Are HTML & CSS Bootcamps Worth It?

What are HTML & CSS?

HTML and CSS are two essential tools that form the foundations of any web page. They’re often used together, but they both serve different purposes for web coding. The key differences lie in their implementation, ease of use, various features, and their structure, but both are essential to web development. 

HyperText Markup Language HTML) HyperText is a markup language that’s understood by computers, designed to describe web pages and make text more interactive. Originally invented in 1989, HTML is used for creating the primary content of a website, is supported by every single browser, and is established on pretty much every web page in existence. No licenses are required, you don’t need to pay for it, and it can be pretty easy to learn and code.

Cascade Styling Sheets (CSS) is a type of language you can use to describe the presentation of a markup language, like HTML. It effectively determines how the building blocks, as laid by HTML, are decorated and presented to the user. CSS originated in 1996 and is used for background color, styling, layout, borders, and shadowing, all the essential design features that make a webpage look smart and navigate easily. It allows you to distinguish between presentation and content by modifying the design and display of HTML elements.

If you’re interested in exploring the world of programming and web development, HTML and CSS are the ideal place to start. Mastering these tools will provide you with the appropriate foundation to learn programming languages like JavaScript, Ruby, Python, or SQL. 

What Can You Do With HTML & CSS?

HTML and CSS are considered the building blocks to coding and programming, with HTML providing web page structure and CSS used to control web page styling. With HTML and CSS alone, you can build static multi-page websites, code email templates, design beautiful user interfaces, and work with other developers on larger projects. Some example projects are outlined below:

• Building landing pages or sales pages
• Creating static menus for restaurants
• Building multi-page static websites like online resumes, simple portfolio pages, or informational websites
• Becoming a volunteer Wikipedia contributor or editor
• Converting PSD files to HTML and CSS
• Creating email templates for email platforms (like Mailchimp or Hubspot, for example)
• Customizing a WordPress.com or Squarespace.com site

If you work in a creative field like marketing or design, learning HTML and CSS can provide you with a more balanced skill set and give you insight into the technical work of the colleagues that you collaborate with. If you’re looking to launch a career in programming or web development, learning HTML and CSS is the best place to start. Mastering these two fundamental tools will instill the confidence you need to tackle harder programming languages like JavaScript, SQL, and more. 

Whether you’re looking for a career change or simply pursuing a new hobby, learning HTML and CSS is a worthwhile cause. From soft skills like effective communication, problem solving, organization, and collaboration, to more technical skills like hyperlinking, page formatting, and testing and debugging, the knowledge you gain from studying HTML and CSS provides a lifetime of value. 

Why Learn HTML & CSS in a Bootcamp?

There are many ways to learn HTML & CSS, from free resources to college degrees to certificate programs. Bootcamps are often considered one of the best ways to learn, but it’s important to understand how they stack up against all the other options available. 

Bootcamps Compared to College

College is both expensive and time consuming. The average bachelor’s degree takes four years to complete and involves taking generic courses (or ones not in your subject of interest) before getting the ones specific to a major. Typically, the first two years of your degree are spent on general education requirements, so you’ll only receive two years of training in your actual field. 

According to the Education Data Initiative, an in-state degree costs $27,146 per year, while out-of-state costs $45,708 per year, on average. This price is on the rise, too, making a four-year college degree financially inaccessible for many. College graduates still enjoy higher earnings than the average U.S. worker, but there’s a growing trend of students feeling a degree no longer holds its value, especially when you consider the high interest rates on student loans. 

Pew Research surveyed the public and found that only one-in-four U.S. adults say it’s extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree in order to get a well-paying job in today’s economy. Only 22% say the cost of getting a four-year college degree today is worth it even if someone has to take out loans. So, while a college degree still holds value, there are disadvantages to this pathway that need to be considered. 

Bootcamps Compared to Self-Paced Courses

Bootcamps are typically held live either in-person or virtually. A self-paced course, also known as an on-demand course, is offered online and can be completed at the time and pace of your choosing. Self-paced courses are ideal for those with complicated schedules as they allow you more flexibility with no set class times or assignment due dates. But it’s also important to keep in mind that these courses have disadvantages too. 

Bootcamps allow for in-the-moment discourse with an expert instructor. If you’re struggling with a particular subject, you can ask questions and receive feedback instantly. In an on-demand class, you typically won’t have access to an instructor or, if you do, you will have to submit questions via email or messaging and then wait (sometimes several days) for a reply. 

Additionally, live bootcamps offer a level of accountability that many students say they need to succeed. Schedule class times and assignment due dates motivate you to stay on track. Self-paced courses require you to hold yourself accountable, which can work if you’re a focused and self-motivated individual. If you aren’t, a bootcamp may be a better fit. 

Bootcamps Compared to Certifications or Certificates

Another option is to attend a certification or certificate program. Certifications are often required by various employers to prove that you have continuing competency in ever-evolving tools and technology. They are a tried-and-tested method of proving one’s competence in a chosen field and, because of this, some employers will often cover the cost of these certifications and exams, eliminating the need for you to financially invest in this continuing education. But, if you’re attempting to transition into a new field, a certificate may not be the right choice, especially if cost is a concern.

Certificate and certification programs can be lengthy as well. They typically fall somewhere between a bootcamp and a four-year degree, taking up to a year or two to complete. While their curriculum is robust and a certificate of competency will look good to potential employers, they aren’t the best option for folks looking to change careers quickly. A bootcamp can be completed in a much shorter time frame and also typically comes with a certificate of completion that can be added to your resume or LinkedIn to showcase your knowledge. Then, once you’re established in your new field, you can pursue a certificate as a means of continued professional development. 

Bootcamps Compared to Free Training Options

There are free training options as well. These are typically found on sites like YouTube and consist of video tutorials, blog posts, and discussion forums. These free resources can often be the open door to a new hobby, subject, or endeavor that you wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. But, while free training sources can be beneficial, they are most beneficial when dealing with training for general soft or technical skills, like communication and problem-solving or programs like Excel®. 

Free training resources often lack the depth of knowledge that bootcamps offer. Because free online courses are developed to address general needs, the material may not be as specific as students or professionals might hope. They also lack benefits like live feedback and interaction, accountability with scheduled classes and assignment due dates, and a top-notch curriculum created by industry experts or educational professionals. It’s best to view free resources as a way to get an initial idea of what HTML & CSS is all about, not as the primary source of your education. Think of them as a jumping off point, just the start of your journey to becoming a HTML & CSS master. 

Learn HTML & CSS with Noble Desktop

Live HTML and CSS courses are an ideal learning method for those entirely new to the field. Live online classes are great for those who prefer a solitary learning environment with minimal distractions. They allow you to learn from the comfort of your own home (or wherever you choose), providing more flexibility. Additionally, if you live in an area with limited (or no) in-person options, online classes open up more opportunities for you. 

A great place to start would be Intro to HTML & CSS, a hands-on course that will teach you the basics of both of these fundamental tools. You’ll hand code a webpage from scratch using HTML, learning how to format paragraphs, headings, and lists. You’ll also learn how to create links, add images, and modify tags with attributes. By the end of class, you’ll be familiar with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), including tag selectors, class selectors, and the class attribute.

Noble Desktop’s HTML Email Certificate will help you gain skills to create responsive emails with personality. Boasting small class sizes led by expert instructors, you’ll learn HTML and CSS coding, including how to code effective and cross-mail-client compatible emails and optimize emails for desktop, webmail, and mobile users. By the end of this program, you’ll be able to code emails that display properly in various email apps for your business or clients.

Their Web Development with HTML & CSS will teach you how to develop websites with HTML and CSS, the coding languages used to create web pages. Using HTML, you’ll learn how to create webpages with text, images, and more. Then you’ll use CSS to style the content, create centered page layouts, add background images, style navigation, and make the page responsive so it adapts to various screen sizes using media queries. Finally, you’ll upload files to FTP to make your site go live.

If you’re looking to go a little deeper, you could try the Front End Web Development Certificate. You’ll learn HTML to mark up web pages, CSS for styling, JavaScript to add interactivity and animation, and Git to track code changes and collaborate with other developers. Ideal for those new to coding, you’ll develop the skills to create responsive websites optimized for any size screen (mobile, tablet, and desktop). Additionally, you’ll learn how to use WordPress, the world's leading content management system, to create customizable websites and edit content without the need to be a programming expert.