Software Engineering Training Cost: How Much Does it Cost to Learn Software Engineering?

Explore software engineering classes ranging from bootcamps, certificate courses to college degrees. Discover how these training methods can shape your career as a software engineer, and gain insights into the costs associated with each option.

Key Insights

Software Engineering is an engineering branch that focuses on designing, developing, and testing technologies for real-world applications including web and mobile applications, video games, operating systems, and network systems.
Software engineers are in high demand as society relies more heavily on computer-driven processes, with skills such as low-level programming and high-level programming being sought after across various sectors.
Learning software engineering skills can be achieved through three main methods: college degrees, bootcamps or certificate programs, and self-paced or on-demand classes.
A four-year college degree in computer science can cost at least $35,000, while bootcamps or certificate programs range between $10,000 and $20,000. Individual classes can be taken for as little as $795.
Free introductory software engineering courses are available from Noble Desktop and other online providers like Udemy and Coursera, providing an accessible entry point for those interested in the field.
Software engineers can earn a good salary, with the potential for growth dependent on their specialization and experience level in the industry.

Are you looking to learn software engineering? Luckily, many of the resources and tools needed in the free are open-source and free for public use. Beyond this, you’ll want to consider the cost of software engineering training. Training costs can vary, but it is an excellent cost-effective alternative to a four-year college degree. Many software engineering bootcamp or certificate programs cost between $10,000 and $20,000, while other classes may be taken for as little as $795.

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

What is Software Engineering?

Software Engineering is an engineering branch focused on designing, developing, and testing new technologies to solve real-world problems. Software Engineers bring comprehensive knowledge of programming, design, and engineering principles to build software. These computer science professionals can create web applications, mobile applications, video games, robots, operating systems, and network systems that we use daily!

Software engineering is a collaborative and broad field. The design and development of software solutions will require you to work with other technical and non-technical professionals. These can include engineers, developers, scientists, designers, and other creative and technical professionals. Additionally, Software Engineers can specialize in different areas of the user experience, depending on their interest.

Learn more about what software engineering is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Software Engineering?

Our society continues to rely more heavily on computer-driven processes. Software Engineers are the brain power behind these processes and create the programs and applications we use daily. Software Engineers use programming languages to develop software programs and applications. Programming skills are sought after across fields and sectors, and you can do many cool things with this skill set!

Low-level programming languages, such as assembly and machine language, can be used to create system software. System software is a general software that develops and runs other application software. A few examples of system software are operating systems, like Mac OS and Android, and video game systems, like the Nintendo system software, which allow video games to run.

You can also create application software using programming languages—software engineers design application software to carry out a specific function. For example, Spotify is an application software that allows you to listen to music or podcasts. Engineers use high-level programming languages like Java and Python to write application software.

In-Depth Review of the Training Cost

There are three main ways that people learn software engineering skills: bootcamps or certificate programs, college, and self-paced learning. Each training method's cost varies and depends on other factors, such as experience level and career interest.

College Degree

For many years, those interested in pursuing a career in software engineering chose four-year colleges or universities as it was the only option. The primary benefit of attending university is having more in-depth social experiences from being on campus. However, this is the most expensive option, and you can expect to pay at least $35,000 for a bachelor’s degree in computer science. College degrees also require a more significant time commitment, as programs can take about four years to complete.

Bootcamp and Certificate Programs

Bootcamps have skyrocketed in popularity as an option over the last decade. These programs offer rigorous curriculums that teach students the technical and soft skills needed to excel in the software engineering field. Most bootcamp or certificate programs cost between $10,000 and $20,000. You can also take subject-specific classes for as little as $795, though novice developers may need to enroll in multiple classes.

Self-Paced and On-Demand Classes

Self-paced or asynchronous classes are an option for those looking to learn software engineering. These classes are typically less expensive and offer students flexibility in balancing other personal or professional obligations. However, self-paced courses don’t come with the same perks as live instruction, which provide real-time support from instructors to help you and a structured curriculum to help you learn the information more effectively.

Free Introductory Software Engineering Course Online

Are you still trying to decide whether to dive into an immersive software engineering bootcamp? You should consider enrolling in one of Noble’s free introductory software engineering seminars, which cover various topics related to software engineering. For instance, the Intro to Front End Web Development will teach you the programming languages relevant to building the parts of the websites the user sees, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

You can also find free Software Engineering classes from other online learning providers. Udemy offers a handful of courses that will teach you fundamental programming languages, such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Coursera also offers several free classes related to software engineering, including an intro to Node JS and Express course. Several free tutorials on YouTube cover web development, programming languages, and web design.

Read about more free Software Engineering videos and online tutorials.

Conquer Software Engineering with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers an assortment of Software Engineering classes that will teach you the skills needed to become a Software Engineer. You can join Noble’s courses in-person in Manhattan or virtually from the comfort of your home or office. These courses feature small class sizes led by expert instructors with experience in the field. In addition, Noble classes feature a free retake option that will allow you to retake a course within a year for no extra fees.

If you want to be a more well-rounded web developer, consider enrolling in either the Software Engineering Certificate or the Full-Stack Web Development Certificate. Both courses will prepare you to build both the front end and back end of websites. By the end of the Full-Stack Web Development Certificate, students can use programming languages, such as HTML & CSS, JavaScript, and React, to develop and build web applications. If you have a few extra weeks, the Software Engineering Certificate is more comprehensive and will teach you Python, a popular programming language for web development, data analysis, and automation.

Noble’s Python Developer Certificate program is the perfect course for someone with a shorter-time frame looking to learn a highly used programming language. This certificate will take you from a beginner to an intermediate Python programmer in a few weeks. This course will prepare you for success as a Python Developer, Back End Developer, or Software Engineer.

If you’re interested in working with data in your career, Noble Desktop’s Data Science Certificate is a good option for you. This immersive training will equip you with skills ranging from Python programming to machine learning models.