Udacity is a popular online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses in various fields such as programming, data science, artificial intelligence, and more. Udacity’s pricing for courses can vary, mainly depending on the duration of the program. However, the platform is rather on the expensive side, and here I want to show you all the ins and outs of its cost and whether you should pay the price.
Udacity Nanodegree cost
One of the most popular options for students and one of the features of Udacity is the Nanodegree program. These programs are designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a specific technical or business field, such as web development or data science. Udacity nanodegree cost can range from $212 to $249 per month, depending on the program. The duration of the program can vary from 1 to 5 months. As the majority of programs take three months to complete, the average Udacity cost per course will end up being $747 in total.
Meanwhile, the company has the option to pay upfront–it reduces the cost of Udacity’s program on 15%.
In this table, I have compiled all the data on Nanodegree programs, their fees as well as their duration–which is the main factor that influences the price.
Udacity price list for popular Nanodegree programs in 2025
When you pay such a price for a course, you normally expect to get more than just content. And Udacity realizes this, providing additional features for the price you pay. Let’s take a look at whether these additional services are worth it.
Udacity’s nanodegree program includes: technical mentorship, real-world projects, career services, and certificates.
Udacity’s technical mentorship
Let’s start with the technical mentorship, as I found this service the most valuable one. As you enroll, you get a mentor who can guide your learning and answer any technical questions you have. They also help keep you motivated and on track. As mentioned on the nanodegrees details pages, mentors constantly provide constructive feedback on completed projects, highlighting areas for improvement and offering practical advice.
This allows more effective learning, provides real value and actually justifies the price.
Udacity’s real-world projects
What is also important is having real-world projects built in partnership with top companies like Google and Microsoft. In the tech industry, isolated theory means nothing if you don’t know how to apply it in a real situation. So, such projects allow you to master the tech skills that are in demand by tech companies.
However, how do you know that you will be taking part in training programs created in collaboration with famous companies? It’s simple. If you see an image like the one on the screenshot in the lower right corner, you can be sure that this program was developed together with Microsoft (Machine learning engineer with Microsoft Azure). This means that you will learn exactly the skills that companies expect to see in their future employees. I find this to be a significant advantage!
Udacity’s career services
Another feature is career services. This means that Udacity’s team will help with your CV, GitHub portfolio, and LinkedIn profile. These services are focused on the afterwords part of learning–the time when you will need to transition from studying to working. You can learn more about Udacity’s career resources on this page.
Also, in case you are interested in learning how effective their work on career outcomes is, you can find the “Udacity Career Outcomes Report” here.
Udacity’s certificates
Finally, you will earn a certificate of completion. While it doesn’t have that much value for your future employer, it will still show your motivation, diligence, and hard-work. And anyway, it looks good in your LinkedIn profile.
After completing your nanodegree, you will see the steps to obtain your certificate in the classroom where you are taking the course. You will then be able to view, print, and share your certificate via your user account.
Does Udacity have free content?
Udacity is not a company that is generous in free offerings. But there is content you can get for free. Udacity has a list more than 200 free courses on different subjects. Often, these courses are basics or narrow ones, but still they can be very helpful for many.
Go check yourself in the list. You can do this by going to All Courses and checking Free in the Price filter.
What about Udacity’s payment methods?
Udacity is not very unique in the payment methods it offers, and there are basically two of them. The first one is paying by card and the second one is PayPal. However, there is one more: Affirm. This method is available only when you choose to pay upfront. If you haven’t heard about Affirm before, this is a credit service that allows splitting a monthly payment plan over 3, 6, or 12 months, and you choose how much you’ll be able to pay per month.
How to cancel Udacity’s subscription and get a refund?
Udacity has different refund policies for the US and EU, which is caused by laws. Generally, you can cancel your Udacity subscription within the first 7 days of your initial subscription purchase and get a full refund. You will still be enrolled in the program until the end of this billing period.
There is a more “generous” refund policy for EU residents: you can cancel within the first 14 days.
How to actually cancel your subscription? Go to “Account Settings”, press “Subscriptions & Billing”, find “Cancel” in the bottom right corner, and follow the prompts. Ready.
Is Udacity worth it?
Udacity students’ feedback is divided. Many users find the courses useful, while others are disappointed with the quality of the materials and question the Udacity cost given the platform’s current state.
Some experienced students say that Udacity used to be more expert and provided better content. Their courses were created in collaboration with leading companies, and it was noticeable that the learning material was industry-oriented. The lessons covered a wide range of topics such as machine learning and big data processing (using SQL, NoSQL, PySpark, Airflow, etc.), which made the courses especially valuable for those who want to dive deep into these topics. The courses included projects that allowed students to submit work for review multiple times with quick feedback from instructors, as well as useful comments and recommendations.
Currently, users highlight the following points among the main disadvantages of the platform:
- Lectures are too simple (which may be better suited for beginners in a particular topic but is not enough for a more advanced level).
- Projects are done on a fill-in-the-blank basis and often require knowledge that the course itself does not provide.
- Some materials are outdated and can be found for free on the Internet (although they can be useful for familiarizing yourself with the basics if you don’t have a relevant education).
- The virtual environment is frequently down.
- Inaccurate tests make you have to spend more time correcting mistakes than actually learning.
- Insufficient support from mentors and the provision of meaningful feedback.
- Unreasonable high price. Many users believe that the Nanodegree Udacity cost is not justified.
While Udacity once set the standard for industry-oriented learning, many users now find the courses overpriced and lacking depth. With outdated materials, unreliable virtual environments, and weak mentor support, the platform struggles to maintain its former reputation.
Therefore, the most rational investment will be only if you get significant discounts or sponsorship from your employer. Thus, it can become a useful stepping stone in your technical career.
Should you pay for Udacity?
As I conclude this article on Udacity Nanodegree costs, it’s important to remember that these programs are designed to help learners acquire new skills and pursue new career paths. Udacity is a proper option for students looking to gain new skills or advance their careers. But the price is high, so you really should validate this spending.
Therefore, Udacitycost should be viewed as an investment in your future. If you have more flexibility in your schedule, paying monthly (typically $249 per month) can be a cost-effective option, as it allows you to complete the program faster and pay less.
Additionally, be sure to take advantage of any coupons or promotions offered by Udacity, as they can save you a significant amount of money. Sometimes platforms offer quite impressive discounts (even up to 50%).
Udacity’s pricing discounts
Furthermore, you should consider trying out the platform’s free trial and courses before making a financial commitment.
I’m curious to know how much the Nanodegree will cost in 2024.