5 Best Data Analytics Courses & Certification Online (2023!)

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Do you want to become a data analyst? Do you want to improve your skills in data analytics?

If so, then you need to check out the best data analytics courses and certification programs for 2023!

In this post, we will discuss 5 courses that are currently the best in the market. We will also provide an overview of each course, as well as information on pricing and time commitment. Finally, we will give our bottom line on each course.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

What Are The Best Data Analytics Courses and Certifications Programs Online?

Data analytics has become one of the most in-demand skills in recent years. As such, there is no shortage of courses and certifications available online.

However, with so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to know which ones are best. That’s why we’ve done the research for you!

Here are the 5 best data analytics courses and certification programs:

1. Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate on Coursera

Overview:

For my first choice, it will undeniably be the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate. It’s a great option for those looking to get started in the field of data analytics!

In fact, it has helped me break into data analytics and is the reason why I entered the analytics field!

This introductory data analytics certification program is designed for beginners. It covers the basics of data analysis, including working with R, Structured Query Language (SQL), Spreadsheets, Excel, and Tableau. The course is self-paced and can be completed in about 2-3 months.

The course also teaches you about soft communication skills when presenting data and dashboards.

Here are some topics you’ll learn from this certificate:

• Data collection and transformation using spreadsheets
• Querying using SQL
• Data transformation using R
• Data analysis and predictive analytics using R
• Data visualization using Tableau

Key Features:

• Taught by actual data analysts from Google
• Beginner-friendly
• Self-paced and online
• Uses the R programming language
• Covers essential data analyst tools (R, SQL, Tableau, Google Sheets, Excel, Big Query)
• Certification from Google
• Has a private career portal for certificate holders

Pricing:

Monthly Subscription: $39/month

On average, the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate costs USD $98. It can be paid with 3 methods: a monthly subscription at $39/month and a fixed cost of $98 for 3 months or $117 for 6 months.

However, since most learners complete it in 3 months, the certificate will cost $98 in total.

There’s also another way! You can get an annual Coursera Plus subscription for access to thousands of courses at one price as well. I’ve bought it and found it to be the best deal Coursera has to offer. It even includes all Google Certifications, like the Data Analytics Certificate.

Not to worry though, since financial aid from Coursera is also available! If you’re unable to afford the course, I’d recommend applying for it as well.

Time Commitment:

This course would require a minimum of 5-10 hours per week, over about 2-3 months.

This will vary depending on having previous data background and learning speeds. Although Google suggests a 6 month completion time, most finish the program earlier.

I completed the program much earlier, within 2 and a half months. That’s because I had some background in data analytics from my internship at that time.

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for a great introductory course on data analytics, then the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate is a great choice! It’s taught by actual data analysts from Google, it’s self-paced and online, and best of all – it’s affordable!

I would recommend this course to anyone looking to get started in data analysis fundamentals such as data mining as well. For those who intend to pursue data science, this data analytics course is a great way to start. Want to learn more? You should read my review of the course.

2. IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate on Coursera

Overview:

Next on our list of best data analysis courses is the IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate. This course is best suited for those with some prior experience in data analytics. However, beginners can also take the course at a slower pace.

The course covers more advanced topics such as statistics, machine learning, and deep learning. In addition, you’ll also learn how to use the popular Python programming language to analyze data!

Some topics you’ll learn from this certificate:

• Statistics for data analysis
• Machine learning algorithms
• Business Analytics
• Deep learning neural networks
• Python data analysis of raw data
• Data visualization with Python

Key Features:

• Includes graded assignments
• Exposure to a wide variety of data analytics tools
• Self-paced and online courses
• Carries the IBM brand credential
• Has many data analytics projects for hands-on practice

Pricing:

The IBM Data Analyst Certificate costs USD $39/per month when priced on a monthly subscription model.

There are also one-time payment options of $78 for 4 months and $117 for 6 months. This works out to be cheaper in the long run, compared to monthly subscriptions.

For this price, you get access to all of the course content and materials, as well as graded assignments and a certificate of completion.

Time Commitment:

It will take around 4-6 months to complete the IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate. This will vary depending on having previous data background, learning speeds, and hours committed per day.

Although IBM suggests an 11-month completion time, most finish the program earlier.

If you’re going to commit 10 hours per week (which is reasonable), then you’ll have no problem completing it within 6 months and save money!

Bottom Line:

The IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate is the best data analytics course for those who prefer to learn Python instead of R for data analytics, which is not offered with the Google certificate I mentioned earlier.

This course is also best for those aspiring data analysts with prior experience in data analytics. However, beginners can still take the course at a slower pace and complete it within the suggested time frame.

Overall, I would recommend this course to anyone looking to learn data analysis with Python! Read my full review of the course here.

3. Data Analyst with Python by DataCamp

Overview:

The next program is the best data analytics program for those who like a structured plan to help them get a data analyst job– the DataCamp Data Analyst with Python course.

The course is designed to take you from a beginner in data analytics, all the way to an intermediate level.

So if you’re starting from scratch with no prior experience in data science and analytics, this course is perfect for you!

Some topics covered in this course:

• Python programming for data analytics
• Data manipulation with pandas
• Data visualization with matplotlib and seaborn
• Statistical analysis in Python
• Supervised and unsupervised machine learning

Key Features:

• Structured course with a clear path to becoming a data analyst
• Taught by experienced instructors
• Hands-on projects for analyzing data
• Focuses on the popular Python programming language
• Has an embedded Python IDE programming interface

Pricing:

The DataCamp Data Analyst with Python course is one of the more affordable courses on my list.

Yearly Billing:

Basic Plan: FREE

Premium Plan: $25/month (best deal!)

Monthly Billing:

Basic Plan: FREE

Premium Plan: $39/month

I’d recommend trying out the first chapter of the career track before going into the full course, just to see what the course is like.

I had a look at the content and would say that it’s really worth the price, especially if you’re serious about learning multiple data analysis skills.

Time Commitment:

This course will take around 1-2 months to complete if you dedicate around ~10 hours per week.

However, the course is self-paced so you can complete it at your own pace and according to your schedule. If you’re going to get a monthly subscription, I would recommend going faster to complete the entire curriculum as soon as possible to save costs.

For those who have a longer-term plan for breaking into data analytics, you can go for the yearly plan, so you can access other courses once you’re done with the Data Analyst with Python career track.

Bottom Line:

The DataCamp Data Analyst with Python course is best for those who want a structured approach to learning data analysis, as it takes you from beginner to intermediate levels.

This course is also best for those who are interested in the Python programming language, as it focuses on teaching how to use Python for data analytics.

If you want to try out the course before committing, you can do so with the Basic Plan which is free. I would recommend this course to anyone starting from scratch in data analytics!

4. Data Analyst Certification by DataCamp

Overview:

For those who want to get a data analyst certification, DataCamp also offers a certification program – DataCamp’s Data Analyst certification!

The DataCamp Data Analyst Certification is designed to test your skills in data analytics and covers the same topics as the Data Analyst with Python course I mentioned earlier.

The main difference between the two is that the certification program is more focused on testing your knowledge, whereas the course is designed to teach you the skills.

This data analytics career track lets you prove your knowledge in the various competencies of data analysts and data scientists.

Some topics covered in the certification program:

• Importing and managing datasets in Python
• Cleaning and wrangling data with pandas
• Analyzing data with statistical methods
• Using data visualization tools like seaborn and matplotlib
• Communicating results with data storytelling
• Building machine learning models

Key Features:

• Tests your knowledge in data analytics through a series of quizzes and projects
• Covers the same topics as the Data Analyst with Python course
• Comes with a certificate upon completion
• Good career credential by DataCamp

Pricing:

Pricing options are similar to the Data Analyst with Python course, – they’re all included in any Premium DataCamp subscription!

Yearly Billing:

Basic Plan: FREE

Premium Plan: $25/month (best deal!)

Monthly Billing:

Basic Plan: FREE

Premium Plan: $39/month

Time Commitment:

The Data Analyst Certification by DataCamp should take 6 months to complete. However, this certification program is self-paced, so it can be completed according to the learners’ own pace.

I would recommend going for the yearly billing of the DataCamp Premium subscription to save costs.

Bottom Line:

DataCamp’s Data Analyst Certification is best for those who want to get a data analyst certification to boost their data analytics portfolio. This certification program tests your knowledge in data analytics through quizzes and projects.

If you’re looking for a way to showcase the new data analytics skills you’ve learned, you can give this certification program a shot! With the affordable pricing from the DataCamp annual subscription, cost should not be a problem too.

5. Data Analyst Nanodegree by Udacity

Overview:

The Udacity Data Analyst Nanodegree is no ordinary data analytics course. It features a premium curriculum co-designed by industry experts from Kaggle.

This data analytics training is best for those who want to learn data analytics from the best of the best and be job-ready upon completion.

The course is divided into four sections:

1. Introduction to Data Analysis
2. Practical Statistics
3. Data Wrangling
4. Data Visualization with Python

Each section comes with lessons, quizzes, and projects. The projects are designed to give you hands-on experience in data analytics so that you can be job-ready by the end of the nanodegree program.

I really like how the program puts a huge emphasis on real-world projects since these prove to be the most useful! In my experience as a data analyst, data analytics projects have helped me learn the fastest and most efficient way.

Key Features:

• Has a flexible learning schedule
• Real-world projects from industry experts
• Mentorship for technical questions available
• Offers fast project advice to help you learn faster
• Offers career advice and services
• Teaches Python programming language

Pricing:

Monthly access: $549 per month

4-month access: $2196 if you pay upfront for the nanodegree (best deal!)

Although this course may seem like the most costly, it is very much worth the price you’re paying for. With all the career and project advice you won’t get from other online data analytics courses, the Udacity Data Analyst Nanodegree stands out as a premium option for only serious learners.

Moreover, discounts come to this nanodegree pretty often so do look out for promotions before buying!

Time Commitment:

The Udacity Data Analyst Nanodegree should take about four months to complete with 10 hours of learning a week. However, this is a flexible learning schedule so it can be completed according to the learners’ own pace.

Bottom Line:

The Udacity Data Analyst Nanodegree is best for those who want to be job-ready by the end of the course. With real-world projects from industry experts and a flexible learning schedule, this nanodegree program offers a lot of value for its price.

This data analytics BootCamp is also good for those who want to work towards a career as a data scientist as well.

Final Thoughts

So, these are the best data analytics courses online! I hope you found this post helpful in finding the right course for you.

Thanks for reading!