What exactly is ASP.NET?
ASP.NET is an open-source back-end web application framework developed by Microsoft.
It allows developers to build dynamic applications and websites.
According to Stackshare, over 12,000 companies use ASP.NET in their tech stacks. These include MasterCard, SpaceX, GrubHub and GoDaddy.
And with an average salary of $95,925, we think ASP.NET is worth learning.
What’s the difference between ASP.NET and ASP.NET Core?
ASP.NET was created for Windows.
And ASP.NET Core was created for Windows, Mac OS and Linux.
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TLDR: ASP.NET Courses
๐ฅ Best Overall ๐ฅ
Developing Applications with ASP.NET Core: Educative.io
๐ฅ Best for Newbies ๐ฅ
ASP.NET Core Fundamentals: Pluralsight
๐ธ Best Value ๐ธ
ASP.NET Core Tutorial: Learn Web Development: BitDegree
ASP.NET Courses: At a Glance
Interactive or video-based learning | Level | Duration | Support | Certificate | Cost | |
Developing Applications with ASP.NET Core: Educative | Interactive | Intermediate | 20 hours | โ | โ | $29 per year for the course // $59 per month or $199 per year for all courses and Learning Paths |
Learn ASP.NET: Codecademy Pro | Both | Intermediate | 15 hours | โ | โ | $39.99 per month / $239.88 per year for all courses and Learning Paths |
ASP.NET Core Fundamentals: Pluralsight | Video | Beginner | 5.75 hours | โ | โ | $29 per month for all video courses and Learning Paths |
ASP.NET Core Tutorial: Learn Web Development: BitDegree | Video | Intermediate | 3.5 hours | โ | โ | $19.99 (subject to change) |
ASP.NET Web Development Learning Track: Treehouse | Video | Beginner | 25 hours | โ | โ | $25 per month for all courses and Learning Paths |
ASP.NET Courses
1. Developing Applications with ASP.NET Core: Educative
Educative.io is our favorite place to learn ASP.NET courses. That’s because it’s got an easy-to-use interactive learning environment that can’t be beat.
Developing Applications with ASP.NET Core is an intermediate course. You’ll learn how to make Model-View-Controller (MVC) applications with ASP.NET Core.
๐ก A Model-View-Controller is a software design pattern used for developing user interfaces. It divides the program logic into three elements: model, view, and controller.
You’ll also learn how to:
- write JSON web APIs for your front-end
- use the repository pattern
- understand authentication and authorization
And more.
Want to read more about the MVC? Check out the book Murachโs ASP.NET Core MVC.
Course Layout
Educative.io has an immersive interactive learning platform where you’ll do all work within the browser. There’s no excessive clicking, minimizing or jumping around to find what you need.
Each module contains a series of lessons that are jam-packed with explanations, illustrations and exercises.
โค๏ธ We had to ask ourselves: Is Educative worth it? The answer is yes time and time again…
Support
Educative.io has an area after each lesson where you can get help from mentors and other students.
๐ฐ Cost: $29 per year for the course // $59 per month or $199 per year for all courses and Learning Paths
โฒ๏ธ Duration: 20 hours
๐ Level: Intermediate
๐ฅ๏ธ Format: Interactive learning
๐๏ธ Certificate: Yes
2. Learn ASP.NET: Codecademy Pro
Codecademy Pro is similar to Educative.io because of its interactive learning environment.
In the intermediate course Learn ASP.NET, you’ll learn how to build web applications using ASP.NET Core with Razor Pages.
๐ก Razor Pages is a simplified web application programming model that uses file-based routing.
โค๏ธ Is Codecademy worth it? We certainly think so. Read our full review to learn why.
Course Layout
You’ll also learn how:
- to handle, route and redirect requests using Page Models
- to define, store and edit information in your ASP.NET web app
- ASP.NET apps process requests
- to use the dependency injection programming pattern
And more.
You’ll also work on the Grocer.ly project where you’ll use ASP.NET to build an online shop.
Support
Codecademy Pro has forums where you can get help, share projects and interact with other students.
๐ฐ Cost: $39.99 per month / $239.88 per year for all courses and Learning Paths
โฒ๏ธ Duration: 15 hours
๐ Level: Intermediate
๐ฅ๏ธ Format: Interactive learning and video
๐๏ธ Certificate: Yes
3. ASP.NET Core Fundamentals: Pluralsight
Pluralsight is a standalone platform in our list of ASP.NET courses. That’s because it’s the only platform that is strictly video-based.
And clocking in at just under 6 hours, it’s one of the better ASP.NET courses for students with a shorter attention span. And it’s great for beginners.
Learn more about ASP.NET Core with the book ASP.NET Core Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach.
Course Layout
In ASP.NET Core Fundamentals, you’ll:
- work with a database to display and edit data
- explore middleware
- view components and database migrations with the Entity Framework
- build an API controller
And much more.
Support
While Pluralsight doesn’t have an official community, they recommend students form guilds for peer support. โ๏ธ
๐ฐ Cost: $29 per month for all video courses and Learning Paths
โฒ๏ธ Duration: 5.75 hours
๐ Level: Beginner
๐ฅ๏ธ Format: Video
๐๏ธ Certificate: Yes
4. ASP.NET Core Tutorial: Learn Web Development: BitDegree
Most BitDegree courses are like Treehouse or Pluralsight: video-based.
And at just 3.5 hours, this intermediate course is great for students with a short attention span.
๐ก Video courses are a great way to learn because they use visual and audio cues.
ASP.NET Core Tutorial will show you how to use ASP.NET and Angular 7. In this course, you’ll build an online store to sell DVDs.
Want to learn more about Angular? Check out the book ASP.NET Core 5 and Angular.
Course Layout
7 modules contain a series of lessons that will take you step-by-step through the process of creating your online store.
Support
Some courses have forums where you can get support from instructors and other students.
๐ฐ Cost: $19.99 (subject to change)
โฒ๏ธ Duration: 3.5 hours
๐ Level: Intermediate
๐ฅ๏ธ Format: Video
๐๏ธ Certificate: Yes
๐ฅ Geena’s Hot Take
BitDegree is new to me, so I’m having a lot of fun playing around with the courses.
I find other video-based courses boring, but not here. There’s something about the environment that’s vibrant, stimulating and makes me want to learn more. ๐ฅ
5. ASP.NET Web Development Learning Track: Treehouse
๐จ ALERT ๐จ
As of September 2021, Treehouse has laid off 90% of its staff. The future of Treehouse is unknown.
While Treehouse is primarily a video-based platform, you’ll work on some interactive coding exercises just like Educative.io and Codecademy Pro.
ASP.NET Web Development is a little different than the other ASP.NET courses on our list. Instead of a course, it’s a Learning Track for beginners.
๐ก A Learning Track is a collection of multiple courses that typically take a few months to complete. The goal is to prepare you for an entry-level job.
In this Learning Track, you’ll learn how to build powerful and dynamic websites and web applications using ASP.NET MVC.
Course Layout
There are 11 courses in the ASP.NET Web Development Learning Track including:
- C# Objects
- Introduction to Visual Studio
- HTTP Basics
- ASP.NET MVC Basics
And beyond.
Support
Treehouse has a forum where you can get help from other students.
๐ฐ Cost: $25 per month for all courses and Learning Paths
โฒ๏ธ Duration: 25 hours
๐ Level: Beginner
๐ฅ๏ธ Format: Video
๐๏ธ Certificate: No
ASP.NET Courses: Conclusion
Today we looked at ASP.NET courses including:
๐ฅ Best Overall ๐ฅ
Developing Applications with ASP.NET Core: Educative
๐ฅ Best for Newbies ๐ฅ
ASP.NET Core Fundamentals: Pluralsight
๐ธ Best Value ๐ธ
ASP.NET Core Tutorial: Learn Web Development: BitDegree
So whether you’re looking for best overall, newbie-friendliness or best value, we think there ASP.NET courses for just about everyone.
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What are some good ASP.NET courses?
We found three ASP.NET courses that we think are a cut above the rest. Overall, we think Developing Applications with ASP.NET Core by Educative.io takes the win. For newbies, we liked ASP.NET Core Fundamentals by Pluralsight. And for value, we think ASP.NET Core Tutorial: Learn Web Development by BitDegree is the best bang for your buck. Learn more about these ASP.NET courses in today’s post.
Does Educative.io have any ASP.NET courses?
As of this publication, Educative.io has two ASP.NET courses. The first one is Developing Applications with ASP.NET Core. The other is Introduction to Master Pages in ASP.NET. Both have an interactive learning environment where you’ll do all work inside the browser. Learn more about this ASP.NET course in today’s article.
Is learning ASP.NET worth it?
Yes, we think it’s worth learning ASP.NET. Over 12,000 companies use ASP.NET in their stack including GoDaddy, SpaceX and MasterCard. And with an average salary of around $95,000, ASP.NET can be a lucrative framework to learn. Learn more about ASP.NET in today’s post.