SQL Training Cost

Are you looking to learn SQL? If so, the great news is that you can download SQL Server for free if you intend to use it solely for testing or development. In addition, a free trial of SQL Server 2022 is also currently available. Beyond this, you will want to consider the cost involved with SQL training. If you want to study SQL, free videos and online tutorials are available to help you begin this journey. In addition, top educational providers around the globe offer a variety of in-person, live online, and on-demand courses, ranging in price from just $20 to several thousand dollars.

Read on to find out more about how much you can expect to spend on learning SQL.

What is SQL?

SQL, or Structured Query Language, is a standard language used to communicate with relational databases. Organizations across industries rely on SQL to access and work with the data contained in their databases. Important business information about products, customers, or orders is just some data an organization may store in a database. Among its many uses, SQL has applications for searching, updating, and maintaining databases. It can also insert or delete records from databases and change the database's actual structure by creating or deleting tables and objects.

SQL operates on local intranet or internet systems and can be used on laptops, PCs, servers, and some mobile devices. Even though SQL is considered to be a relatively simple programming language, it is a powerful tool for helping users retrieve the specific information they need within a large database. Those working with SQL don’t need coding skills and can instead use basic keywords such as “update” or “select” to perform data queries.

Some of the most-used relational database management systems that use SQL are Microsoft SQL Server, Ingres, Access, and Oracle.

Read more about what SQL is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with SQL?

For anyone who works with data, SQL knowledge is a must. Many fields and disciplines use this language to communicate with relational databases. SQL’s flexibility is designed to help you use statements based on English to query a database in multiple ways. Because SQL is the most-used database language, nearly every organization that has to store relational data relies on SQL, including major corporations such as Amazon, Google, and Uber. In addition, websites such as Facebook use SQL to store back-end data and process data.

SQL has a wide range of built-in functions that are useful for data analytics:

• SQL COUNT can count how many rows are in a table
• SQL MAX provides a way to select the highest value for a given column
• SQL MIN lets users choose the minimum value for a column
• SQL SUM totals the values in a column
• SQL AVG can calculate the average within table columns

In addition, SQL has other useful applications for handling large volumes of data:

• It can add, update, or delete records within a database
• SQL can create new databases
• SQL users can add new tables to an existing database
• SQL can create views or stored procedures in a database
• It can establish permissions on views, tables, and procedures.

In-Depth Review of the Training Cost

The cost of SQL training ranges greatly, depending on the type of instruction you’re seeking, where you want to study, and the course’s duration.

Free online resources, such as SQL tutorials and YouTube videos, are a great starting point for learning this language. They often provide an overview of SQL and can help place it in the greater context of its real-world applications in the data world. However, to really dive into the material and gain a complete understanding of SQL, or master more advanced querying techniques, you will likely need to invest in paid training. These more extensive programs can help you fully grasp and retain the information.

Studying SQL at a four-year college or university is typically the most expensive learning option. Students typically receive instruction on SQL, as well as general education requirements. While this is great for some, those who are already on the job hunt or have a career may need a shorter course of study that still prepares them to use SQL. Others may simply need a less-expensive learning option rather than spending tens of thousands of dollars a year on college tuition.

In-person study at a top educational provider such as Noble Desktop provides many of the same learning benefits as college SQL study and also offers additional perks. Class durations are typically only weeks or months long, and it costs only a fraction of what four-year university study would entail (most online courses cost between several hundred or several thousand dollars). Students can study with a computer and all the necessary software and tools provided for them in the classroom. In-person study also provides a way to network with others studying SQL, a benefit that extends beyond the classroom. However, if you are trying to balance in-person SQL study with other life commitments, you may have to take time off of work to attend class and account for hours spent commuting, the cost of gas or travel, and parking fees. These costs should factor into the decision-making process as well.

Online study provides a great alternative to in-person coursework. You can complete study from the comfort of your own home or office, or complete lessons at a coffee shop or while traveling. Plus, you will have no need to battle rush-hour traffic or waste time searching for a parking spot.

There are two types of online SQL instruction available: live online and on-demand. Live online SQL study meets at a regularly scheduled time and is run by an instructor in real-time. Students often connect via Zoom or a similar platform, where they can ask questions and participate as the lesson occurs. On the other hand, on-demand courses are self-paced. They usually involve watching pre-recorded videos and completing lessons or modules online. These classes are often cheaper than live online courses but require the learner to be self-motivated enough to study on their own.

Free Introductory SQL Course Online

If you aren’t entirely ready to dive into a full-length course in SQL but still want to learn more about this programming language, a great option is to begin your studies for free online. In Noble Desktop’s free Intro to SQL, students receive an hour of beginner-level instruction about databases, the professional applications of SQL among Data Engineers and Data Scientists, and real-world examples of what SQL can do.

In addition to Noble’s free introductory video, other top educational providers offer free online resources to help you learn SQL. Udemy currently has free coursework and tutorials devoted exclusively to SQL. It has beginner-level online courses, such as Introduction to Databases and SQL Querying, as well as SQL Foundations. For those seeking more advanced SQL instruction, Udemy also offers Advanced Databases and SQL Querying. If you’re interested in learning SQL’s specific applications in the data sciences, Coursera currently lists SQL for Data Sciences. This free course starts with SQL basics before progressing to more advanced topics, such as writing complex queries, creating tables, and data governance.

Read more about free SQL videos and online tutorials.

Learn SQL with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

When learning SQL for a career, many people choose instructor-led classes, which provide personalized assistance and in-the-moment feedback on their code. If you’re interested in learning the basics of SQL or receiving more advanced instruction, Noble Desktop has multiple course offerings in SQL. Classes are available in the live online environment as well as in-person in New York City.

Those new to using SQL can enroll in Noble’s SQL Level 1, a beginner-friendly class designed to teach students the basics of working with this language. Throughout this instructor-led, one-day course, students build a foundation in SQL by learning about rows, columns, tables, and basic filtering. By course completion, participants will have a solid understanding of database architecture and will be able to write basic SQL queries for Microsoft SQL Server.

If you’re looking to learn more advanced SQL concepts, Noble also offers an SQL Bootcamp led by expert instructors. Those enrolled in this 18-hour course receive hands-on instruction on core SQL skills, such as how to write queries, filter and group data, and combine information from various tables using join statements. Participants in this small class also gain experience working with PostgreSQL as well as the free DBeaver app. All students have the option of a free retake of the course if they wish to brush up on their SQL skills. Prospective students can also learn more about SQL with Noble’s learning resources.