Free Guest Speakers for Schools & Colleges: Where to Find Them
How to find free guest speakers for schools, colleges, and university classes — the channels that work, how to ask, and why great speakers say yes for free.
Make the leap from industry to the lecture hall. Bring real-world experience into the classroom and start your teaching career today. 100% free.
26,020 adjunct roles open at 1,590 colleges, checked daily.
Our team has placed lecturers and speakers at









Three steps from application to classroom.
Fill out the application form so we understand your experience, what you'd like to teach, and when you're free. It takes about five minutes.
We reach out to our network of universities and professors to find a guest lecturing opportunity that fits your expertise and preferences.
You work with the professor to settle on the topic and angle. Then you give the lecture.

For professors and programs
Tell us the topic and the course. We match you with a working practitioner who has done the thing you are teaching, and make the introduction by email. Free for universities, in person or online.
Prefer to browse? See lecturers by topic →
“I've never been a guest lecturer before but I had a blast! We used my startup as a case study and I got real, actionable feedback from the students!”

“I'm really grateful to have had an opportunity to guest lecture - it was a great way to give back and connect with students!”

“I loved getting connected for a guest lecture! My favorite part was helping students understand real-world problems.”

Guides on adjunct teaching, guest lecturing, and higher ed careers.
How to find free guest speakers for schools, colleges, and university classes — the channels that work, how to ask, and why great speakers say yes for free.
What guest speakers cost in 2026 — typical speaking fees, university honorarium norms, what's free, and how to bring experts to class on a $0 budget.
The best questions to ask guest speakers in a college class — logistics questions to ask beforehand, discussion questions for students, and follow-up prompts.
Something else on your mind? Email stephen@openlecture.com.
Yes. This is a completely free platform for both universities and lecturers.
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee interest from universities. That said, we will keep you updated as we process your application.
We will be able to let you know in a couple weeks if we would be able to find you a match.
We are prioritizing in-person lectures for now, but please fill out the form and we will try to connect you to opportunities of your preference!
I'm Stephen Cognetta, a lecturer at the University of San Francisco and Northeastern University. I founded this platform because I believe in making universities more industry-relevant. Plus, I love being a guest lecturer or having them in my classroom and I'd like to open up access to these teaching opportunities.
Reach out to me directly at stephen@openlecture.com.
Tell us what you know and when you're free. We'll look for a professor who wants a guest speaker on it.