How Much is a Coding Course?

When you’re looking at coding classes, you need to think about class format and curriculum, but you also need to consider cost. The price of learning coding varies significantly depending on the class that you pick. More comprehensive courses generally cost more, while shorter classes cost less. Keep reading to learn more about some of the different types of coding class options and the costs associated with each.

What Is Coding?

Coding is a process of writing a set of instructions in a language that a computer can understand. There are hundreds of different coding languages, and they vary in complexity, structure, and purpose. According to Stack Overflow’s annual survey of developers, the most commonly used programming languages are JavaScript, HTML/CSS, Python, and SQL. Coding is the basis of digital technology and the ability to code is an in-demand skill. Learning it can lead to a wide range of different career options.

Coding Course Options

In most cases, the cost of a coding class varies depending on how long the course is and how much material it covers. The most expensive option is a college degree that includes coding. This can cost tens of thousands of dollars, but will cover a lot of material over a number of years. Career-focused programs like bootcamps and certificate classes are still fairly comprehensive, but they typically take months--not years--to finish. These generally cost somewhere between a few thousand and twenty thousand dollars. You can also learn coding by taking a shorter live training class, or an on-demand class. These options are usually much less expensive, but they also cover a lot less material.

A College Degree

The most expensive way to learn coding is as part of a college degree program like computer programming. Many colleges offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees in coding-related topics. These programs are very comprehensive and cover a wide range of topics, including both theory and practical skills. For instance, you’ll probably learn a variety of coding languages and many other coding skills in addition to other computer-related skills like security, data structures, and artificial intelligence. A college education will build a strong coding foundation, but it will cost tens of thousands of dollars. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average price of attending a four-year college ranges from $14,700 to $24,600 per year, depending on the school. 

Immersive Career-Focused Classes

If you don’t have tens of thousands of dollars and a number of years to invest in a college education, but you want a comprehensive coding education, then an immersive, career-focused class like the certificate courses offered by Noble Desktop might be a good alternative. Most career-focused courses are designed for beginners and they cover a wide range of skills in order to prepare you to work in a coding-related field. These types of courses are accelerated, and designed to cover a lot of material in a relatively short amount of time. They typically take a number of weeks or months to complete, and most cost somewhere between $5,000 and $20,000. Many career-focused courses also include career support. For instance, there might be a career coach who can provide resume and job search advice. Some courses even include one-on-one mentoring sessions. Other types of career support may include access to professional networks and internships. In recent years, these types of programs have become a popular alternative to college because they are a way to get career-ready at a far lower cost than a college degree.

Live Training Classes

Longer courses are not the only way to learn coding. If you want a shorter class where you can learn some coding basics under the guidance of an expert, then a live coding class can be a good option. There are many different shorter live coding class options that only take a few days to complete. These types of classes won’t be enough if you’re trying to learn coding in order to work professionally in a coding-related job, but they can be a great way to gain some fundamental skills or to get a better idea of whether you might be interested in taking a longer class in the future. Most shorter classes cost a few hundred dollars.

On-Demand Classes

Another coding learning option is an on-demand class. On-demand classes contain pre-recorded material that you work through at your own pace. Most of them are designed for beginners, and they can be a great option for people with busy schedules because you can stop and start whenever you need to. Most on-demand classes are less expensive than live options since there is no live instructor. However, the lack of a live instructor also means that you can’t ask questions or get feedback in real time. Most on-demand classes are not comprehensive enough for students who want to learn coding at a professional level, however, they can be a great way to start learning some coding skills. 

Free Resources

An even more informal way to learn about coding is to use free online resources from sites like Noble Desktop, Coursera, or YouTube. If you’re looking to get an overview of this topic, learn a specific skill, or troubleshoot a problem, free resources can be useful and offer a quick way to get an answer. However, if you’re serious about learning to code then most free resources will not be comprehensive enough. For a complete coding education, you’ll need to take a formal class where you can be guided by an expert. 

Learn Coding with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is a coding and design school based in New York City and it offers many different types of coding classes, with both short classes that can help you quickly master the basics of coding, and longer, more comprehensive courses where you can develop the skills that you’ll need to code in a professional setting. Its coding classes can be taken in-person at its Manhattan facility or in a live online format. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department. All courses include the option of a free retake within one year.

If you’re looking for a short coding class, Noble offers a beginner class called Web Development with HTML & CSS, where you can learn to create webpages by coding with HTML and CSS. In this class, you’ll learn to use HTML to create webpages that have text and images. You’ll also learn to use CSS for styling content, creating centered page layouts, adding background images, style navigation, and for making responsive pages that adapt to various screen sizes. If you already know the basics of HTML and CSS, you might be more interested in Noble’s Advanced HTML and CSS class. This class covers a variety of advanced topics including SVG, CSS variables, gradients, shadows, positioning, transitions, transforms, and responsive images.

Noble Desktop also offers many bootcamps. The Python for Data Science Bootcamp is a multi-day course that starts with Python basics and takes you to the start of machine learning with Python. You’ll begin by covering fundamentals like writing statements and expressions, creating variables, and working with different data types. After that, you’ll learn about structuring programs, which includes using conditional statements and control flow tools. The next part of the bootcamp is focused on arrays and dataframes and covers importing and cleaning data using NumPy and Pandas. Finally, you’ll learn to analyze and visualize data. This includes working with key data science libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib. This class also comes with a one-on-one bonus training session.

Another bootcamp option is the FinTech Bootcamp. This course is designed to help you gain the skills that you’ll need for an entry-level position in data science and financial technology, and covers a variety of in-demand finance and data skills. You’ll learn Python fundamentals, including advanced libraries. You’ll also learn to use Python for data visualizations and financial analysis. The bootcamp also covers working with SQL to query databases. This bootcamp can be taken either full-time or part-time. It includes six one-on-one mentoring sessions.

Noble Desktop also offers a variety of certificate programs that include coding. One popular option is the Full-Stack Web Development Certificate. This course covers everything you need to know to create a website from scratch. You’ll learn a variety of both front end and back end skills. These include HTML and CSS, JavaScript, Express.js, MongoDB, React, and Node.js. You’ll also learn about databases, APIS, interactivity, and server environments. You’ll receive ten one-on-one mentoring sessions. As part of the bootcamp, you will also have the option to attend Noble’s SQL Bootcamp or WordPress Bootcamp for free. Finally, you’ll work on real projects that can be used for a portfolio. 

Another popular Noble Desktop option is the Software Engineering Certificate. This is a comprehensive, multi-week course designed for students who want to become a Software Engineer or a Full Stack Developer. You’ll learn about front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development. This includes learning a variety of front end tools including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You’ll also learn Flexbox and Grid for layout and adapting to different screen sizes, and Git for version control. The program also covers JavaScript, and the JavaScript library, React. As part of the course, you’ll create a working desktop application with React and deploy it using AWS. In addition, the course covers Python, including syntax, dictionaries, sorting algorithms, and custom functions. Finally, you’ll learn to use Django and Django Rest. Twelve one-on-one mentoring sessions are included, and you’ll also create a portfolio.