Udacity
Have you been looking at Udacity Nanodegrees wondering if
they will help you learn in-demand skills or prepare you for a promotion?
Last Updated: June 14, 2022

4.8 out of 5 Stars
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All Udacity Courses on Skill Upgrade
All You Need to Know About the Udacity
What is Udacity
Udacity is a digital learning platform that offers industry-focused, intensive online courses called Nanodegrees in areas such as AI, ML, robotics, etc. to lifelong learners across the globe. The Nanodegrees seek to equip even the busiest learners with in-demand skills in technology and business to help them prepare themselves for their dream roles and bolster their career prospects.
History
Udacity began as an experiment in online learning by Stanford University Professors Sebastian Thrun and Peter Norvig. After seeing the tremendous global response when they opened up their AI course to everyone online in 2011, Thrun, along with co-founders David Stavens and Mike Sokolsky, launched Udacity with a mission to democratize education. They initially offered university-style courses, but later shifted to vocational courses aimed at professionals.
Background of the Founders
Sebastian Thrun is an educator, inventor, scientist, and entrepreneur. He is currently the Chairman and co-founder of Udacity, a professor at Stanford University, and the CEO of Kitty Hawk Corporation, a manufacturer of single-person electric aircraft. He was also a VP at Google, where he founded Google[X] and led Google’s self-driving car team.
David Stavens, a scientist and entrepreneur, is the co-founder and President/COO of Udacity and the co-founder and CEO of Nines, a teleradiology practice. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University and has previously worked with NASA, Qualcomm, and Toyota, among others.
Mike Sokolsky, was the co-founder and CTO of Udacity from 2011 to 2013. He is currently a Product Manager at autonomous driving technology company Waymo and an advisor at lab automation company Artificial, Inc.
How Reputable is Udacity?
Udacity’s Search and Google Trends Data
As per Google Trends data, worldwide and US search volumes over the past 12 months for the term Udacity were more or less consistently high. The platform was most popular in Uzbekistan and Egypt, followed by China, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia.
Funding Raised by Udacity
As of September 30, 2020, Udacity’s post-money valuation was in the range of $1B to $10B.
As per Crunchbase, Udacity has raised a total of $240 million across 12 funding rounds. The company’s latest funding was raised on September 1, 2021. It has a total of 18 investors, led by Andreessen Horowitz, CRV, Hercules Capital, and Bertelsmann.
Harvard University vs Udacity Comparison

Our 2022 Review of Udacity
Udacity is perfect for you if you are seeking in-depth knowledge in computer science, technology, and related fields, or if you are looking to upskill for in-demand roles in the current market. You must be willing to go beyond the classroom content to really engage in projects and other exercises to convert your theoretical knowledge into real-world skills.
The Pros
- Wide range of well-designed, intensive courses in technology and business
- Industry-focused curriculum developed in partnership with industry experts and top-tier companies
- Courses built around in-demand skills in technology including data science, robotics, and AI
- Taught by seasoned industry experts
- Self-paced, flexible learning suited for busy professionals
- Graded, real-world projects and unlimited access to mentors and project reviewers
- Simple and hassle-free user interface
- Abundance of high-quality career tools and services
- 200+ free courses offered
The Cons
- Nanodegrees can get pricey, especially if you don’t stick to their suggested timelines
- Not practical enough unless the student takes initiative and engages in further learning
- Very niche-focused unlike other platforms
- Lack of live human contact with no live sessions, one-on-one mentorship sessions or live discussion forums.
- Nanodegrees do not count towards a university degree
Despite its pricing, Udacity is an excellent platform
to power up your skill set and forge ahead in your career.