Where to Find the Best Online Machine Learning Courses, Classes, and Training

Machine learning has become one of the hottest trends in the tech industry. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enable systems and machines to analyze data and learn processes on their own. In this article, you’ll learn about some of the best online machine learning courses that can help you gain this in-demand skill. 

Have you ever used a Roomba vacuum? Or told Alexa to play your favorite song? Surely you have seen many product advertisements while scrolling on social media. You might not have realized it at the time, but you were experiencing machine learning.

A branch of artificial intelligence, machine learning is the ability of computer systems to learn from experiences without being programmed. 

If you’re not familiar with machine learning, don’t worry. There are many courses you can take to fill the gaps. Discover everything you need to know about machine learning by taking the following courses aimed at all levels of learners.  

What Is Machine Learning?

Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) that consists of programming computational devices to perform human-like tasks. The machines learn without human supervision by using raw data. With machine learning, computers can identify patterns and make basic decisions by themselves.

So, what exactly is machine learning? Many of us use it regularly in our daily lives when we make requests of Siri or Alexa. Machine learning is a type of AI in which computers use data to learn how to do tasks, instead of being programmed to do them. This makes it possible for machines to become smarter over time as they encounter new data. Data science and machine learning go hand-in-hand, but it is a vast field. 

The process of machine learning involves preparing a training data set, choosing an algorithm, training the algorithm to create a model, and using the model to improve it.  

A machine learning algorithm can be categorized as either supervised or unsupervised learning. Supervised algorithms are when past data can be applied to new data to predict future events. Unsupervised machine learning algorithms are used to explore data and draw inferences from datasets.

There are also several other different types of machine learning algorithms, including linear regression, logistic regression, decision tree, and random forest.

A method of data analysis, machine learning uses information to design a model and learn trends. According to Microsoft, Machine learning models are “a file that has been trained to recognize certain types of patterns.” Training a model to review a set of data through an algorithm will allow it to learn from that data. 

Deep learning is an advanced aspect of machine learning. Although some of the courses below might explore deep learning, it is typically reserved for advanced students. 

Why Online Machine Learning Courses Are Important for Professional Development

Machine learning is an exciting field in technology that could provide you with several job opportunities. In addition, you should also consider that this skill often provides high compensation. According to The Foote Partners quarterly IT Skills and Certification Pay Index, machine learning and deep learning are some of the highest-paid tech skills in 2021.

Should You Attend a Coding Bootcamp to Learn Machine Learning?

Coding bootcamps have become a very popular option to learn machine learning. They’re short-term and affordable training options focused on hands-on training. There are a variety of machine learning bootcamps that will fully qualify and prepare you for machine learning career opportunities. 

Criteria for a Great Machine Learning Course

Although most of these machine learning courses are free, it’s still important to make sure a course is worth the time investment. When perusing the online courses available, consider the criteria below.

Focused

Online machine learning courses should be focused, meaning that machine learning should be the course’s main subject. Additionally, they should involve the use of a programming language that is free and open-sourced, like Octave, Python, or R. 

Interactive

For an online machine learning course to be useful, it should also be interactive. The professor should lead you in an engaging lecture instead of just assigning readings. The professor should also assign hands-on projects that have real-world applications. 

Readily Available 

Practical courses should be readily available according to your schedule and should be updated frequently. Additionally, make sure to check the reviews of a course to get a first-hand idea of what the course will be like.

Overview: The Best Online Machine Learning Courses, Classes, or Training

In the table below, you’ll find a list of the best online courses on machine learning (ML), including bootcamp programs, massive open online courses (MOOC), and other types of learning programs that can help you on your machine learning journey.

In Detail: The Best Online Machine Learning Classes, Courses, or Training

The following machine learning courses meet all of the criteria that makes for an excellent course. Along with being focused, interactive, and readily available, they also feature professors who are experts in their field. 

Let’s explore the best online machine learning courses. 

Machine Learning Engineering course | Brainstation

• Learning Format: Bootcamp program
• Level: Intermediate
• Subjects Covered: Python, data processing, pandas

Brainstation offers a machine learning engineering course that will prepare you to make data-driven decisions. You will learn about fundamental concepts like Python, NumPy, pandas, data visualization, and data processing. 

At the end of the course, you’ll create a problem, develop a hypothesis, and use artificial intelligence to fix it. To learn about the cost of this program, as well as payment options and aid, you can contact a representative on Brainstation’s website.  

Key Takeaway: This program provides instruction and practice on every angle of machine learning. It’s most ideal for students who want an interactive program with lots of hands-on training. 

Data Science and Machine Learning in Python | Coding Dojo

• Learning Format: Bootcamp program
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Data visualization, deep learning models, Python

Coding Dojo’s data science and machine learning program is perfect for anyone with zero experience in this field. It covers fundamental concepts like data modeling, pandas, Seaborn, decision trees, and random forests. The small class sizes at this institution ensure everyone receives the attention they need. 

Key Takeaway: It’s an immersive data science program with a focus on machine learning and Python.

Machine Learning course | Coursera 

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Intermediate
• Subjects Covered: Linear regression, Matlab, linear algebra

This machine learning course is offered by Coursera in collaboration with Stanford University. This program is perfect for students who want to learn at their own pace. It covers topics like artificial intelligence, logistic regression, and core machine learning algorithms. Students can audit this course for free, but can’t participate in the graded homework assignments or exams.

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Key Takeaway: Upon completion, students receive a shareable certificate issued by Coursera and stamped by Stanford University, which can be added to their LinkedIn profiles and resumes. 

Machine Learning Fundamentals | edX 

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Advanced
• Subjects Covered: Deep neural networks, linear models, data-driven modeling, advanced techniques

This Machine learning course is offered by edX in collaboration with University of California, San Diego. This program will teach you about machine learning concepts like boosting, random forests, and neural networks. Students are required to have completed the first two courses in the MicroMaster program, in addition to college-level multivariate calculus and linear algebra.

Key Takeaway: edX allows students to audit this course through the course material for free. However, the audit version does not include graded assignments and exams, nor the certificate. 

Data Science | Flatiron School

• Learning Format: Coding bootcamp 
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Data analysis, scientific computing, quantitative methods, concepts of machine learning

Flatiron’s data science program provides students with foundational data science skills and basic to advanced machine learning. You will learn about programming languages like Python and SQL and then dive into linear algebra, decision trees, and logistic regression. More advanced concepts include clustering, natural language processing, and text vectorization. 

Key Takeaway: This course is one of the most complete data science programs available online. It’s ideal for students pursuing any data science career.

Data Science course | General Assembly

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Intermediate
• Subjects Covered: NumPy, Python, machine learning systems, sentiment analysis

This intermediate-level program was designed for computer professionals who want to learn about data-driven processes. Even though this isn’t a machine learning course, machine learning is covered in the program. You will develop a deep understanding of sentiment analysis, natural language processing, machine learning models, and clustering. 

Key Takeaway: This program is designed for computer science professionals with data analytics experience.

Data Science Course | Lambda School

• Learning Format: Coding bootcamp
• Level: Beginner 
• Subjects Covered: Python, data processing, natural language processing, basic techniques

Lambda School’s six-month data science program dives into fundamental concepts like linear algebra, linear regression, data processing, and programming languages like Python and SQL. This is an intensive full-time program, so you can expect to spend around 40 hours a week in classes, completing assignments, working on projects, and participating in daily warm-ups. 

Key Takeaway: This is an intensive data science program. Upon successful completion, students receive a certificate and extensive career services to aid in their job search. 

Data science course | Le Wagon

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Intermediate
• Subjects Covered: data analysis, ML, data engineering, deep learning

Le Wagon offers a completely online data science course that will help you prepare for a career in machine learning. It covers fundamental machine learning concepts such as performance metrics, supervised and unsupervised learning, and core machine learning models. To learn about Le Wagon’s tuition cost and payment options, contact them through their website.

Key Takeaway: This is an intensive online hands-on experience that will thoroughly prepare you for the workplace in nine weeks.

Machine Learning Classification Course | Metis

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Advanced
• Subjects Covered: Machine learning fundamentals, predictive performance, machine learning classification, artificial intelligence

This course is focused on machine learning classification. You will learn about classifications algorithms, predictive performance, and how to find key metrics in real-world examples. This program is conducted by industry leaders and is available for part-time and full-time schedules. 

Key Takeaway: This course is ideal for students who are looking for a quick and efficient machine learning course.

Data Science with Python: Machine Learning | NYC Data Science Academy

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Advanced
• Subjects Covered: Clustering algorithms, tree-based methods, support vector machines, cross-validation, feature selection, principal component analysis (PCA)

NYC Data Science is known for its data science programs. You can join this short-term intensive program if you have some basic understanding of data analytics and programming languages like Python or SQL. It will teach you key machine learning elements like logistic regression, linear regression, and classification analysis. 

Key Takeaway: This advanced machine learning course is ideal for industry professionals who are looking to advance their skills. 

R Programming for Data Science And Machine Learning | Skillshare

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Decision trees, data types, linear regression, artificial intelligence

SkillShare offers a wide variety of machine learning courses that cover beginner to advanced-level techniques. This program is focused on the use of R programming for data science and machine learning. To learn about Skillshare’s pricing, you can contact a representative on the website. 

Key Takeaway: This is a beginner-friendly self-paced course, and it includes plenty of real-world projects and activities. 

Machine Learning Engineering Career Track Program | Springboard

• Learning Format: Bootcamp program
• Level:  Advanced
• Subjects Covered: Deep learning, computer vision and image processing, machine learning models at scale and in production

To be eligible for this program, you must have at least one year of experience in software engineering and be proficient in programming languages like Python, C++, or Java. This hands-on bootcamp will teach you popular machine learning techniques such as reinforcement learning and deep learning. 

Key Takeaway: This hands-on immersive bootcamp program includes a variety of career services that support your job search after graduation. For this reason, this program is especially ideal for students who are seeking immediate employment upon completion.

Data Science Bootcamp| Thinkful

• Learning Format: Bootcamp program
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Statistics, calculus, computer programming, machine learning, artificial intelligence 

This six-month program is an immersive data science course that teaches you the most relevant machine learning concepts. You will learn about supervised and unsupervised learning, data processing, and data analytics. At the end of the program, you will understand the core concepts and be able to specialize in a subject of your choosing.

Key Takeaway: This program is an excellent option for complete beginners who want to quickly prepare and qualify for a machine learning position.  

Advanced Machine Learning & Data Analysis Projects Bootcamp | Udemy

• Learning Format: Bootcamp program
• Level: Advanced
• Subjects Covered: Data models, linear regression models, Python, Java

If you already have some machine learning experience and you’d like to advance your career, this program offered by Udemy is ideal for you. It is a self-paced learning program with over 20 hours of training videos, 17 articles, and 14 downloadable resources that will help you develop a strong understanding of machine learning. 

Key Takeaway: You will learn about Java, Python, and Swift programming as well as neuron functions in this advanced and affordable bootcamp. This course is ideal if you want to advance your knowledge in machine learning.

ML From A to Z: R and Python for Data Science | Udemy

• Learning Format: Bootcamp Program
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Deep learning, natural language processing, Python, R

This is a beginner-friendly machine learning program that covers fundamental and advanced-level concepts in this field. You will learn how to use Python and R for your ML projects. You will also gain basic knowledge in different types of machine learning, like reinforcement, supervised, and unsupervised learning. 

Key Takeaway: This is an excellent program for professional development and advancement. Additionally, Udemy frequently has major discounts, which makes this option very affordable.

Online Machine Learning Classes, Training, or Courses: Which Is the Right Option?

The right online learning option ultimately depends on your preferences and needs. While classes tend to be the most affordable and require the least amount of time, courses and training programs are often more thorough and provide plenty of hands-on learning opportunities. Additionally, courses and training programs are more prone to provide certificates than classes are.

How to Choose the Right Online Machine Learning Course, Class, or Training Program

Completion Certificate

One of the key factors you should consider when looking for a machine learning program is whether the school offers a completion certificate. Although it may sound like an insignificant factor, they help you to showcase your skills to employers. There are many programs with certificates that you can choose from, some of which are even free. 

Up-to-date Curriculum

Another factor to consider is whether the program has an up-to-date curriculum. The tech industry advances at a speed that can be hard to keep up with. Finding a program with a constantly updated curriculum will ensure the skills you learn aren’t outdated.  

Tuition Cost

It’s also important to factor the cost of the program into your decision. Some machine learning programs are offered free of charge, while others can cost as much as a year of college. Keep in mind that most program providers offer a variety of payment options and financial aid. So, if you’re interested in a program that’s out of your budget, be sure to explore payment options. 

Machine Learning Course Certificates vs. Certifications

Although certifications and certificates are often spoken of interchangeably, they’re actually quite different. Certificates are awarded to students at the end of the associated program, and they function as proof of completion. Certifications are earned through passing the associated exam, and function as proof of eligibility for the associated role or field. 

Importance of Machine Learning Certifications

A machine learning certification is an industry-validated credential provided by third-party authenticators. They prove that you’re fully qualified for the related position or field. Certifications are also very reputable within the tech world, which makes earning one even more valuable. 

Why You Should Take Online Machine Learning Courses or Classes

Machine learning is relevant for a variety of very exciting careers. Online classes or courses provide a convenient way to learn machine learning or develop your machine learning skills. As automation is rapidly expanding and increasing, so is the demand for machine learning engineers. Investing in this skill can qualify you for a high-paying and stable career path.

If you are interested in machine learning, you will certainly be able to find a class that is right for you. Pursuing a degree in computer science is an option, but it can be pricey.

Taking an individual machine learning course is a great place to start instead, since many of them are free and accredited. Additionally, many are hosted by Ivy League institutions that offer impressive curriculums. 

Even if you are at the advanced level of machine learning, you will be able to find plenty of challenging courses online. All it takes to succeed is an interest in machine learning and the motivation to complete the class.