As a result, this skill is highly in-demand in many markets and very financially rewarding. Even people who don’t go to college (who can show off their ability to design pages) can find six-figure jobs in various fields. That makes it necessary to consider training like live online web design bootcamps. These courses offer a flexible and efficient way to gain the expertise needed to succeed in this field, regardless of a person’s experience.
These bootcamps provide a structured, immersive learning experience for people who are fascinated by the world of web design. They’ll practice with real-time exercises to produce attractive and sprawling sites that convert buyers. These courses are a popular choice for aspiring web designers because they often cover subjects as diverse as front-end and back-end coding and full-stack development. In this article, readers will explore the costs of live online web design bootcamps, the factors that influence these costs, and the value they offer.
Average Cost of Web Design Bootcamps Online
Personal budgets vary heavily from person to person, with many feeling comfortable paying thousands of dollars for a bootcamp and others not so much. That makes it essential to understand the typical price range and average costs students are likely to pay when attending an in-depth online web design bootcamp. The general rule here is simple: higher prices indicate quality education. However, that doesn’t mean lower-cost bootcamps aren’t worthwhile. Let’s just take a look at the different elements of this subject to get a better understanding.
Overview of Typical Price Range
A quick look at online web design bootcamp prices will reveal a pretty wide disparity in costs. Some might cost only $695 and last a mere 12 hours (usually split across several days) and focus on more limited elements. Others might take a whopping 12 weeks to complete and cost $16,500 or more! These longer courses are often more suited to extensive career preparation, including learning full-stack development and other careers. Whatever a student's choice, it’s essential to feel comfortable with the price to avoid any unnecessarily heavy financial burden.
Comparison of Average Costs Between Different Bootcamps
Online web design schools may provide multiple bootcamps that vary in cost in surprising ways. For example, it’s common to see one course available for $1,000 and another closer to $20,000 from the same provider! That’s not unusual, though, because these bootcamps typically cover slightly different subjects and perform varying roles. As a result, it’s a good idea to take a look at a few of the most popular schools and their typical bootcamp costs. Here, readers can get a quick look at the average types of prices that they’re likely to run into their courses:
- Noble Desktop: Noble is one of the most trusted New York City training teams in the city and provides multiple web design programs. Its 162-hour class costs $5,000, though it has a similar course that covers the related UI design subject for about $4,000.
- BrainStation: Courses from this provider cover a multitude of subjects and often take 1-12 weeks to complete. Its web development program is about mid-level in time and cost for this provider, taking 30 hours and costing just around $3,200 to take.
- Ledet Training: Ledet typically provides short-term classes that take only a few days and provide an excellent introduction to various subjects. Their web design courses cost anywhere from $900 to $1,300, depending on the specific topic.
- headTrix, Inc.: This computer training and consulting company provides multiple classes on various subjects. For example, its 78-hour web design course costs about $4,200, though a similar program has a $4,500 price tag.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Web Design Bootcamps
Those fascinated by web design but who feel mind-boggled by the prices may wonder what drives up the costs of their classes so heavily. Many different factors influence how much an individual pays for their bootcamp. These are typically pretty obvious but may be confusing or even surprising to some. Thankfully, it’s relatively easy to understand these elements when they’re explained in depth. Here are some of the most common influencing factors on online web design bootcamps, including brief explanations that make them simpler to grasp.
Duration of the Program
Here’s the thing about online web design bootcamps: lengths will vary. Some will range from a few days to a couple of weeks or even several months, depending on their purpose and course of study. Logically, longer programs typically cost more due to the extended instruction time and more comprehensive curriculum that covers things like full-stack development and theory. Furthermore, full-time bootcamps that require a significant time commitment are generally more expensive than part-time or self-paced options because they provide more value.
Curriculum and Specializations Offered
Web design covers far more than simply laying out webpages and websites, though that’s the ultimate goal. In fact, specialized web design programs may offer training in specific areas such as UI/UX design, front-end development, or responsive design to cover all of a learner’s bases. Logically, these more specialized classes may have higher fees compared to general web design bootcamps. The depth and breadth of the curriculum also impact the cost, as some might only offer a brief sampling of topics while others provide a smorgasbord of concepts.
Reputation and Ranking of the Bootcamp
Online web design bootcamps with a strong reputation typically cost more for a few reasons. First of all, they usually come with high job placement rates and positive student reviews that showcase their higher quality. As a result, they feel comfortable charging more considerable tuition rates because of their perceived value and improved outcomes. Programs affiliated with prestigious institutions or industry leaders, including vast and lucrative web design firms, also tend to be more expensive because their brand is bigger and more impressive than others.
Location and Facilities
While online bootcamps don’t require physical facilities, the location of the company’s headquarters can still impact costs. For example, just think about schools located in New York City: they’re paying high mortgage or rent costs for their facilities. Their in-person classes also have computers and other tools that raise prices. As a result, web design bootcamps based in cities with higher operational expenses may pass some of these costs on to students, even for online programs. Thankfully, though, these classes are typically still usually more affordable.
Instructor Qualifications
Virtual web design bootcamps that employ experienced industry professionals as instructors often charge more. They typically go to great lengths to find high-quality professors and ensure that they give students the best experience possible. Since these instructors bring valuable real-world insights and mentorship to the program, they’re not only higher priced but also worth more for the learner. Just as importantly, bootcamps that include guest speakers or teachers from major design firms may also come with higher price tags to pay for these perks.
Benefits of Attending Web Design Bootcamps
People trying to learn web design outside of bootcamps such as in asynchronous classes with minimal teacher interaction, are likely to find themselves disappointed. Put simply, the bootcamp model has quickly become the industry standard, and people who attend one have a higher chance of finding a job. Just as importantly, their education will be better and more coherent, giving them an even better chance of success. Here are just a few reasons why the bootcamp learning method has overtaken the online web design learning industry in recent years.
Structured Learning Environment
Live online web design bootcamps provide a structured curriculum and a clear learning path. Put simply, web design is a very complex skill, one that includes multiple levels and project types. A bootcamp ensures that students cover all necessary topics systematically by working through various classes and building on previous lessons. The goal is to help learners progress in their education with as little pain as possible. This approach is particularly beneficial for students who thrive in organized environments and need guidance to successful in class.
Access to Experienced Instructors and Mentors
The best teachers aren’t just educators but friends and truly knowledgeable experts. Bootcamps that hire only the finest professors give their students direct access to such experienced professionals. These experts can provide guidance, answer questions, and offer industry insights that less skilled teachers might not possess. Even better, many bootcamps offer one-on-one mentorship with these teachers. That kind of learning help can be invaluable for students who need personalized support or who learn better in an intimate environment.
Networking Opportunities with Peers and Industry Professionals
Despite being online, many web design bootcamps facilitate networking events, guest lectures, and virtual meetups that help learners meet new people, build stronger connections, and expand their professional network. Classes that assist students in this way let them make valuable connections in the web design industry, and these bonds can be crucial for job placement and career growth. For instance, they might meet an industry leader as their teacher who is willing to provide them a job after graduation and make it easier for them to advance.
Career Services and Job Placement Assistance
Many bootcamps offer robust career services, including resume workshops, portfolio reviews, interview preparation, and job placement assistance. Those services are more than worth the extra price and make classes basically worth their weight in gold. Some even provide job guarantees, where students only pay if they secure a job after graduation. Courses like these are becoming rarer because schools might not get the money back from their students. Furthermore, these guarantees make a course cost more money, so it’s a double-edged sword.
Why Paying for a Web Design Bootcamp is Better Than Learning for Free
It’s understandable that people might not want to pay thousands of dollars to take a web design bootcamp to master this skill. After all, there are YouTube videos, free seminars, and even online articles that can make this process a lot cheaper. However, the old rule holds true, and you “get what you pay for” with free tools. Learners who try to cut corners by not paying for professional training get worse results. There are those rare people who do thrive learning by themselves, but bootcamps are almost always a better choice for serious students.
Accountability and Motivation
Here’s a hypothetical question: are free classes easier to complete or harder? Well, statistics show that people who take free classes struggle to finish their program. It’s understandable because there’s no real urgency or danger. By contrast, paying for a bootcamp often increases a student’s commitment to completing the program because they have paid good money for the class. Knowing that they’ve invested cash helps them stay motivated throughout the course. The financial investment is an incentive to stay focused and dedicated and succeed.
Hands-On Projects and Real-World Experience
Watching videos of other people building websites does provide a nice visual that may work well for many users. However, it’s nothing compared to the tangible benefits learners get from actually doing the work themselves. Thankfully, web design bootcamps provide practical, hands-on projects that simulate real-world tasks. For example, learners might make landing pages, link them together, and do other projects. This ensures that students gain applicable skills and is crucial for building a portfolio that can impress potential employers.
Immediate Feedback and Personalized Support
In a healthy learning environment, there’s nothing better than a skilled teacher to master difficult and complex steps. In web design bootcamps, expert-level instructors and mentors offer immediate feedback on assignments and projects in a way that they can’t with other courses. That kind of support helps students understand their mistakes and improve. For example, they can figure out why their HTML isn’t working more speedily and sync it to their CSS more effectively. This level of personalized assistance is rarely available in free online courses.
Community and Collaborative Learning
There’s something lonely about sitting in front of a computer, practicing web design without a teacher or class. However, taking an online web bootcamp creates a real sense of togetherness and community to provide opportunities for collaborative learning that feel more natural and enjoyable. People will not only talk with their teacher but make new friends and work together in fun and exciting ways. That kind of peer support can enhance the educational experience, make learning more relaxing and effective, and ensure a higher quality of work when done.
Financing Options for Web Design Bootcamps
It’s understandable why so many people simply don’t sign up for online web design bootcamps. They might have the time, the desire, and even the energy to learn this subject. They might find it fascinating and want to become a Designer more than anything else in life. However, these courses are often simply too expensive for people on tight budgets. Or are they? Bootcamp companies understand this fact and provide financing options for their students. These help cut into class costs while bringing in more learners. It’s a win-win for all involved in this process!
Scholarships and Grants
Scholarships and grants are highly prized in the educational world but are not always easy to find. When available, web design scholarships help offset bootcamp costs by providing funding to the school. Thankfully, most have some kind of scholarships and grants that make their courses a lot more affordable. They’re often available for high achievers and underrepresented groups in design and tech. When available, these financial aid options can significantly reduce the economic burden of attending a bootcamp without requiring a repayment plan.
Income Share Agreements (ISAs)
Income Share Agreements, or ISAs, are available from some providers but aren’t common in all training teams. When used, they take a percentage of a student’s salary after they find a web design job. This portion is typically reasonably small to avoid hitting a student’s earnings too heavily. They’re a great way of making education accessible without upfront costs and typically don’t have stringent application needs. Even more importantly, this model aligns the bootcamp’s success with the student’s success and compels the school to provide job placement help.
Payment Plans and Deferred Tuition
Flexible payment plans are a powerful tool for people looking to cut back on their initial class expenses. Typically, they’ll pay their tuition in installments such as eight payments over a year or in even smaller cycles. That’s great for someone who can afford these smaller payments, even with potential interest costs. Deferred tuition lets students wait until after graduation and can make bootcamps more accessible to students who cannot afford to pay the full tuition upfront. Paying for it after the class is over might be a tough choice for many people, though.
Loans and Financial Aid
While loans and financial aid can be costly (as students must pay back the principle costs and interest expenses), they’re a good choice for people who don’t qualify for other payment options. Thankfully, various loan options are available from private lenders who pair directly with bootcamp companies. These are useful for financing course tuition, particularly when schools also partner with lenders to offer favorable terms (like lower interest rates and better repayment cycles). Note that federal financial aid is typically not available for web design bootcamps, even online ones. As a result, private loans may be necessary to fill any financing gaps.
Available Web Design Bootcamps Online
With hundreds of online web design boot camps available from many notable companies, narrowing down the best choice for a user's needs can be tricky. Typically, it requires investigating each one's offerings and balancing their benefits and costs. Thankfully, several companies stand out for their quality and effectiveness. Focusing on these teams can help learners get the best experience possible. Here are three bootcamps that provide innovative and high-quality learning to help students become web designers more quickly and effectively.
Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop was founded in 1990 by a team of experts who wanted to bring high-quality education to the city. Since then, they’ve expanded their options to include a broad range of intensive studies. These include helping to pioneer the live online learning model, one that’s become the golden standard in recent years. With part- and full-time courses, dynamic bootcamps, and excellent professors, they have classes that make a difference in a student’s life. Noble is the kind of team anyone fascinated by web design should take very seriously.
Web Design Certificate
Web Design Certificate takes 162 hours to complete and covers multiple critical web design theories. Costing just $5,000, it’s a great deal for people who want a class that’s more advanced but reasonably priced. During their course, students will learn how to build webpages with HTML, craft gorgeous visuals with CSS, and add interactive elements with JavaScript. Then, they’ll practice with Figma, master Git, and much more. When they’re done, they’ll have an incredible portfolio of sterling work to show off to potential web design employers.
General Assembly
General Assembly is a training team that provides multiple bootcamps in various tech-savvy subjects, including digital marketing, user experience design, software engineering, data science, and more. Their classes are often a good balance between immersive and affordable and cover multiple subjects quickly and efficiently. Though they don’t have a large number of online web design bootcamps available, they have at least one option that can help learners master this skill and walk away confident with their new and exciting skills.
Front-End Web Development Course
Front-End Web Development Course is a 60-hour class designed to teach learners all about creating the front element elements of a website. These focus on the visible elements of a website, including its structure, style, and interactive elements. Meeting those needs are HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, respectively. For just $4,500, students will study these three coding languages, master how to use them effectively, and even learn marketing concepts. In this way, they’ll walk away with a portfolio of work that highlights their skills and techniques effectively.
Ledet Training
Ledet Training is a diverse training team available in multiple areas nationwide. These include Washington, Denver, Phoenix, Atlanta, Portland, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, and Houston. Their shorter and more budget-friendly courses might not fully prepare a learner for a career in web design but can help get them started on the right path to success. Often, they’re a helpful choice for people who want to learn specific subjects or programs. They’re also a beneficial learning choice for someone interested in a topic but maybe not ready to study it fully.
Open Source JQuery 101
Open Source jQuery 101 is a two-day course costing just $900 to complete. It focuses on teaching the foundational knowledge of HTML and CSS using open-source tools. These include live instruction projects that utilize in-depth discussions with professors and classmates. They also teach students how to produce interactive and attractive websites for their customers. Like other programs, it comes with a portfolio of solid work and a completion certificate. These help learners stand out from their peers and make it easier to find a job later after graduating.
Admission Requirements and Application Process
The online web design bootcamps mentioned here don’t have stringent admission requirements and typically only require students to sign up for a time they can commit to regularly after they pay for their course. More advanced programs might ask students to pass prerequisites such as completing specific courses or programs first. Thankfully, that’s not typical for beginner-level classes, so it shouldn’t be too hard for most people to qualify. It’s still best to study what each program demands to ensure that learners don’t lack the essential skills necessary for a class.
Skills Learned in Web Design Bootcamps
Web design is a fascinating and advanced subject that involves many different subjects and skills. Learning a few of these techniques is simple enough, but synthesizing them into one coherent whole is challenging and rewarding. Thankfully, the best web design bootcamps know how to connect the dots for learners and make it easier for them to master web design as an art. By understanding these important skills, learners can walk away ready to start designing. These are just some of the skills they’ll likely practice when studying at a web design bootcamp.
Core Web Design Principles and Tools
Mastering web design includes learning multiple core principles and practicing with various tools that expand a learner’s education and make it easier for them to produce appealing work. As a result, web design bootcamps start with fundamental principles that make websites and webpages attractive. These include responsive design, typography, and color theory. They’ll also practice with tools like Adobe XD, Figma, and Sketch, as these critical programs help designers produce appealing and jaw-dropping sites that work well for their customers.
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
No Web Designer can start their career without learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These languages are essential for creating interactive and responsive websites. HTML lays out the site's basic structure, including paragraphs and headings. CSS adds style and flair to personalize sites. Finally, JavaScript provides interactive elements. Understanding how to synchronize these technologies is crucial for web designers to bring their designs to life, and a bootcamp makes it easier by teaching all of them to budding developers one step at a time.
UX/UI Design and Visual Design
The worlds of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) are interconnected not only with each other but with web design in general. Thankfully, most bootcamps will cover UX/UI design principles and visual design techniques to show users how to create websites that consumers will enjoy using. Furthermore, these courses focus on teaching students how to create user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing interfaces that don’t confuse users. By streamlining a browser’s experience, UX and UI concepts make learners better web designers.
Collaboration and Teamwork
Unlike solo learning experiences, web design bootcamps focus on building collaboration and teamwork. Sure, there are some solo designers who do every step when creating sites, but they’re increasingly rare. Most major sites require multiple people working together on various aspects. As a result, design bootcamps often include group projects that mirror real-world design concepts, including paired programming. That kind of support students on how to work collaboratively in a team setting and create work that makes the most sense for a client.
Jobs Available After Web Design Bootcamps
People completing a web design bootcamp may think they can only find one job: web designing. That’s not necessarily the case for many people! In fact, many of the lessons learned in this field can easily be applied to others. Sure, it might require taking some extra courses or mastering new software programs. But the lessons learned in an online web design bootcamp can bring people to some pretty surprising places and transform their lives for the better. Just a few jobs that might be available after graduating and sharpening design skills include the following:
- Web Designer: Often, people start their career as a general Web Designer working on visual and technical designs for pages and sites. They often work from home and have freelance jobs. They make a US median of $53,000 and $77,000 in Chicago.
- Drafter: As a Drafter, people who’ve mastered web design skills may use CAD tools and other equipment to make unique designs. Though tangentially related, this job is similar to web design. Drafters earn $69,000 on average and up to $120,000 in Alexandria, VA.
- Digital Designer: The Digital Designer field tasks people to create digital designs, including graphics, animations, and more, for various projects. These may include websites. These experts make about $101,000 nationally and $165,000 in Fairfax, VA.
- Design Director: Working as a Design Director includes curating the look and feel of a product, including websites and other designs. This career makes $136,000 nationally and a massive $192,000 in Dallas, Texas, making it a great job.
Why Learning Web Design is Rewarding
Mastering web design is about more than simply finding a great job. Sure, it’s a wonderful market and a rewarding one, creatively and financially. However, mastering this exciting skill set gives learners the opportunity to earn some truly fascinating and interesting rewards. These can not only boost their earning potential but make them better people. Does that seem like a bit of a stretch? How exactly does learning how to put together a site make someone happier? Well, read on to learn more about the many reasons why mastering web design is rewarding.
High Demand for Design Skills in the Job Market
People who are interested in a web design job are in luck because there is a consistent demand for skilled web designers. In fact, it’s projected to only grow in the future due to a heavy need for new websites. Just as importantly, web design is helpful in various industries such as healthcare, marketing, education, and entertainment. That diverse range of exciting potential markets allows learners to jump into almost any field they like. Even better, it gives them real job security and growth opportunities that can take them to better places in their life professionally.
Opportunities for Creativity and Innovation
Web design allows individuals to express creativity and innovation in many exciting ways. The front-end element lets designers create eye-catching and memorable websites with solid branding that will convert users. However, they can also use JavaScript and other tools to develop new websites, apps, and digital experiences that users will love. In fact, whether they’re designing for the web or creating mobile interfaces, web design offers endless possibilities for creative expression in a medium that is constantly expanding and seeing new, bold changes.
Potential for Remote Work and Flexible Hours
Many web design jobs offer the flexibility of remote work and adjustable hours, which is appealing to those seeking work-life balance. For example, single parents raising a baby at home without much support can work entirely from their bedroom designing great websites without having to leave their child alone. Thankfully, the tech industry is known for its remote-friendly work culture and willingness to hire people worldwide. As a result, web design is an attractive option for those who prefer flexibility or who want to work from home.
Personal Satisfaction and Continuous Learning
What’s better than mastering a new skill? Not much, and learning is inherent to people as a species. As a result, studying web design can be personally fulfilling, providing a sense of accomplishment that makes a person feel more confident and excited about life. Even if they don’t become a Designer, knowing how to do it can be fun if they want to market themselves or build sites for fun. For example, someone getting married could use their web design skills to create a personal website and highlight their ceremony for their friends and family members.
How Easy is It to Learn Web Design?
Web design’s difficulty is interesting because it’s easier to master than many coding skills, but by no means simple. In fact, learning web design can be challenging at first for many because it requires learning various coding concepts and using them effectively. That said, many find it manageable with dedication and the right resources. For example, the best bootcamps are perfect for taking beginners and turning them into job-ready designers in a relatively short period. A single bootcamp might not be enough, but it could be for some people: it varies.
So, while beginners may struggle with mastering design tools, understanding responsive design, and balancing technical and creative skills, overcoming these challenges isn’t impossible. It just requires practice, persistence, and knowing when to get help. The best bootcamps provide support through mentors and peer networks, even online classes. In fact, digital courses often have the largest support groups and make it easier to find answers to tough questions. That’s a huge deal for anybody who’s fascinated with learning web design.
How Long Will It Take to Learn Web Design?
Mastering web design isn’t something that happens overnight. Completing an in-depth bootcamp will help speed up this process, but it will not be a sure thing. Students must sit down and practice creating webpages and websites to cement their abilities fully. Taking a class will immerse them in the basics necessary for getting started. In a way, it’s like a wind for a sailboat. Sure, the wind gets the boat started, but it takes an engaged and skilled captain to direct its progress. Learners can’t assume that a single class makes them ready to work professionally.
Thankfully, there are multiple resources available online for students to sharpen their skills. For instance, there are many online web design exercises that challenge a learner’s abilities and focus on reinforcing specific techniques. Just as importantly, there are videos available from most bootcamps that help make learning easier. These asynchronous resources are typically available right after a program is over, meaning students can use them whenever they want.