Now more than ever, data continues to be one of the most valuable resources for organizations of all sizes in nearly every industry you can think of. When the time comes to choose the best way to handle data, the humble database is still one of the most reliable and trustworthy methods for storing, accessing, and manipulating data.
With this in mind, it’s no wonder that the demand for data–driven roles continues to soar. So whether you’re interested in database administration, data engineering, data science, full-stack development, or a host of other data-related roles, there’s never been a better time to add database skills to your resume.
To help you learn these valuable skills, we’ve found the 10 best database courses online in 2024. And with free and paid options for complete beginners and more experienced developers or engineers, there’s definitely something for you on our list.
Featured Database Courses [Editor’s Picks]
- [Udemy] The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Go from SQL Beginner to Expert
- [Coursera] Introduction to Databases
- [Coursera] Introduction to Relational Databases (RDBMS)
Picking The Best Database Online Courses
In order to select the best database courses we considered several factors.
- Course Material: Is this well-structured and up-to-date?
- Instructor: Do they have professional or teaching experience?
- Support: Can you access the instructor? Is their community support?
- Certification: Is there a certificate of completion for your resume?
The 9 Best Databases Courses
|
Course |
Free or Paid |
Level |
|
Paid |
Beginner |
|
|
Paid |
Beginner |
|
|
[Udemy] The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Go from SQL Beginner to Expert |
Paid |
Beginner |
|
[FreeCodeCamp] Database Systems - Cornell University Course (SQL, NoSQL, Large-Scale Data Analysis) |
Free |
Beginner |
|
Paid |
Beginner |
|
|
Paid |
Beginner |
|
|
Paid |
Intermediate |
|
|
[Coursera] PostgreSQL for Everybody Specialization on Coursera |
Paid |
Intermediate |
|
Free |
Advanced |
Want to add SQL skills to your repertoire? Check out The Best SQL Courses
1. [Coursera] Introduction to Databases
Why we chose this course
This online database course is ideal if you're new to databases, as it provides an introduction to data modeling, SQL, and database design.
With industry-recognized instructors from Meta (formerly FaceBook), you’ll learn how to manipulate databases with SQL, learn about alternatives to SQL, and even design an RDBMS. There’s even a section about MySQL.
Pros
- Covers basic & advanced concepts like scalability & performance
- Hands-on experience with real-world datasets in a virtual environment
- Interactivity with other students
Cons
- No direct support from tutors
Key Information
Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Meta Staff
Level: Beginner
Free or Paid: Paid
Duration: 27 hours (Video content)
Certificate: Yes
2. [Udemy] Relational Database Design
Why we chose this course
This short course is an ideal introduction to relational database management systems and database design.
You’ll learn about entity relationship diagrams (ERD), normalization, table relationships, and how to design complex databases from scratch in less than 2 hours.
Pros
- Short course to quickly learn database design from scratch
- Covers ERD, normalization & relationships
Cons
- Brief course, so you may need supplemental learning
Key Information
Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Ben Brumm
Level: Beginner
Free or Paid: Paid
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 1.5 hours (Video content)
3. [Udemy] The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Go from SQL Beginner to Expert
Why we chose this course
As one of the best database courses for beginners, you can expect to learn SQL and how to use the immensely popular MySQL RDBMS.
Before diving into data types, CRUD operations, functions, database relations, and more, expect to learn the difference between SQL, MySQL, and PostgreSQL.
Pros
- Comprehensive material to learn SQL, including best practices
- Covers essential topics like JOINs, Window Functions, Views, and more
- Includes exercises and challenges
Cons
- Some topics may be challenging for beginners
Key Information
Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Colt Steele
Level: Beginner
Free or Paid: Paid
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 36.5 hours (Video content)
Want to take your SQL skills to the next level? Check out The Best SQL Books
4. [FreeCodeCamp] Database Systems - Cornell University Course (SQL, NoSQL, Large-Scale Data Analysis)
Why we chose this course
If you’re looking for free database courses that teach you how to query databases from scratch, this database training is an excellent option for you.
You’ll start by learning the SQL essentials, allowing you to store and index data in a database. You’ll then cover relational data processing, transactions, database design, and the brave new world of non-relational databases with NoSQL.
Pros
- Totally free course from world-renowned Cornell University
- Covers SQL essentials
- Section on NoSQL and non-relational databases
Cons
- Taught like a University class with lecture slides, so no interactive or hands-on practice
Key Information
Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Immanuel Trummer
Level: Beginner
Free or Paid: Free
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 17 hours (Video content)
5. [edX] Databases: Relational Databases and SQL
Why we chose this course
This introductory course from from Stanford University is a great way to learn about relational databases and SQL. Not only will you learn about relational models in relational databases and relational database management systems (RDBMS), but you’ll benefit from a comprehensive set of lessons on SQL.
Pros
- Learn the foundations of relational databases
- Comprehensive lessons on SQL
- Includes quizzes and assessments
- Taught by Standford University
Cons
- Detailed but introductory content, so you may need supplemental learning
Key Information
Prerequisites: Computer science basics
Instructor: Jennifer Widom
Level: Beginner
Free or Paid: Paid
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 20 hours
Want to boost your resume in 2024? Check out The Best SQL Certifications
6. [LinkedIn Learning] Become a Database Administrator
Why we chose this course
If you’re interested in learning database admin, you’ll need to know SQL, database configuration, management, performance, security, and more.
This learning path comprises 5 online database classes via sub-courses that teach you SQL, data structures, database design, and the most skills for critical database management. It also includes a capstone course that focuses on the integration of an RDBMS with modern web apps.
Pros
- Comprehensive material over 5 sub-courses
- Learn SQL and database essentials like indexing & keys
- Covers performance, security, & availability
Cons
- Lots of content to digest, so requires a decent time commitment
Key Information
Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Adam Wilbert
Level: Beginner
Free or Paid: Paid
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 12h 28m
7. [Coursera] Introduction to Relational Databases (RDBMS)
Why we chose this course
This is an excellent option if you’re interested in learning databases for a career in data engineering. You’ll learn how data is stored, processed, manipulated, and accessed, and you’ll also learn to choose the right type of database for the right project.
By using a hands-on approach with real-world data sets, you will learn about relational data models and pick up essential RDBMS concepts for popular systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and IBM DB2. This culminates in a project which you can use to showcase your skills and a database certificate online and on your resume.
Pros
- Learn about MySQL, PostgreSQL, and IBM DB2
- Uses GUIs and SQL to work with databases
- Capstone project to add to your portfolio
Cons
- Some issues have been reported with interactive lab software
Key Information
Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Rav Ahuja, Sandip Saha Joy, Lin Joyner, and Rose Malcolm
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Free or Paid: Paid
Certificate: Yes
Duration: Approx. 19 hours
8. [Coursera] PostgreSQL for Everybody Specialization on Coursera
Why we chose this course
If you are interested in data mining or app development, this offering from Coursera is ideal for you. Made up of four sub-courses, you will focus on PostgreSQL for database design, database architecture, and the difference between SQL and NoSQL paradigms for database design.
Expect to learn how to create tables, design data models, compose advanced SQL queries, work with regular expressions, and more. You’ll also have access to graded assignments to cement your understanding.
Pros
- Comprehensive course material
- Hands-on approach with graded assignments
- Learn SQL, database design, and NoSQL ElasticSearch
- Experienced instructor is a University Professor
Cons
- Lots of content, so requires a large time commitment
Key Information
Prerequisites: Basic Python knowledge
Instructor: Charles Russell Severance
Level: Intermediate
Free or Paid: Paid
Certificate: Yes
Duration: 64 hours (Video content)
9. [Udemy] Advanced Databases and SQL Querying
Why we chose this course
If you’re already familiar with SQL server or T-SQL, then this free course from Udemy might be perfect for you.
As an advanced database course, you can expect to learn about advanced concepts like dynamic queries, triggers, stored procedures, user-defined functions (UDF), views, and more. You also get access to T-SQL scripts and assignments to help cement your learning.
Pros
- Completely free course
- Covers a range of advanced T-SQL topics
- Assignments to practice what you’ve learned
Cons
- No certificate for your resume
Key Information
Instructor: Rakesh Gopalakrishnan
Level: Advanced
Prerequisites: SQL Server & T-SQL knowledge
Free or Paid: Free
Certificate: No
Duration: 3 hours 20m (Video content)
Conclusion
Whatever your role in the world of modern tech, you’ve more than likely found yourself in a situation where you need to interact with a database. And as one of the most popular ways of storing, accessing, and manipulating valuable data, adding database skills to your toolkit can be one of the best ways to level up in your current role or help you land a new one.
To help you on your learning journey, this article has listed the 10 best database courses online in 2024. And with online database courses from various providers, we’ve been able to include options for beginners and more experienced devs.
Want to add more data skills to your resume? Check out our article on How To Learn SQL
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which Database Course Is Best?
There is no single best database course online, as it depends on your current skills and database knowledge, career goals, time to commit to learning, and more.
However, if you’re a beginner, you should check out Coursera’s Introduction to Databases or Udemy’s Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp. If you’re a more experienced database user, maybe look at PostgreSQL for Everybody on Coursera.
2. What Are Database Courses?
Database courses are units of teaching to provide students with a hands-on introduction to the fundamentals of SQL and relational database design.
Depending on the course focus, these may take a vanilla approach to SQL or focus on specific RDBMS like MySQL or PostgreSQL. Often these courses will also include a certificate which you can add to your resume to demonstrate the skills you have gained.
