Is Udacity Accredited?
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Are you considering undertaking a new course but are unsure who to use? We have all been there! It can be a challenge to find a great online course that will develop your knowledge and is accredited too!
Accredited courses provide us with the knowledge that we are undertaking a course recognized by educational institutions and future employers.
For many of us out there, an accredited course is a mark of high-quality and standard that will further our careers and personal development.
Finding the right course and education provider can be challenging, though.
Especially if you are funding the course yourself, the last thing you want to do is spend your hard-earned cash on a course that you can’t transfer or further you in life. The decision can be hard to make, and one we have found ourselves getting worked up about too!
Udacity is a private online education provider you might have heard about in hushed tones. Renowned for their bubbly and engaging student forums, they have gained popularity in recent years.
They could be the answer to your education-related sleepless nights! But is Udacity accredited? That is what we are here today to tell you!
Keep reading to find out whether or not they are accredited, and learn more about the fantastic benefits of Udacity to help you make your decision!
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Is Udacity Accredited?
Unfortunately, as Udacity is a private online education provider, it is not accredited. It is not able to confer any degrees.
Their Nanodegrees are also not recognized by educational institutions. Alongside this, their 200 free courses are also not accredited or come with a certificate. These free courses are usually part of the nano degrees.
While Udacity’s courses are not accredited and cannot be transferred to educational institutions for Bachelor’s degrees, they are not without their use! The tech industry, in particular, places value on these courses, primarily when recruiting for new employees.
Just because the course is not accredited does not mean it will not add value to your application or position within a company! Let’s take a closer look at Udacity now and all that they offer to help you make your decision today.
A brief review of Udacity
For those of you in the room wondering, let’s take a brief look at who Udacity is and what they can offer. Remember, just because they aren’t accredited does not mean they can’t provide you skills or new knowledge!
Udacity is an online learning platform that provides a range of courses, both free and paid for, to learners worldwide. Their courses focus on providing students with employable skills that will transfer to a range of workplaces.
Udacity has paired with corporate customers in recent years, providing access to employees in data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and online systems that digital companies use.
Udacity is three-fold, offering individuals, business owners, and workforces skills to provide everyone with digital skills in an ever-changing digital world.
There are over 200 courses that can be used to complete their Nanodegrees, compiled of a series of courses completed by the individual.
In terms of paid courses, you can choose a monthly payment plan for the duration of the course or a pay-as-you-go fee, which is usually a higher monthly fee. There is a great deal of flexibility, allowing you to find the option that suits you as an individual or business.
Does that sound like something that appeals to you? Keep reading to hear more about the fantastic benefits of Udacity!
Top 5 Benefits of Udacity
Udacity has some great benefits, despite not being accredited courses. Let’s look at the top 5 benefits now that Udacity offers.
Expert interviews within the Nanodegrees
When undertaking a Nanodegree with Udacity, one feature that stands out amongst students is its expert interviews.
The interviews are spread throughout the curriculum and provide interesting and insightful information that keeps the course interesting for users.
But just who are these experts? They are usually well-regarded professionals within their field. For example, the president and COO of Change.org partook in an interview, discussing creating a digital marketing strategy.
These interviews provide you with the opportunity to hear from experts and learn from their experiences. It can also help offer a practical element to the course, showing you how theory plays out in the real world.
These courses often start with an interview and then pepper them throughout the curriculum to boost motivation and keep students engaged. It breaks up any theoretical writing and adds interest to the course!
Active student discussion forums
The forums are actively and regularly used by students, allowing you to communicate with others. It helps with any issues you might have and will enable you to connect with others studying the same course.
Using the ‘Peer Chat’ function, you can collaborate and create a discussion with other students, providing a support system that mimics a real-life classroom.
The forums are a relatively new feature that Udacity has developed, rounding out their offering and creating a collaborative and supportive environment.
Whether you are returning to your studies or developing a skill for your career, you will make some friends along the way!
Strong mentor support
Teamed with the fantastic student collaboration opportunities, there is a tremendous mentor support system. Mentors are in place to guide you and support you through your studies.
Their support includes answering any queries you have and providing feedback on your projects. Mentors, particularly on the Nanodegrees, are experts in their field, offering valuable and constructive feedback to develop your skills further.
In recent years there have been some disputes over the pay of these mentors. However, we are yet to see a lapse in the quality of mentors and the feedback that they offer!
The feedback on student projects is a great feature, allowing you to have a hands-on learning experience and feedback you can take away and utilize in the workplace.
High-quality graded student projects
Udacity’s courses and Nanodegrees feature graded real-world projects that students will complete. The projects provide you with practical experience relating to the field you are studying.
These could include designing an ad campaign or creating a program.
What’s great about these projects is that they allow you to put your theoretical knowledge into practice. They provide you with a well-rounded learning experience, bringing the theory and practice together in one place.
As we mentioned earlier, you will get feedback from your project, allowing you to learn from any mistakes and continue your development.
Flexible payment options
As we mentioned earlier, there is a range of free and paid courses available on Udacity. There is no payment plan with free classes, and you can dip in and out of the course.
For paid courses, you have a pay monthly or a pay-as-you-go option. To pay monthly subscriptions, you spread the cost over a period of time, for example, four months, depending on how long the course takes to complete.
The courses generally say how long they take to complete, breaking it down to a weekly time, i.e., 4 hours a week of studying. What’s great about these plans is that you can switch to a pay-as-you-go plan should you require more time to complete the course.
Pay-as-you-go plans tend to cost more than the monthly plans but offer fantastic flexibility. Paying monthly, you can dip in and out of the course, set your own pace, and provide an opportunity to pause if necessary.
The flexibility is excellent for those fitting the courses around busy schedules at work or family time and caring responsibilities. You can take the reins and complete the work where needed.
It’s also useful for individuals paying for the courses themselves, saving yourself on cost where required.
Do Employers recognize Udacity Certificates?
It’s an important question to ask, do employers recognize Udacity certificates? We want to know that our hard work will pay off and be recognized by many of us. Employers can identify the Udacity certificates! A win for those of us looking to stand out in the job market.
Thanks to Udacity’s partnership with well-known digital companies such as Google and Facebook when Udacity was created, certain employers will recognize the certificate and favor completing the course.
In particular, their Nanodegrees are valued on the job market, with employers recognizing the hard work and commitment to complete these courses.
Once completed, you receive a Nanodegree Credential from your Nanodegree, which can be shown to employers as evidence of your hard work and completion of the course.
These courses completed show employers your dedication to personal development and enhancing your skills. These characteristics are becoming increasingly important in the digital workplace, where new systems are developed and updated regularly.
Completing these courses shows prospective and current employers your willingness to learn and adapt as situations change.
When selecting a course to complete, it is vital that you consider the relevance of the course to your current or prospective job. A relevant course stands out with employers, highlighting your commitment and proactive nature that employers want to see.
Relevant or transferable skills will set you apart from other applicants and provide you with an advantage when applying for jobs.
Alternatives to Udacity
For those of you who might be thinking, I’m not sure Udacity is the one for me; we have found and included some great alternatives that we believe you are sure to love!
Pluralsight Skills
Pluralsight Skills offer online training courses targeting developers and IT professionals. The site is praised for being straightforward and easy to use, with the courses being designed by students and professionals alike.
The combination allows for courses tailored to your needs, and their Microsoft backing provides a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.
Like Udacity, Pluralsight places less focus on certifications but rather enhancing your skills. There are free trials available, too, for those on the fence about making financial commitments.
LinkedIn Learning
One you have probably heard about is LinkedIn Learning! Formerly known as Lynda.com, LinkedIn Learning offers a wide range of courses to help anyone from writers to data analysts! They provide popular courses in software, creative, and business fields that employers often offer to their employees as additional training during quieter periods.
They offer fantastic support and easy administration, allowing you to get started quickly! Users found their courses shorter to complete than other providers, although some users did find courses too basic.
At this point, they turned to providers like Udacity for more in-depth training courses but praised LinkedIn Learning for great beginner-level courses.
Coursera
Coursera is another fantastic course provider, offering free courses for worldwide users to partake in.
The courses are collaborated with universities and organizations worldwide to deliver self-paced courses that users have found insightful and easy to navigate.
The courses range from humanities to programming, with many courses in computer science and programming. These courses are great for budding developers, analysts, or anyone working in the programming and data science sector.
There are subscription, or course payment plans you can undertake, although some users cited that what you are paying for is little more than PDF documents rather than activities to work through.
While this style of learning can appeal to all, others would prefer a more immersive learning experience.
Final Thoughts
And just like that, we have reached the end of today’s article! As you can see, Udacity is a fantastic online learning platform that employers and individuals have found helpful in allowing them to develop their digital skills and progress in the sector.
Although Udacity and its courses are not accredited, it does not deter from the fantastic online community and flexible payment options the site offers.
Remember when selecting your course to consider its relevance to your current or future job, allowing the employer to see a clear connection and relevance to your position.
Ultimately the choice is yours, but with many employers and individuals turning to Udacity to boost their employability skills, why not try it out yourself?
About the Author Jacob M.
Jacob has a background in finance and engineering. Outside of his day job, he is a lifelong learner, who enjoys reading, taking online courses, and writing about what he's learned.
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