How Much is a Data Analytics Course?

As you explore different training options in data analytics, cost is likely going to be an important factor. Depending on the type of coursework you select, training can range in price from $100 or under for on-demand or free training materials and up to $15,000 or more for intensive certificate programs. Each learner must decide for themself whether the cost of study is worth it for the educational outcomes it will provide. A great way to improve your long-term earning potential is to enroll in a comprehensive certificate program or attend a four-year college. However, these training options may be cost-prohibitive for some learners and may not provide the sort of training you ultimately need. The cost of data analytics coursework depends largely on the depth of training the program provides, the course’s length, and whether content is offered live or asynchronously. The following sections will take a closer look at several study options so you can get a feel for their costs and how they compare to one another.

Studying Data Analytics in College: The Most Expensive Option

College study is the longest and most expensive way to learn data analytics. Most four-year colleges or universities cost tens of thousands of dollars per year to attend, which can leave students with six figures of debt upon graduation. Even though it’s a costly investment, those who opt for this form of study reap many benefits from the fully immersive educational experience they receive. These learners have four (or more) years to focus entirely on their studies. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that data analytics is a relatively new major. Some schools don’t even offer it as a major, and students must instead choose a field closely related in order to receive appropriate coursework, including computer science, data science, economics, finance, business, or statistics. Even when it’s offered as a major, students must also complete general education requirements as part of their study, some of which may not be related at all to data analytics. College students also typically must wait till graduation to put their data analytics training to use.

Data Analytics Certificates: for Aspiring Data Professionals

A certificate in data analytics will cost you several thousand dollars, which may seem steep to some learners. The cost of study varies, though, depending on the program’s focus, the educational provider that offers it, and the length of the program. Generally speaking, coursework ranges in price from $5,000 to $15,000. The longer the program, the greater the cost. Those who enroll in certificate study benefit in many ways from this type of instruction. In addition to live (in-person or online) training from an expert instructor with real-world data analytics experience, these programs also provide students with the opportunity to connect with other learners, which can be a valuable way to network. Participants have the time and space to fully immerse in studying data analytics alone rather than having to split their time and efforts into learning other related subjects. 

For those interested in using their data analytics training for work-related reasons, such as for a current career or to advance professionally, a certificate program is an excellent way to gain the necessary training and boost your resume along the way. In addition to the classroom component of these programs, many certificates also offer perks like professional portfolio critiques, resume reviews, or private mentoring sessions. This type of training is designed to prepare students to put the skills they acquire to use in the professional environment in careers such as Data Analyst, Financial Analyst, or Business Analyst. 

Data Analytics Bootcamps: A Good Middle Ground

If you’re interested in fully exploring a specific data analytics skill or tool, such as Tableau or Excel, bootcamps are a great study option. Just like certificate programs, botocamps differ from one to another in many ways. While some focus entirely on one data analytics skill, others provide a more comprehensive overview of the field of data analytics as a whole, the current best practices, and a range of tools and skills you’ll need to work as a Data Analyst. And, similar to certificates, the cost associated with study is dependent on the class focus. Bootcamps that combine several smaller skills classes, such as the Excel Bootcamp offered by Noble Desktop, are available at a discounted price compared to the cost of taking each skill class separately. For several hundred dollars, students progress from beginner to intermediate and advanced-level Excel training, all in the same program. Bootcamps like these take only a few days to complete for those who opt for full-time study. Bootcamps that focus on data analytics as a field can cost $10,000 or more to complete and require weeks or months of study. 

Skills Classes: An Affordable Option for Hands-on Training

If you’re interested in learning to work with one specific tool for data analytics, such as SQL or Python, a skills class is a largely affordable, short training option. These classes are great for learners at all levels. Most educational providers who offer in-person or live online skills classes provide beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level training options. This allows participants to select the class most suited to their educational background and avoid having to repeat content or work to catch up with difficult subject matter. Additionally, since these courses focus on only one tool, students can pick and choose which skills class is needed to fill their training gap and not waste their time or money on superfluous training. Skills classes usually cost $300-$500 and can be completed in one or several days.

On-Demand Data Analytics Training: Reasonably Priced Training for Self-Motivated Learners

One of the most affordable ways to learn data analytics is through on-demand content. This type of training consists of pre-recorded lectures and modules that the student purchases and completes on their own time. Not only does this training format afford the flexibility of allowing the student to determine when they want to complete their training, but it also allows them to determine their own learning speed, which is not possible in live, instructor-led classes. Learners can pause lessons or rewatch them in their entirety if they desire. On-demand data analytics content is available from many top educators, such as Udemy and Coursera. Students can opt for short classes that take only an hour or so to complete and focus on a specific tool, such as Microsoft Excel. They can also purchase longer courses that provide a more comprehensive exploration of the field of data analytics and the tools needed to succeed as a Data Analyst. Since so many different types of on-demand content exist, price points vary substantially from one provider to another. Some are available for less than $100. Other programs allow students to purchase courses a la carte, as part of a bundle, or through a subscription service. Since no instructor is available to guide lessons or answer questions, students who choose to learn data analytics via self-paced content must be self-motivated and have the drive to complete their coursework and stay on task. On-demand content can be a great option for those interested in learning one specific skill or who want to gain a basic understanding of the field of data analytics. However, for those who want to put their training to use for work-related reasons, the support and personal instruction provided through live training will likely be a better option, even though it will cost more.

Free Resources: A Low-Stakes Way to Get Started

You may have encountered free data analytics training resources, but not be certain whether they’re worth your time. Because of how popular data analytics is across industries and professions, a lot of online content pertaining to data analytics is posted online from various providers. This means that some content is better than other resources. Free data analytics resources include online blogs, modules, YouTube videos, and short courses posted by educators like Skillspire or Udemy. Because there is no monetary commitment involved, this type of material provides a low-stakes way to learn a specific data analytics skill, such as how to save an Excel spreadsheet to PDF or to gain a basic understanding of the data analytics process. 

Tech training companies like Noble Destkop offer resources that can help you get started working with data analytics. Noble’s free introductory data science video can help those who are just getting started working with data learn the basic tools, software, and skills necessary to analyze a dataset. Noble also has a free Intro to SQL seminar that helps students begin working with this popular querying language. Some learners may prefer to get started learning data analytics through free videos or online resources before investing hundreds or thousands into a live bootcamp or certificate program. It’s important to keep in mind that while free online resources can supplement other forms of data analytics training, they usually are no match for live, instructor-led classes.

Learn Data Analytics with Noble Desktop

If you’re committed to learning data analytics or are interested in taking your existing training to the next level, you can search for in-person data analytics classes nearby to find the learning match that’s best for you. The following sections will highlight a few current course listings for those who are just getting started in data analytics, as well as seasoned professionals looking to master advanced data-related skills and concepts.

Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate is a great option to consider if you want to study several core data analytics tools and software. This comprehensive certificate combines several of Noble’s shorter courses: Data Analytics Foundations, Excel for Data Analytics, Python for Data Science Bootcamp, Python for Automation, Python Machine Learning Bootcamp, SQL Bootcamp, Python Data Visualization & Interactive Dashboards, and Tableau Bootcamp. You’ll learn how Excel is used to manipulate and visualize data and how to work with Python’s scientific libraries. Instruction is provided on using SQL to retrieve data from relational databases and Tableau to visualize data. Tuition includes eight 1-on-1 mentoring sessions that can be used for professional development or to revisit complex course material.

If you’d rather focus your study efforts on learning SQL, Noble’s SQL Bootcamp is a great option. This hands-on bootcamp teaches you how to perform many relevant and useful SQL tasks, such as writing queries to extract information from relational databases, aggregating data, joining tables, and filtering results. You’ll become familiar with how to work with subqueries, use functions with parameters, and code queries that can extract the exact information you’re seeking. Although this program teaches PostgreSQL, the content covered can be applied to other databases, such as MySQL or SQL Server. 

Noble also offers a Python for Data Science Bootcamp for those who want to explore how Python can be used for real-world datasets. In this intensive class, instruction is provided on Python’s various applications for data science. You’ll study how to use Python to handle data, create programs, make data visualizations, and create machine-learning models with statistics. Coursework begins with an overview of Python basics, such as how to write expressions and statements, understand data types, use lists, and create variables. In the second part of this course, you’ll take these skills even further and work with control flow tools, dictionaries, loops, and conditional statements. Part three of this class covers topics like how to use NumPy and Pandas to clean data and how to use libraries like Matplotlib, NumPy, and Pandas to analyze and visualize data in the form of bar charts, histograms, and other advanced visualizations. This course includes a supplementary 1-on-1 mentoring session that students can use for assistance on their own projects or to revisit challenging course material. 

All Noble classes are available live online and in person in New York City and include a free course retake for a full year.