New to the world of user experience (UX)? Or perhaps you’re an experienced designer looking to hone your craft? Fortunately, there are endless UX design courses to help you become a better, more skillful designer.
This guide covers seventeen of the best UX courses, including three college graduate degrees.
Do You Need a UI/UX Certification?
Working in UX doesn’t require a certification. Often, you can make your own way based on your skills alone. Employers will want to see your portfolio, but as long as you can show your talent, you can find work.
That said, a UI/UX certification can be helpful, especially when you’re starting out. A simple UX design course can teach you all the basics that you need to succeed.
Many product designers have some sort of certification. Some even have formal education in UX/UI design. That said, you have to find a path that works for you.
Is It Better To Do a UX Design Master’s Program or an Online Course?
In UX, there are tons of options. You can take an online course, do an in-person boot camp or workshop, or study at college. Either way, you’ll learn the key details about crafting user experiences.
Online courses are a preferable option for many. They’re quick, budget-friendly, and give you the convenience of learning at your own pace. The counterpoint of this is that you will need some self-discipline to focus and complete the course.
Meanwhile, a UX design master’s program gives you skills and a formal qualification. You can study a wide range of subjects as an undergraduate, such as graphic design, computing, or even marketing. Then, you can study something more specific at the higher level.
Often, a formal degree will help you network with experts in the industry. Plus, you might acquire more hands-on projects for your portfolio.
The option you choose is, ultimately, up to you.
14 Best Accredited UX Design Courses
Plenty of online sites offer UX courses. Many of these are accredited UX design courses, so the certification is still useful on your resume.
1. Google UX Design Certificate
Duration: 6 months (10 hours per week)
Cost: $39 per month or $199 for the whole course
The Google UX Design Certificate is one of the most popular options. It’s a relatively low-cost course that covers everything from ideation to creating a high-fidelity prototype. You’ll learn about user research and more along the way.
As you complete the course, you’ll learn everything you need to know about user-centered design. Plus, you’ll get some hands-on projects to add to your portfolio. Google experts helped to create the course, so you know that you’ll learn the right steps.
2. CareerFoundry
Duration: 6 months
Cost: $7,120 – $7,500
CareerFoundry’s UX Design Program is a part-time program that takes place over six months. What’s more, CareerFoundry offers a job guarantee at the end of the course. While it’s a more expensive option, the course is flexible. You can complete it around your other commitments.
Throughout the course, you’ll work on real projects that you can add to your professional portfolio. You’ll also learn user research, usability testing, prototyping, and more.
3. Coursera
Duration: 3 weeks at 2 hours per week
Cost: $39 per month
Coursera’s Introduction to User Experience Design is part of the Georgia Institute of Technology. For the cost of a Coursera membership ($39), you can access the freely available course. It features lecture videos from Dr. Rosa I Arriaga, quizzes, and readings.
With a clear syllabus and flexible learning, you can learn everything you need to know about UX. In the end, you get a certificate to add to your LinkedIn profile.
4. UX Academy
Duration: 6-8 weeks
Cost: Varies
UX Academy offers two programs: Beginner UX Design and Advanced UX. Choose a level to suit you–both use first-class tutors.
Many graduates praise this class for helping with this confidence in their UX skills. It’s a versatile program that will help you with a variety of projects.
5. Interaction Design Foundation
Duration: Self-paced
Cost: $99 per year
The Interaction Design Foundation (IDF) offers the User Experience: The Beginner’s Guide course. This course covers visual design, usability heuristics, and more.
There are also plenty of other courses from the IDF. You can choose one that suits you and your level, ensuring you learn a lot from the course. Plus, the IDF has plenty of networking opportunities.
6. LinkedIn Learning
Duration: 9 hours
Cost: $29.99 monthly
LinkedIn Premium offers over 4000 courses, including Advance Your Skills in UX Design. This 9-hour course breaks UX down into easy-to-understand chapters. It’s ideal for those with some knowledge of UX who are looking to sharpen their skills.
By the way, the first month is free.
7. DesignLab
Duration: 15-30 weeks
Cost: $12,950
DesignLab’s UX Design Academy is an intensive course that gives you all the beginner skills you need. You’ll cover a wide range of topics, including working on real projects and receiving career coaching.
This online program also pairs you with a personal mentor. As a result, you get close guidance throughout.
8. Udemy
Duration: Varies
Cost: $18.99
The Udemy User Experience Design Fundamentals Course is ideal for anyone seeking the basics. UX expert Joe Natoli teaches the lessons, which consist of on-demand videos. Then, there are assignments to help you apply your new knowledge.
Udemy also has a variety of other UX courses to help you hone your skills.
9. SuperHi
Duration: 6 hours
Cost: $149
SuperHi’s Introduction to User Experience Design teaches you how to create practical experiences for users. This introductory course is speedy, but it covers all the basics, including wireframing and user testing.
It’s ideal for those seeking an accessible, affordable insight into the entire design process. It provides information on both websites and mobile apps, too.
10. General Assembly
Duration: 10-12 weeks
Cost: $16,000
If you want an in-depth overview of UX, General Assembly’s UX Design Program is a must. This course is beginner-friendly and explains everything you need to know about UX. Unlike many other online programs, this one requires full-time attendance. There are fixed class times Monday-Friday for 12 weeks.
Overall, this is the better course option for UX designers who need a more hands-on approach. Alongside being full-time, this course helps you gain practical experience with real-world projects.
11. Springboard
Duration: 6 months
Cost: from $11,900
The Springboard UX Design Bootcamp is a self-paced, four-part program. It begins with the basics and progresses to more advanced skills, helping you to understand slowly. By the end of the course, you’ll have a full portfolio.
You’ll learn a range of design skills that will orient you toward your future career. In fact, the main benefit of Springboard is the focus on applied skills for your UX career.
12. Skillshare
Duration: Varies
Cost: $19 per month or $99 per year
Skillshare is a great platform for learning new skills. It’s free for a Basic, membership, then $1 monthly for Premium for two months. After that, it’s $19 per month.
The Intro to UX: Fundamentals of Usability course is one of the best UX courses on the site. It’s a rapid, 90-minute course that covers all the basics. It will also provide guidance for a hands-on project after you finish.
13. UX Design Institute
Duration: 6 months
Cost: $2,463
The UX Design Institute offers a full professional diploma in UX. This course includes a rigorous, in-depth curriculum and hands-on project experience.
This course has international recognition, which means it’s highly likely to land you a job. Plus, the practical projects throughout mean you’ll have something to add to your portfolio. You’ll have a mentor throughout, which means you’ll get amazing guidance during the course.
14. NN Group
Duration: 6-12 months
Cost: $16,800
The Nielsen-Norman Group is renowned as a key figure in the UX industry. It offers both a basic UX certification and a master’s program. This course provides a combination of online and in-person content to teach you all you need to know.
At the end of the course, you’ll receive a certification to use on your resume and LinkedIn. Since the NN Group is so famous, your potential employers will recognize this accreditation.
3 Best UX Design Graduate Programs
If formal education is more your style, then UX design graduate programs are probably a better choice. Fortunately, there are tons of options. Here are three of the best in the USA.
1. Georgia Tech: Master of Human-Computer Interaction
Duration: 2 years
Tuition: $70,816 (out-of-state) or $32,128 (in-state)
Georgia Tech’s Masters in Human-Computer Interaction (MS-HCI) is one of the older programs in the US. As a result, it’s more prestigious than some other courses.
The schools for Industrial Design, Interactive Computing, Literature, Media, Communication, and Psychology are all part of the program. As a result, you’ll gain a broad range of skills.
To get in, you need a 3.0 GPA, a resume, and possibly a portfolio.
2. University of Washington: Master of Human-Computer Interaction and Design
Duration: 1 year
Tuition: $55,430
The University of Washington teaches this master’s degree at its Seattle campus. The multidisciplinary program aims to cultivate “a new generation of designers, engineers, and researchers.”
95% of graduates get a job within six months, so this course is definitely worth it. You’ll need a 3.2 GPA and a resume to apply, plus three recommendation letters.
3. UC Berkeley: Master of Design
Duration: 1.5 years
Tuition: $73,130
With a global reputation, Berkeley’s Master of Design (MDes) is a great course. This course teaches technical rigor, design theory, and social practice. Primarily, the target audience is mid-career professionals, so you’ll need a portfolio to apply.
During this course, you’ll have to push the boundaries and develop new approaches to current issues in UX. It’s a great way to sharpen your skills and show off what you can do.
The admission requirements include a 3.0 GPA and 3 recommendation letters.
Is a Free UX Design Course Worth It?
While all courses in this guide cost money, you can also take a free UI/UX design course. But is a free UX design course worth it?
Really, it depends on what you’re looking for. A free course can teach you all the basics. There are plenty of websites, podcasts, and videos online to teach you about current updates in the industry.
In theory, you don’t need a formal education at all. However, for some people, having a solid educational foundation is useful.
How Long Does the Google UX Design Course Take?
Some UX designers wonder how long the Google UX Design Course takes. It usually takes six months to complete, which is typical for a UX/UI design course.
This is about ten hours per week, so you can fit it around your other schedule. If you’re worried about completing a UX course while working, look for a part-time one like this.
Learn UX From Proven Products With Page Flows
If you want to learn more about user experience, UX design courses are a great place to start. That said, you can also learn from proven products.
Page Flows is a helpful resource for finding interaction design ideas. Get started today to browse our library of user flow recordings and stay up-to-date with current design trends.
