Best Web Development Certificate Programs

Generally, a certificate program in web development is designed as an "add-on" to gain practical skills or to further advance knowledge. Therefore, these programs are typically shorter in nature, and focus on practical knowledge and skills, such as HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and general website usability. These certificate programs will be a good fit for students who wish to quickly gain skills in web development in a short amount of time, and for a relatively low cost.

Alternatively, a degree in web development would likely require students to take general education and elective courses in addition to the program core curriculum per graduation requirements. Consequently, degree programs are much longer than certificate programs. Furthermore, most degree programs go further in-depth on the theories of web development, and students will learn a wide variety of relevant subjects, such as programming, database administration, and ecommerce strategies. For students who wish to gain a broader theoretical understanding of web development, seeking a degree in web development may be the right choice.

Getting a certificate in web development has many benefits for those who are current students, recent graduates, or full-time employees. If you are in college and getting a degree, you may want to consider getting a certificate in web development for your professional development. Having this certificate could help an individual stand out from other applicants when applying for a job.

For recent graduates and full-time employees wishing to change their career path or expand their employment opportunities, going back to school and getting a certificate in web development will assist them throughout the process of a career change. Most certificate programs in web development train students in designing and implementing an interactive website. By completing fundamental and advanced coursework, students will be able to establish their own website. As most industries today are in need of a website for commercial or informational purposes, having the knowledge necessary to develop an effective website creates opportunities to work in diverse industries.

Overall, earning a certificate in web development can save time and money when compared to getting a degree, as most certificate programs are designed to be completed within a year.

The most significant distinction between undergraduate and graduate certificate programs in web development is the admission requirements. Most graduate certificate programs in web development require prospective students to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Furthermore, some programs have GPA requirements, or require foundational knowledge in computer science. Both undergraduate and graduate certificate programs may require students to complete additional prerequisite courses if their experience or background is lacking. Another significant difference is the cost. Typically, graduate school tuition costs more than that of undergraduate, and financial aid may be limited, especially for non-degree seeking graduate students.

In terms of the program curriculum, there are no significant differences between undergraduate and graduate certificate programs. Students in both programs are likely getting trained in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and user-centered design to develop websites, but graduate certificate programs will likely go more in-depth.

Upon completion of a web development certificate program, graduates will be well-versed in a variety of web development-related languages, such as HTML, XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Graduates will also gain an understanding of web development concepts such as the fundamentals of the jQuery JavaScript library and AJAX. Graduates may even learn about software development practices such as Agile. These are some of the major subjects that a web developer should be familiar with. As most certificate programs in web development are designed for students to gain practical knowledge and skills through a number of courses, there are typically no further requirements to take certification or licensing exams.

The most common career opportunities for new graduates of web development certificate programs are entry-level web developer, designer, or database administrator positions within various industries. The following sections provide an overview of these careers, their average median wage, and their future employment prospects.

Web Developers

Web developers create and manage websites. Occasionally, they even create content for the websites they are developing, sometimes being referred to as web production specialists. Based on their client's requests, web developers code, design, manage, and test the functionality of a website. According to the BLS, web developers received a median annual salary of $77,200 in 2020, and employment of web developers is expected to increase by 13% from 2020 to 2030.

Digital Designers

While web developers focus on the creation of websites, digital designers are often responsible for the visual presentation, usability, and interface of websites. The BLS reports on web developers and digital designers together, and notes that the median annual salary ($77,200) and expected job growth (13% from 2020 to 2030) between the two roles are similar.

Database Administrators

Database administrators (DBAs) maintain and organize data within databases for ease-of-use and security. DBAs are often tasked with creating relationships between data, and writing queries to retrieve user-requested information. As databases often contain important and confidential information, DBAs will create security measurements and will frequently backup and restore information. The BLS reports that the median annual salary for DBAs was $98,860 in 2020, and also reports that the expected growth rate for the employment of DBAs is 8% from 2020 to 2030, which is much faster than the average across all occupations.

You may find additional relevant career information by researching degrees in web page and digital design and web or multimedia management.

Many programs offer fundamental and advanced courses to train students in web development. Depending on the program, there are often prerequisites such as English and math, or prior experience with HTML or Photoshop.

Some of the courses you might find across many different web development certificate programs include website design, advanced website design, and usability. The following section provides an overview of each course description.

Website Design

In website design courses, students learn fundamental coding skills in HTML and CSS to create a user-centered website. Most certificate programs offer this course or a similar one, however, many expect students to be at least somewhat familiar with these markup languages.

Advanced Website Design

Building upon the fundamental HTML and CSS skills from a website design course, many certificate programs offer this course to teach students more advanced techniques in website design. Some of the topics covered may include JavaScript and AJAX. These courses often take a deeper look at Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) as well.

Usability

Students in this course will learn theories of visual rhetoric and communication in order to design a user-centered website. Common coursework includes applying those theories by designing and redesigning a website.

Typically, a certificate program in web development takes 6 to 12 months to complete. The total number of credit hours required by these programs is often around 24, but some programs require more or less, such as 34 or 16 credit hours for completion. Programs with more total credit hours likely provide foundational knowledge and concepts for a beginner in computer literacy and web development. Depending on the program, there may also be prerequisite courses, which may increase the length of the certificate program for some students. Furthermore, course schedules are subject to change, so some students may take longer to complete a program than they had originally expected.

When it comes to choosing a program, prospective students should consider the cost, program format, and program length. The cost of a certificate program in web development varies greatly depending on multiple factors. Whether a student is an in-state resident or non-resident, or taking a program in-person or online, are two major factors that may help determine the cost of a program. Typically, resident and online tuition is the least expensive option. The cost per credit hour for a resident could be anywhere from $201 to $744.

Many certificate programs in web development offer an in-person, online, or a hybrid delivery of courses. If you are a resident student majoring in another discipline but interested in getting a certificate in web development, you can often take it either synchronously or asynchronously. Naturally, online courses are much more flexible, so if you have scheduling conflicts or work full-time, an online format may work the best for you.

Lastly, prospective students should consider the program length. If you already have basic knowledge in web development, especially in HTML and CSS, you may be able to complete a certificate program in 6 months. However, if you are unfamiliar with these subjects, then you may want to choose a program that provides the foundational courses that will teach you basic coding and web design concepts. In this case, it may take a year or longer. In general, evaluating your knowledge on this subject area, how soon you want the certificate, how much you can afford, and how flexible you are in terms of time and location will help you find the right program.

Generally, for current students seeking a degree and meeting their desired program's prerequisites, there are no additional admission requirements to apply for the program. Typical prerequisites include English, math, and basic computer proficiency.

For those who are not currently seeking a degree, but hoping to get a certificate, prospective students can typically apply for a program through a non-degree seeking option. By submitting a form, students can register and take certificate courses, so long as they meet the program's prerequisites. Some programs require prospective students to have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and a minimum of 2.5 cumulative GPA in order to get into a graduate certificate program.

Whether you are a current student or non-degree seeking student, you can talk with academic advisors to get more information about certificate programs, or to assist you throughout your admissions process.

The cost of a certificate program in web development varies based on many factors. Some of those factors may include the program's number of required credit hours, instructional format, and additional fees (e.g., textbooks, application fee, non-resident fee). However, the tuition for web development certificate programs can range anywhere from $6,800 to $18,000.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Resources for Web Development Certificate Programs

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid may be available for certificate-seeking students enrolled at accredited schools, and is where most students seeking financial aid should start. School accreditation means that the quality of education is ensured by accrediting agencies, which allows a school to receive funds from the federal government. You can check whether the school you are interested in is accredited or not by visiting the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Some states also provide extensive financial support for individuals attending college, career training, or apprenticeship. For example, in the state of Washington, the Washington Student Achievement Councils offers various financial aid programs to individuals from low-and middle-income families, indigenous groups, and currently licensed teachers and health professionals. In Minnesota, the Office of Higher Education provides a number of grants and scholarships to individuals from different cultural, religious, financial, and academic backgrounds.

Scholarships are also often available directly from the certificate program's institution. For example, UMass Lowell offers Veterans Scholarships to veterans pursuing a certificate or undergrad degree. The scholarship amount is $300.

There are also external scholarship opportunities that are privately funded. The Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship, for instance, grants a $1000 award to a winner of their web design contest. The participants in this scholarship opportunity must be students attending an accredited school in the United States. Overall, attending an accredited institution will likely diversify your financial support options.