The 16 best coding classes in NYC

Due to its position as one of the nation’s leading tech hubs, New York City is a fantastic place to take a coding class and learn new professional skills. The city is home to hundreds of established tech companies, startups, and financial institutions that all require coding skills for nearly every employee. The city also offers those in the tech sector a competitive salary, often at or exceeding $100,000 annually. New York has a diverse business landscape that makes coding skills applicable across a wide range of industries, from healthcare to media. When deciding which coding class to take, it’s essential to start by identifying your personal or professional reasons for doing so, as this will help you determine what skill or language you want to learn first. From there, you can factor in other details like price, schedule, and reviews from former students. Considering all of this information ensures you’re making a sound decision and a wise investment in your future.

There are several reasons why it’s beneficial to take a coding class, both professionally and personally.

Professional development

Learning to code is an excellent way to develop professional skills and open doors to new career paths. Suppose you’re looking to transition to a new career or even a new job in your current industry. In that case, adding a programming language to your repertoire is a fabulous way to make yourself stand out from other coworkers. Careers requiring coding skills also generally promise higher earning potential, making a coding class a wise financial investment. 

Coding is also a skill that lends itself to job flexibility. Many people who work in the tech industry do so from home, so if you’re looking for a job that allows you a higher degree of adaptability, learning to code can undoubtedly get you closer to this goal. If you’re interested in starting a small business, coding is also something you can learn to do so you can build websites and other online promotional materials without hiring extra staff. In general, adding coding to your resume allows you to stay professionally competitive in an increasingly digital and tech-centered landscape. 

Personal growth

Even if you’re unsure about whether you want to pursue a coding career professionally, there are plenty of reasons why a coding class can contribute to your personal growth as well. Many people use coding as a creative hobby. These skills help them build things like websites, games, and other applications. You could also use coding skills to complement another passion project. For instance, an artist could use coding skills to build a website or blog that displays their designs and encourages others to check out their work.  

Learning to code is also an excellent way to enhance your problem-solving skills, a valuable trait regardless of your profession. Coding can teach you ways to attack problems more logically and sharpens your ability to think through problems in a more systematic, step-by-step way. You’ll learn how to take a more structured approach to your work by writing algorithms and debugging your code. Becoming proficient at a challenging skill and persevering through difficulties is also a tremendous confidence booster; taking a coding class is an excellent way to feel more secure in your capabilities and continue pushing yourself toward your goals.

One of the most essential aspects of taking a coding class is reflecting on your overall goals. Coding is an extremely valuable and marketable skill, but it’s important to know what you want to do with it before investing in a class. Therefore, you’ll want to research some of the most popular coding languages and see what career paths they align with before you make your final selection.

Java

Java is an object-oriented programming language that is widely appreciated by programmers because of its portability over many platforms. It is helpful in analyzing data and also has the capability to speed up development cycles and reduce the time needed for troubleshooting and debugging. Java can be challenging for a beginner to learn because its syntax is more complex and requires string variables, but taking a class and regular practice can make the process more manageable. 

Java’s versatility means that it’s an applicable skill for a wide variety of professions. It’s an essential skill for those looking to go into software development or web development, which is mainly used in the back end process. Java is also highly useful in developing mobile apps since many pieces of its code can be used on both mobile and desktop environments. User Experience (UX) Designers also use Java to help create prototypes of their prospective apps and websites since it allows them to work more seamlessly across various platforms.

Python

Python is another object-oriented language that is commonly used for data analysis, machine learning, and task automation. It is a popular coding language for beginners in particular due to its simple syntax. While other coding languages rely on more complex strings of punctuation to complete their tasks, Python uses a lot of English keywords and commands, making it easier to read and learn. Python is also open-source, so many of its frameworks and libraries are available for free, further cementing it as an excellent choice for beginner programmers. 

Some careers that commonly use Python include those in the artificial intelligence and machine learning sectors due to its advanced automation capabilities. Web Developers also use Python to help process data from services and ensure security. Python is also particularly prevalent in the data science field. If you know you’d like to pursue this career path, you can check out some of the best data science classes in New York City to ensure you learn skills in addition to Python to help achieve your goal. 

JavaScript

JavaScript is a vital coding language because it allows developers to add interactive elements to web pages. It can be used on any browser and is free to use, so it’s highly accessible to anyone who wants to learn regardless of their financial resources. Learning JavaScript is a bit more challenging than other languages because you must first learn HTML and CSS. However, learning JavaScript is a natural next step if you’re already proficient in these two. 

JavaScript is essentially used in the development of websites, mobile applications, and browser-based games. Front End and Full Stack Web Developers use JavaScript to ensure the client side of their work is interactive and dynamic, making it a more user-friendly experience overall. These careers are applicable across industries since virtually every business, from private corporations to local nonprofits, requires a web presence to maintain credibility and attract new business. 

Other considerations

Before making your final decision about a coding class, you’ll want to reflect on a few more practical matters. Your budget is likely chief among these concerns. As much as learning a new skill is a significant investment, especially one that could potentially help you command a higher salary, it may not be possible for you to enroll in a lengthy course right away. There are plenty of coding classes that are more cost-effective, like the Intro to Python Programming class, which takes two days to complete and costs $895. There are also several comprehensive career certificate programs that last for weeks or months. For instance, Noble Desktop’s Full Stack Web Development Certificate costs $7,995 and lasts a little over four months. This program provides a thorough overview of the entire web development process rather than focusing on a single skill. 

You can also take some time to read reviews from former students to learn more about classes you’re curious about. Through reviews, you can often learn important details that you may not be able to find anywhere else. For example, a review would likely be able to tell you more about the quality and style of the instructor and whether students felt the course helped them achieve their career goals. You can also look up some credentials of potential instructors to see if their professional experience aligns with your goals. Arming yourself with this information will ensure you enroll in a class that sets you up for success.

Once you know what programming language (or languages, depending on your goals) you want to study, there are a few additional steps you’ll want to take before class begins. Properly preparing for a coding class is essential to ensuring your overall success. You may want to start by browsing some free introductory material online to familiarize yourself with basic terminology and other beginner-friendly concepts. For instance, if you choose to learn Python, you can watch a few brief tutorials online to get more comfortable with the language’s basic syntax and to help the initial lessons feel less overwhelming.

Since coding takes a lot of time and practice, you'll also want to gather additional materials to ensure you can study at home. When learning a programming language, you’ll probably need to install some additional software on your computer. For example, some classes will require you to use a programming environment or text editor like PyCharm, Sublime Text, or Visual Studio Code. You’ll also want to be sure that your current device has the capacity to run these new programs reliably. Some schools will list this information in the course descriptions, but you can always ask directly if you want to verify these details before officially enrolling. You can also join various online communities, like Stack Overflow or various Reddit boards, to ask questions and share your experiences with others.

Coding classes can be beneficial for a wide range of people, but there are a few who might find these programs particularly valuable:

Teenagers

Learning to code is a wonderful idea for teens and young adults as it arms them with an extremely valuable and marketable career skill. As technology continues to play a central role in virtually every industry around the world, coding skills will be in high demand over the coming years. Even if a teen ultimately decides on a different career path, coding helps enhance problem-solving abilities by breaking complex problems down into more manageable steps and efficiently finding solutions. For young folks in New York, there are several coding bootcamps and summer programs for high school students. Classes like those at NextGen Bootcamp provide high schoolers with essential coding education that can help them enhance college applications or prepare them to immediately enter the job market after graduation.

Adults looking to change careers or boost their resumes

Whether you’re already working in an industry that requires coding skills or you’re hoping to transition to a new job, attending a coding class is a great way to break through professional barriers and earn a higher salary. Learning to code can open the doors for several fascinating careers, including web development, data analysis, and software engineering. Many of these jobs are known for innovation and flexibility, adding to their appeal to those looking for an exciting career change. Attending a coding class can also enhance several soft skills that are equally necessary for professional development. For example, coding is often highly collaborative, so even a brief introduction to a programming language or two could help someone enhance their professional communication skills. The certificate programs at Noble Desktop provide individual career mentoring sessions where students can learn industry tips on improving their resumes and advice on nailing that first job interview.

Looking for a way to give your career a boost other than getting an MBA? Start with these skills-based classes in NYC.