are on YouTube for free. David Malan is one of the best CS professors in the world, and his lectures are engaging, clear, and comprehensive. The gold standard for intro CS.

freeCodeCamp

Best for: Programming tutorials and coding projects Level: All levels

Full-length coding tutorials for Python, JavaScript, SQL, and more. Their project-based approach helps you learn by doing, which is exactly how programming should be taught.

Fireship

Best for: Quick overviews of programming concepts and technologies Level: Intermediate

Jeff Delaney's "100 seconds of..." series gives rapid-fire overviews of programming languages, frameworks, and concepts. Great for getting a quick understanding or deciding what to learn next.

Abdul Bari

Best for: Algorithms and data structures Level: College-level CS

If your algorithms class is destroying you, Abdul Bari's clear explanations and visual approach make complex topics understandable. His videos on sorting algorithms, graph traversal, and dynamic programming are particularly good.

How to Actually Learn From YouTube (Not Just Watch)

Watching educational YouTube without engaging with the material is like attending a lecture but not taking notes — you feel like you learned something, but you probably didn't retain much.

Active Watching Strategies

Take notes — Write down key concepts, formulas, and examples as you watch
Pause and predict — Before the presenter solves a problem, try it yourself
Use 1.25x-1.5x speed — Most educational videos are fine at slightly faster speeds
Rewind, don't just replay — If something confuses you, go back and watch that specific part again
Test yourself after — Close the video and try to recall the main points

Building a Study System

Create playlists organized by course and topic
Watch before lecture to prime your brain for new concepts
Watch after lecture to fill gaps in understanding
Watch before exams for quick concept review

Channels to Avoid

Not all educational YouTube is created equal. Red flags:

No sources cited for claims and statistics
Clickbait titles that don't deliver
Content that's clearly AI-generated (monotone narration over stock footage)
Channels that promise you'll "never fail again" — learning takes work
Very old content in fast-changing fields (CS, current events)

How Gradily Can Help

YouTube explains concepts, but Gradily helps you apply them to your specific assignments. Use them together:

Watch a YouTube video to understand a concept
Use Gradily to work through your specific homework problem
Get feedback on your writing and analysis
Study for exams with personalized practice questions

YouTube + Gradily = understanding the concepts AND demonstrating that understanding in your coursework.

Quick Reference: Top Picks by Course

Course	Go-To Channel
Calculus	Professor Leonard, 3Blue1Brown
Statistics	The Organic Chemistry Tutor, Khan Academy
Biology	Khan Academy, Bozeman Science
Chemistry	Professor Dave Explains, Tyler DeWitt
Organic Chemistry	Professor Dave Explains, The Organic Chemistry Tutor
Physics	The Organic Chemistry Tutor, Khan Academy
Psychology	CrashCourse Psychology
History	CrashCourse, OverSimplified
Economics	Jacob Clifford, EconplusDal
English/Literature	CrashCourse Literature
Computer Science	CS50, freeCodeCamp
Philosophy	Academy of Ideas

These channels won't replace doing the work — but they'll make the work a lot more manageable. Bookmark this list and reference it whenever you need a concept explained in a way that actually makes sense.

Editorial Standards