If you want to learn web development, there are three basic approaches: online through self-study, taking classes at a training school, or getting a degree. In this guide, you’ll get a closer look at all three courses of study, including their pros and cons.
Self-Study Online
Many new learners choose to use free online resources to create their own self-study plans. This is a great choice for those who don’t have the time or money for a university degree. It’s also a good option for anyone who wants to try their hand at coding before committing to a deeper course of study.
Pros of Learning Web Development Online
Variety
If you choose to learn online through self-study, you’ll have a wide range of resources available to you. You can find countless websites, vloggers, bloggers, course creators, etc., offering various ways to learn web development.
Convenience
One of the biggest benefits of learning online is how convenient it is. You don’t have to worry about commuting to a school because all the information is readily available to you 24/7.
Cost
Self-study is also a popular option because it can be done cheaply. You don’t have to empty out your bank account just to learn web development; you can use various free resources available online instead.
Pacing
Another benefit to learning web development online through self-study is the ability to go at your own pace. If you were to learn by taking a class at a training school or university, you’d be required to stick to the schedule provided to you; with self-study, you create your own schedule.
Cons of Learning Web Development Online
No Set Curriculum
One of the most significant issues facing learners who self-study online is no set curriculum. Classes at universities and training schools are led by experienced professionals who determine what information needs to be covered. With this option, you’re on your own; it’s up to you to piece together your own educational plan from the many resources that are available online.
Lack of Support
One of the worst things about learning through self-study is that there’s no designated person you can ask for help. If you take a class at a training school or university, you can talk to the instructor any time you get stuck or don’t understand something. With self-study, you just have to sort through search engine results to try and find the answer yourself.
Isolation
When you self-study through online resources, you also have to contend with the fact that you’re learning in isolation—there’s no one else around you working on the same material. This is an issue that’s unique to this learning method. If you take a class, either through a training school or university, you’ll have classmates who are learning the material alongside you. This gives you a chance to bounce ideas off one another, find peer support, and build your network of prospective Web Developers; that’s something you’ll definitely miss out on by studying alone.
Overwhelm
When you put all of these factors together—isolation, lack of support, having to build your own curriculum—overwhelm can develop. It’s hard enough to learn a new skill under ideal conditions, but when your education is entirely in your own hands with no help or support, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options; this often causes students to give up in frustration.
Where You Can Learn Web Development Online
There are countless resources available online to help you learn web development. Here are just a few:
- freeCodeCamp
- Code Academy
- Mozilla Developer Network
- The Odin Project
- The Net Ninja
- Traversy Media
Classes at a Training School
Classes at a training school are an excellent option if you want a comprehensive curriculum, accountability, networking opportunities, and guidance from an instructor, but you don’t have the time or money required to pursue a university degree. This is the ideal choice for someone who wants to start a career in web development because they’ll be able to quickly acquire the necessary skills.
Pros of Learning Web Development at a Training School
Qualified Instructor
When you take a class from a web development training school, you’ll be learning from vetted professionals with years of experience in the industry. That’s certainly not the case when you self-study online; you may never know the qualifications of the person on the YouTube video you’re watching. It’s possible they just learned web development last year and decided to make a bit of money by creating content.
Feedback and Assistance
Having a qualified instructor is invaluable. Not only does it provide you with assurance that you’re getting a quality education, but you also get the benefit of receiving feedback and assistance. Part of an instructor’s job is to assess your work and help you understand the material. What do you think would happen if you tried to contact that guy on YouTube whose video you just watched? You probably won’t find too much help there.
Set Curriculum
One of the biggest benefits of learning web development through a training school is that the curriculum has already been created for you. And since the course has been developed by an experienced web development instructor, you know it will be comprehensive and accurate.
Financing
Another perk of attending classes at a training school is there’s often financing available. Schools understand that students may not have immediate access to the required tuition, so they make it easy for learners to get the education they need. Financing options could include loans, a payment plan, scholarships, income-sharing agreements, or deferred payments.
Mentorship
Many training schools offer students the chance to work with a mentor while learning web development. This type of program pairs them with an experienced Web Developer who can help them work through the material, offer feedback, and answer any questions students might have about working in the web development industry.
Networking Opportunities
Learning web development through a training school also allows you to meet others on the same path. Getting to know other prospective Web Developers can help you both during and after your course. During the course, you can help one another better understand the course material. Once the class has finished, your new network of Web Developers may be able to give you leads on potential job openings.
Job Placement
You might also be able to get job placement help from the training school itself. Some schools provide assistance to students, helping them secure a Web Developer position once they’ve completed their training course.
Cons of Learning Web Development at a Training School
Cost
For some students, the cost of attending a training school may be prohibitive. Depending on the school, a comprehensive web development certificate can run anywhere from a couple of thousand dollars up to $20,000. Of course, schools often provide financing options, but some students may be reluctant to spend a lot of money to learn web development.
Schedule
Another potential downside of attending a training school is there won’t be much flexibility in your class schedule; classes will meet at a designated time on set days. While some students might prefer the routine of regular class times, others learn best when they can set their own schedule.
Lack of Accreditation
Unlike universities, web development training schools don’t have to undergo any accreditation process to offer classes. This means there’s no outside governing body monitoring the schools to make sure they offer a high-quality curriculum. Because of this, the best way to check a school’s reputation is to check reviews left by former students. Pay particular attention to whether or not they’ve been able to find employment post-graduation—this is the clearest indication they received a quality education.
Training Schools That Teach Web Development
The best way to find a web development training school is through Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool; just put in your location, and you’ll be presented with multiple options to choose from. Some of the best include:
- Noble Desktop
- Thinkful
- Devmountain
- Ironhack
- Eleven Fifty Academy
- Coding Temple
University Degree
Learning web development by earning a university degree is the best option for those who want a broad-based education in a traditional environment. The degree that most aspiring Web Developers pursue is a bachelor’s in computer science. Just make sure you have the time and money to invest in a university degree; a bachelor’s will take at least four years to complete with tuition at an in-state institution costing more than $10,000 per year on average.
Pros of Learning Web Development at University
In-Depth Education
If you’re looking for a broad-based education that covers more than just web development, then a university degree is an excellent choice. As part of your university education, you’ll have the opportunity to take classes in a wide range of fields, including composition, speech, history, biology, chemistry, mathematics, foreign languages, psychology, and multicultural studies.
Networking
Attending university is also a great way to meet new people from various backgrounds. Making new connections and growing your network is an essential part of maturing as an adult and will serve you well later in life. This is especially true when it comes to forming relationships with people within your major; you can connect with others who have similar career goals and provide support to one another as you learn and start your careers.
Knowledgeable Professors
Another perk of attending university is that you have access to accomplished professors who are experts in their fields. When you self-study online, you typically don’t know the credentials of the person who put the materials together. And while instructors at training schools are experienced web development professionals, they may not have reached the same level of education and expertise as a tenured university professor.
The University Experience
There’s no experience quite like attending university; you not only get an education, you also have the opportunity to spread your wings and try new things. And the social environment at university is also unique—you meet a wide range of people, attend football games, join new clubs, go to fraternity parties, etc. You won’t be able to replicate that type of experience by learning online or attending training school.
Cons of Learning Web Development at University
Time Consuming
To complete a university education, you’ll need to be willing to set aside between two to six years of your life, depending on which degree you pursue. That’s quite the time commitment, especially when considering that a web development training school can get you career-ready in just a few months.
Expensive
Perhaps the biggest downside to university education is its expense. The average tuition at an in-state school is around $10,000 per year. When you add in other costs like university housing, meal plans, and parking, then multiply it by the time required for a bachelor’s degree, you’re looking at $60,000 to $100,000 for a four-year degree. Even if you get a decent job out of college, this type of debt isn’t easy to pay off; it often remains a burden to graduate for decades, hindering their ability to finance a home, have children, and save for retirement.
Irrelevant Classes
Another issue with learning web development by obtaining a degree is that you’re required to take general education courses unrelated to your chosen field; to complete a bachelor’s degree, most students must take two years’ worth of gen ed classes. While this may help expand your worldview and provide you with a more comprehensive education, these classes do little to improve your web development skills.
Distractions
Attending university may offer you an in-depth education, but it comes with a wide range of distractions. When students begin their university studies, many of them are away from home for the first time. With their newfound freedom comes the temptation to bypass classes in favor of more interesting activities, like socializing and partying. These distractions may even cause students to eventually drop out; according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 32% of all students who enroll in college don’t end up completing their degrees.
Universities That Teach Web Development
There are universities all over the country that offer degrees in computer science. According to the U.S. News and World Report, the best schools for this specialty are:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Stanford University
- University of California—Berkeley
- University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign
The Fastest Way to Learn Web Development
The fastest and most efficient way to learn web development is to complete a bootcamp. Bootcamps offer intensive training on an abbreviated schedule which means you’ll be ready to start your new career in just a few short months. And with their focus on skills acquisition and career readiness, bootcamps are often viewed as a viable alternative to a university education.
Depending upon where you’re located, you may be able to find a web development bootcamp in your area. Options offered locally may be lacking, however, so you might be better off enrolling in an online web development bootcamp. With online training, you get the same hands-on experience and immediate feedback as face-to-face classes with the added convenience of learning from home. Online bootcamps also offer more flexible scheduling options compared to in-person instruction, which will help you fit training around your full-time job.
If you want to start learning web development basics but you can’t make time for a comprehensive bootcamp, you might consider enrolling in an individual class or two. There is a wide range of web development classes available online and in-person. By taking beginning web development classes, you can start learning fundamental concepts and programming languages while maintaining your current career.