How Much is a Power BI Course?

When you’re deciding which Power BI course to select, cost is an important consideration. Depending on the training format you opt for, the cost of study can vary significantly in price, starting with free online content and up to $15,000 or more for certificate programs that require months of time to complete. It’s up to each learner whether the cost of study and the educational outcomes it will provide are worth the financial investment. An excellent way to boost your long-term earning potential is to enroll in a certificate program or opt for a four-year college degree. However, the cost associated with these types of training is prohibitive for some individuals and may not even provide the kind of training you ultimately need. The costs associated with Power BI classes are largely dependent on the depth of training the program provides, the course length, and whether the content is synchronous or asynchronous. In the following sections, several popular Power BI training options will be explored so you can better understand their cost structure and how they compare to one another.

Studying Power BI in College: The Most Expensive Option

Learning Power BI in a four-year college or university program is the most expensive and longest type of training available. The college atmosphere provides an immersive environment in which students can focus for an extended period on their coursework. However, since Power BI is just one data analytics tool, it’s not offered as a stand-alone major. Those interested in learning how to use Power BI can instead choose to major in data analytics in which instruction is provided on this software. While more colleges and universities than ever before are offering data analytics as a major, it’s not an option at all schools. Aspiring data professionals interested in learning Power BI and other data analytics and data visualization tools may need to instead choose a related major to acquire data analytics training, such as a degree in computer science, statistics, or applied mathematics. Depending on the student’s ultimate professional goals and how they hope to apply their data analytics training, they may also choose a major in a data-adjacent field, such as finance, psychology, economics, management information systems, or business. Coursework in these majors often provides training in core data skills, like how to apply mathematical concepts, work with computer programming languages, communicate with databases, and perform statistical analysis. 

Even though university study is an excellent way to fully immerse yourself in an interactive and supportive learning environment for an extended period of time, there are several key factors to consider before opting for this type of training. The first is the length of time a college degree takes to earn. Whereas graduates of bootcamps or certificates can put their data analytics skills to use immediately when they graduate from a program in several weeks or months, university study requires an average of four years to complete. Additionally, completing college will require passing a range of classes, many of which may not be related to data analytics or Power BI. For professionals interested in using their skills sooner, college study may, therefore, be prohibitive. Cost is another important factor. Most four-year colleges cost tens of thousands of dollars per year to complete and can leave students with six figures of debt. The cost of just one year of college is much more per year than a single skills class, bootcamp or certificate program costs. 

Certificates: Comprehensive Training for Aspiring Data Professionals

If you’re interested in comprehensive Power BI training but don’t want to spend tens of thousands of dollars (or more) on a four-year college degree, certificate study is a good alternative. Certificates that teach Power BI are available in data analytics and are an excellent way to learn the skills needed to be a more productive employee in your current data career or for professional advancement purposes. These intensive programs are available in the live online and in-person format from many top educators around the globe. The focus of each certificate program is different, though most offer robust training in the field of data analytics, which includes specific tools like Tableau, Excel, and Power BI. In addition to completing several weeks or months of rigorous, in-class training (depending on whether they’re completed on a part-time or full-time basis), students in these programs also have the opportunity to receive career-focused support during their studies, such as private mentoring, portfolio development, and career counseling. 

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 higher the tuition. Those who enroll in certificate study benefit in many ways from this type of instruction. In addition to live 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. 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. 

Power BI Bootcamps: A Good Middle Ground

If you’d like to work exclusively with Power BI during your studies instead of exploring a range of data analytics tools, bootcamps are a good alternative. Similar to certificate programs, bootcamps come in many varieties. Some are relatively short and can be completed in just several days of full-time study. Other programs are longer and more involved and require weeks to finish. Power BI bootcamps usually start with introductory-level data analytics training, then progress into intermediate and advanced-level skills once an educational foundation is established. This makes them an excellent learning option for those who want to quickly progress from Power BI basics, like navigating the interface, into more complex skills, like working with DAX or using Power Query.

In terms of price, bootcamps are offered for a fraction of the cost of four-year university study and are typically much cheaper than certificate programs. Most shorter bootcamps cost between $500 and $2,500. Those who graduate can put their skills to immediate use at their current job or land a new career. Some programs also include additional education incentives like a free course retake for up to a year.

Skills Classes: An Affordable Option for Hands-on Training

The least expensive way to acquire live Power BI training is to enroll in a skills class. Most providers offer these courses in person or online using a teleconferencing platform like Zoom. Students can choose between introductory-level, intermediate, and advanced coursework to ensure the training they receive will be tailored to their learning needs. This ensures that students don’t waste their time or money revisiting skills they already possess and can find classes that are at the appropriate difficulty level to take their Power BI skill set further.

Depending on the course’s focus, those enrolled receive hands-on training in a variety of essential Power BI skills, such as how to connect with databases, work with query syntax, transform and combine data from multiple sources, and visualize data findings. These short programs usually take only a few days to complete (some only require an afternoon of time). Since these classes are relatively short, busy professionals can easily complete their training over a weekend without having to take off work. 

Cost is a major incentive for enrolling in a skills class. Because these programs are shorter than bootcamps or certificate study, they’re typically a more affordable option. Most educators provide Power BI classes for $500-$1,000. However, one important consideration is that in a skills class, the level of instruction will not be as in-depth as it would be in a longer, more intensive course, such as a data analytics certificate. Students interested in taking a deeper dive into Power BI or the field of data analytics may benefit more from enrolling in a longer, more intensive type of training once they learn the basics in a skills class.

On-Demand Power BI Coursework: Reasonably Priced Training for Self-Motivated Learners

Another learning option for those who want to learn Power BI but don’t want to invest thousands in their studies is through on-demand coursework. This sort of instruction is available from top providers around the globe, including Coursera, Udemy, and Microsoft. Self-paced study takes many forms; some providers offer short introductory-level lessons that provide a basic overview of Power BI’s main features and tools, as well as how to navigate the interface. These can be completed in an hour or so. Other courses combine Power BI training with other data analytics concepts and tools. Because all content is pre-recorded and placed online, the student gets to dictate their learning speed and how long each day they want to devote to their studies. Unlike live coursework, in which an instructor determines the lesson speed, on-demand content affords learners the flexibility of pausing content to take notes or rewatching entire lessons to ensure they’re retaining the information being covered. 

Cost-wise, on-demand content is generally a much less expensive option than live training. Since content is pre-recorded and no instructor is present, short on-demand classes are available for around $100, sometimes less. Longer certificate programs and bootcamps can cost several hundred or thousand dollars. Some providers offer platform subscriptions that require a monthly fee and provide learners with access to video lessons, articles, and other online resources.

Along with the additional flexibility of on-demand training comes the need for students to be self-motivated learners to carve out time and energy to focus on learning Power BI. Since no instructor or cohort of students is present, it’s up to the students to find answers on their own to any questions that arise during coursework.

Free Resources: A Low-Stakes Way to Get Started 

In addition to for-pay learning resources, free online content is also available and can be a great way to get started working with Power BI or to find answers to specific Power BI questions. Free resources include YouTube videos, online blogs, tutorials, and even free coursework posted by providers like Udemy. Those interested in learning a specific Power BI skill, such as how to connect with a database, merge data, or publish a report, can often find short video content that provides guidance. This makes these resources a good option for those who don’t want to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars on formal Power BI classwork but require specific knowledge to finish a work project. Since no monetary commitment is involved, they provide a low-stakes way to explore Power BI. 

Some educators also post educational articles on in-demand Power BI topics, which can be a great resource for those looking to explore a specific topic or skill. Noble Desktop’s Power BI Learn Hub is one such resource. It provides well-researched content on the various uses of Power BI, career paths in which this tool is used, and how learning this skill set compares with other comparable tools.

Learn Power BI with Noble Desktop 

Noble Desktop has several excellent and affordable Power BI courses that are available for students who are just getting started working with data, as well as professionals interested in pursuing certification with this tool. In Noble’s Power BI Bootcamp, students create interactive data visualizations like maps, graphs, and charts in which they present data findings in an engaging and colorful way. Instruction is provided on creating dynamic dashboards and reports that covey data trends and patterns. This comprehensive program includes training in importing data from sources like SQL, Text/CSV, and Excel, as well as working with Power Query. Students also learn how to aggregate data using MIN/MAX, COUNT, and SUM to gain further insights. By the end of this bootcamp, those enrolled will have the opportunity to work with the DAX language for visualizing data.

If you’re interested in earning Power BI certification for work-related reasons, an excellent study option is Noble’s Power BI Certification Program. This program is intended for those looking to become expert Power BI users and earn a Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analysts Associate designation. This comprehensive class combines all the teaching benefits of the Power BI Bootcamp with six hours of additional private tutoring. Coursework takes students from introductory-level Power BI training up through advanced-level data skills. Participants work with Power Query to import data from a range of sources. They then learn to structure, filter, and analyze this information to create stunning data visualizations. Training then progresses into higher-level skills, such as data aggregation and training with the DAX language. Learners can use their three private tutoring sessions to further explore topics of interest so they will be ready to pass the certification exam. Tuition includes the fee for the Power BI Data Analyst Associate Exam, test proctoring, and a free test retake (for those who need it). Learners who would prefer not to take the exam at the end of this class can opt for an additional hour of private tutoring.

All Noble classes are taught in person in New York City and are also available live online. Tuition for these programs includes a free course retake for up to a full year.