6 of the Best Online Coding Courses

Learning to code requires effort and hours of hard work. You can pay thousands of dollars and spend years in school learning the ins and outs of coding languages. However, you can also self-teach and take online coding courses to fill in the gaps. Many coders only need to know one language or skill to start and can then build from there. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are approximately 213,900 computer programmers in the United States, making an average of $41.61 per hour. However, that number doesn’t include professions such as web designers who also do coding work on the side or their own online pages. The number of people knowing code is far greater than the number of official coders working in the field. Online coding courses help fill gaps and build your skills. 

If you’ve decided it’s time to add to your skillset and you want to take a few online coding courses, how do you know which ones are worth your time and money? We’ve looked at some of the best programs out there, including degree-based and single course options without accreditation. These are the ones we fill will meet any need and help you start or continue your coding journey. 

How Many Computer Programming Languages Are There?

There are many different languages, so you should start by figuring out what you need to know for the type of work you do. If you mainly work on websites, you’ll probably need to know JavaScript, HTML and PHP. On the other hand, if you want to write programs, you’ll need to learn BASIC and C++ through online coding courses. 

Once you perfect one language, it is easier to learn others. Some you’ll never use, so don’t waste your time picking up knowledge you’ll just let slip to the side and forget after some time.

If you know what you might need, here are some great online coding courses where you can start building skills. 

1. C# Basics for Beginners: Learn C# Fundamentals by Coding

Udemy offers a complete C# fundamentals course for under $20 when on sale and just over $100 when not on sale. The site regularly offers discounts, so if the price is out of your reach, check back another day. 

The course takes six hours and includes understanding .NET Framework, controlling the flow of programs with conditional statements and working in files and directories. You’ll also figure out how to debug C# applications. 

If you are a beginner, this is a good option for online coding courses to start with and understand C# basics. You can add additional instruction later to pick up even more skills. 

Price: $119.00 retail, but $16.99 on sale

2. She Codes

She Codes offers coding workshops geared for the way women’s brains work. If you’re interested in a technology career, they give complete bootcamp style workshops to get you moving toward your goal. 

Their workshops include the actual materials to learn coding, online lessons and interactive assignments, help in real-time from tech support and feedback from the instructors and other students. Each class lasts about one to two hours. The four-month workshop includes three certificates of completion. 

Price: $990 for four months; $790 for three months; $99 for three weeks

3. Programming for Everybody (Python)

Coursera often offers this class for free. If you want the certification, you’ll need to pay a fee. If you wish to learn Python, you can take the class as an audit student and gain all the same skills without the certification. 

The class starts with the basics of the programming language and works through samples until you create some simple codes on your own. It’s a great way to build some necessary knowledge in coding if you’re a beginner. 

Price: FREE and financial aid available

4. Code Academy

If you aren’t quite sure where to begin, Code Academy offers a free quiz to help you decide what classes you should take. The online coding courses available include options such as Learn HTML, Learn JavaScript and Front-End Engineer Career Path Course. They also offer introductory classes in Python, Full-Stack and Java. Sort by coding language or subject. 

If you’re interested in the professional track and earning certifications, go for their pro package, which runs $19.99 per month billed in yearly installments. You can try it out for free and see if it’s right for you. You can also try out some basic interactive lessons for free if you want to see how their courses work and pick up rudimentary skills. 

Price: $19.99 per month for PRO

5. Coding for Beginners: You Can Code

Skillshare offers dozens of beginning coding courses. You can start with a free seven-day trial and take the beginning class, which will explain different coding languages and some easy coding skills. You’ll build a simple app in Python and Scratch.

You’ll gain an understanding of bugs, pseudo code, loops and control flow. The course consists of 32 lessons and takes around eight hours to view. The first couple of months runs about $1, but then they bill you $99 per year or a little more by the month. You can take as many courses as you’d like for that fee. 

Price: $99 per year

6. Western Governors University Computer Science Degree

If you want to make a career out of coding, you can get a bachelor’s from Western Governors University out of Salt Lake City, Utah. The courses are available online and include knowledge in front-end programming, back-end management and complete competency in everything from web management to app development. 

You’ll earn certifications as you go through various courses. You can complete your studies within a year if you move quickly through the lessons. The tuition runs by six-month terms at $3,225. So, if you finish quickly, you pay less for your coursework. 

Price: $3,225 per term

Choosing the Best Online Coding Courses

Learning via online coding courses takes dedication and hard work. You’ll have to be a bit of a self-starter to stick with the classes. Find the format and timing that works best for you and your career path. Find the style of instruction that helps you learn best. There are hundreds of options from which to choose, so try different options until you land on the one helping you excel as a developer.