Why This Matters
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17% OF WEB DEVELOPMENT POSITIONS ONLY REQUIRE A CERTIFICATE
While an associate or bachelor’s degree is often needed to work as a web developer, 17% of positions only require a postsecondary certificate.
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34,700 MORE WEB DESIGNERS AND DEVELOPERS NEEDED BY 2032
The number of jobs for this profession is expected to grow 16% over the next decade, which is much faster than the projected growth rate for all occupations combined.
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POTENTIAL TO EARN OVER $160,000
While the median salary for web designers and developers is $83,240, the top 10% of workers in this field make more than $166,180.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online certificate in web design and development programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for postsecondary education.
We evaluated each school’s program on admission, retention, and graduation rates as well as tuition costs, faculty, reputation, and the resources provided for online students. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online certificate in web design and development programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, among others, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
- 52 hours to write this article
- 32 universities and colleges we assessed
- 47 education programs we compared
The Top 50 Online Certificate in Web Design and Development Programs
intelligent score 99.9
Award
Rankings
#1 Web Designer Degree Center
School Information
Lowell, MA
Graduation Rate: 62%
Admission Rate: 85%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
18
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$390
accreditation
New England Commission of Higher Education
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
978-934-2474
Delivery Format
Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
18
intelligent score 98.76
Award
Rankings
#2 Web Designer Degree Center
School Information
Irvine, CA
Graduation Rate: 86%
Admission Rate: 29%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
15
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$386
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
949-824-5414
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
15
intelligent score 97.17
Award
Rankings
#1 Best Colleges
School Information
Glenns, VA
Graduation Rate: 28%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: Rural
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
12
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
In-State: $154
Out-of-State: $330
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
804-333-6730
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
12
intelligent score 95.57
Award
Rankings
#1 Zdnet
#2 Best Colleges
School Information
Rome, GA
Graduation Rate: 37%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
24
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
In-State: $100
Out-of-State: $200
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
866-983-4682
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
24
intelligent score 94.17
Award
Rankings
#2 Zdnet
#3 Best Colleges
School Information
Bismarck, ND
Graduation Rate: 50%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
12
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Resident: $260
Non-Resident: $303
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
701-224-2429
Delivery Format
Online, On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
12
intelligent score 93.95
Award
Rankings
#7 Web Designer Degree Center
School Information
Burlington, VT
Graduation Rate: 65%
Admission Rate: 62%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
18
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$335
accreditation
New England Commission of Higher Education
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
866-637-6292
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
18
intelligent score 92.41
Award
Rankings
#4 Best Colleges
School Information
St. Petersburg, FL
Graduation Rate: 35%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
18
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
In-State: $111
Out-of-State: $386
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
727-341-4772
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
18
intelligent score 91.99
Award
Rankings
#8 Web Designer Degree Center
School Information
Denver, CO
Graduation Rate: 75%
Admission Rate: 64%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
16-24
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$806
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
303-871-2291
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
16-24
intelligent score 91.76
Award
Rankings
#4 Zdnet
#6 Best Colleges
School Information
Daytona Beach, FL
Graduation Rate: 39%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
35
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
In-State: $68
Out-of-State: $276
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
386-506-3642
Delivery Format
Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
35
intelligent score 91.53
Award
Rankings
#7 Best Colleges
School Information
Austin, MN
Graduation Rate: 37%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: Town
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
29
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$208
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
507-433-0600
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
29
intelligent score 86.59
Award
Rankings
School Information
Ridgecrest, CA
Graduation Rate: 18%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: Rural
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
28
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Resident; $46
Non-Resident: $388
accreditation
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
760-384-6219
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
28
intelligent score 86.22
Award
Rankings
School Information
The Woodlands, TX
Graduation Rate: 17%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
104
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
In-District: $96
Out-of-State: $269
accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
832-519-2900
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
104
intelligent score 85.2
Award
Rankings
School Information
Port Angeles, WA
Graduation Rate: 48%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: Town
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
15
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Resident; $143
Non-Resident: $159
accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
360-417-6340
Delivery Format
Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
15
Discover More Options
What You Should Know About This Degree
Similar computer science certifications you might want to consider are information systems security and cloud essentials. Because certifications tend to take minimal time to complete, it may be worth earning multiple complementary certificates.
Only apply to schools approved by a DOE-recognized accrediting organization, such as the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) or Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). If your school isn’t accredited, you may be unable to access financial aid or transfer credits to another institution if needed.
The requirements for web design and development programs vary. Some require you to have job experience in the industry to be eligible for the program. To earn the web design and development certification, you will likely need licensing and certifications for certain software. Luckily, certification for specific software is often included as part of the larger certification program.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online certificate in web design and development programs:
- What tests are required for this online certification? There will likely be tests to prove competency in the materials and skills you’ll need to know as a web developer. You may also need to take tests for certifications in specific programming languages and software.
- How long does it take to complete this online certification? Certification programs will generally take much less time to complete than degree programs. At most, programs will last a year, but many are completed in a semester.
You should research the application process for any programs you’re considering applying to. Take note of any deadlines so that you don’t miss out on your top choices.
Your current employer may offer tuition benefits or pay for you to become certified. Make sure to research your financial aid options well in advance so that you have time to perfect any applications.