degree and certificate programs offered online by respected brick and mortar universities. These listings are targeted at people who want the convenience of online learning, but do not want to sacrifice brand reputation by studying at a for-profit online institution.

Academic Earth was spotlighted in the 2010 Annual Letter of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and discussed by Gates in multiple media outlets; Gates described his personal use of the site and belief in the power of online lectures as an educational tool. In 2009, the site was selected along with Google, Amazon, and Facebook as one of TIME Magazine's Top 50 Websites.