The best coding classes in NYC

With 20 campuses around the world and an alumni network of 40,000, General Assembly is one of the best-known technology schools. Students looking for a career change might want to enroll in one of the full- or part-time courses on subjects like data analytics, user experience design and web development. Don’t despair if you have limited free time, either: General Assembly also stages one- and two-day workshops on everything from programming for non-programmers to Python and machine learning.

This Brooklyn-based design studio also offers coding classes, though they focus heavily on front-end design rather than back-end function. Practice designing a basic website during a six-hour introduction to HTML and CSS, or learn how to jazz up your digital portfolio in a private two-hour Squarespace tutorial.

If you’re looking to study up on one particular skill, Noble Desktop might be your best bet. This 27-year-old school teaches courses in everything from HTML email to responsive mobile design to Adobe Illustrator. Classes range from daylong intensives to twice-weekly courses, so you can definitely find something that fits your schedule. You don’t even need to bring a laptop: Every classroom at Noble Desktop is outfitted with both Macs and PCs for students to use.

As its name implies, Practical Programming focuses on programming languages that do the hard work behind the scenes: SQL, a language used for database management, and Python, an easy-to-learn language often used in both web and app development. Courses here are some of the more affordable options in NYC, too. Introductory classes start at just $99, while 10-session courses cost $1,199.

Ready to make a career change? You might want to consider the 13-week career accelerator at Fullstack Academy. Students learn front-end, back-end and database development through live lectures, programming challenges and hands-on workshops before working on both team and individual projects. A word to the wise: You need at least rudimentary programming experience to apply for this course. Fullstack Academy also runs the Grace Hopper Program, a software engineering intensive for women that defers any payment on tuition until graduates secure a job.

For free technical classes, you can’t beat the New York Public Library’s TechConnect program. Anyone can sign up for free one-off classes in basic HTML, Python and other languages, in addition to open lab courses where you can ask an instructor for help with personal projects. Those looking for deeper training might want to check out Project < Code >, a 10-week program where students learn HTML, CSS, web design and web structure before building out a capstone project. And like every other class at the New York Public Library, it’s completely free.

It will come as no surprise to hear that women are still drastically underrepresented in the tech industry. This 50,000-lady-strong nonprofit hopes to change that. Join the New York chapter of the global organization to take advantage of free technical classes, study sessions and networking events.