FREE Trial with Benzinga Pro happening right now!
The C++ programming language is used to develop games, browsers, operating systems and more.
If you want to learn the fundamentals to excel in the classroom, impress potential employers or advance your career, consider an online course. It’s an affordable way to acquire the skills and knowledge you need without interfering with your busy schedule.
Benzinga will help you identify a C++ online course that’s suitable for your skill level and budget.
Quick Look: Best C++ Online Courses
Here are Benzinga’s top picks:
- Introduction to C++ by Microsoft
- Beginning C++ Programming – From Beginner to Beyond by Udemy
- C++ from Beginner to Expert by Arkadiusz Włodarczyk
- Object-Oriented Data Structures in C++ by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Learning Path: C++ Game Programming by Udemy
- Identifying Security Vulnerabilities in C/C++ Programming by the University of California Davis
- Learn Advanced C++ Programming by Udemy
- Learn Advanced Modern C++! by Udemy
What Makes a C++ Online Course Great?
There are hundreds of C++ online courses to choose from. It can be challenging to determine which are worth your time and we’ve included a brief checklist to help you out.
Facilitated by a Subject-Matter Expert
Your instructor should have extensive experience with the C++ programming language. It’s also vital that the instructor explains critical ideas in a way that’s easy to comprehend. Look at reviews from current and past students to get a feel for the facilitator’s teaching style and what to expect from the course.
Includes Supplementary Resources
The best C++ online courses feature supplementary readings, quizzes, hands-on assignments and projects. Not all of these resources are a must, but you want a course that offers more than video lectures to test your knowledge and put your skills to good use.
Self-Paced
There’s so much to learn about C++ programming. A self-paced course that doesn’t impose strict deadlines and allows you to take as much time as you need on more challenging concepts.
Our Top Picks
Below, you will find Benzinga’s top C++ online courses from leading online learning platforms, like Coursera, edX and Udmey. We’ve organized the classes by skill level — beginners, intermediate students and advanced students. Plus, you’ll find a description and price point for each course to help you make an informed decision.
C++ Online Courses for Beginners
These introductory courses teach C++ from the ground up.
1. Introduction to C++ by Microsoft
Who it's for: Beginners
Price: Free
Introduction to C++ is perfect for individuals who want to learn how to create applications that can run on several platforms.
This 4-week course includes 4 modules:
- C++ Syntax
- C++ Language Fundamentals
- How to Create Functions in C++
- Prepare Yourself for Intermediate and Advanced C++ Topics in Follow-Up Courses Taught by Microsoft
You will walk away with a foundational knowledge of the C++ programming language and the skills to develop apps that are compatible with Linux, Mac OS X, UNIX and Windows.
There’s no cost to enroll. Expect to spend 3 to 5 hours per week working through the course material.
2. Beginning C++ Programming – From Beginner to Beyond by Udemy
Who it's for: Beginners
Price: On sale
Beginning C++ Programming – From Beginner to Beyond is another ideal option for individuals who want to learn the mechanics of C++ programming. This Udemy bestseller includes 41.5 hours of on-demand video lectures, 2 articles, 66 downloadable resources and 37 coding exercises to guide you on your online learning journey.
Seasoned computer scientists and educator Frank J. Mitropoulos, divides 277 lectures into the following sections:
- Introduction
- Installation and Setup
- Curriculum Overview
- Getting Started
- Structure of a C++ Program
- Variables and Constants
- Arrays and Vectors
- Statements and Operators
- Controlling Program Flow
- Characters and Strings
- Functions
- Pointers and References
- OOP – Classes and Objects
- Operator Overloading
- Inheritance
- Polymorphism
- Start Pointers
- Exception Handling
- I/O Streams
- The Standard Template Library (STL)
Take advantage of the promotional pricing by enrolling today. The course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied for any reason.
3. C++ from Beginner to Expert by Arkadiusz Włodarczyk
Who it's for: Beginners
Price: Free
Master the C++ programming language in just a day with web development expert Arkadiusz Włodarczyk.
C++ from Beginner to Expert features 67 lessons and several assignments. There’s also a class project that allows you to put your newfound skills to use in a practice setting.
Many critical concepts are covered in the class, including operators, conditional statements, arrays, loops, functions, points and so much more. You will also complete lessons on data structures, copy constructors, exceptions, namespaces, streams and opening modes.
Grab a free seat in the course by registering for a Skillshare trial.
Intermediate C++ Online Courses
Have experience using C++? Level up your expertise with these intermediate courses.
4. Object-Oriented Data Structures in C++ by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Who it's for: Intermediate students
Price: Free
Offered by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Object-Oriented Data Structures in C++ is the first installment in the Accelerated Computer Science Fundamentals Specialization. It moves beyond the basics of the C++ programming language to cover development environment setup for debugging and writing, data structure implementation and more.
Led by Teaching Assistant Professor Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider, here’s a breakdown of the course:
- Orientation: Writing a C++ Program
- Understanding the C++ Memory Model
- Developing C++ Classes
- Engineering C++ Software Solutions
Each module includes video lessons and supplementary readings to give you a holistic view of the core concepts. You will also be tasked with taking a series of quizzes to assess your comprehension of the material.
You should allocate 21 hours in your schedule to complete this free class.
5. Learning Path: C++ Game Programming by Udemy
Who it's for: Intermediate students
Price: On sale
Presented by Packt Publishing, this course teaches the art of game building with the C++ programming language in a fun-filled way.
Learning Path: C++ Game Programming is divided into 2 parts. In the first half of the course, you will learn how to set up the development environment, draw the game background, handle errors, manipulate variables, add strings and grow the branches. Part 2 focuses on several other techniques for game building, like abstract classes, collision detection, sounds and specialization.
When you enroll, you will get instant access to 89 lectures condensed into 9 hours of on-demand video and 2 downloadable resources. You will also receive a certificate of completion when you finish the course.
It’s best if you have basic game development and C knowledge before you enroll.
6. Identifying Security Vulnerabilities in C/C++ Programming by the University of California, Davis
Who it's for: Intermediate students
Price: Free
Want to learn how to quickly identify security threats in the C++ library code? Look no further than this intermediate course. It is a component of the Secure Coding Practices Specialization from the University of California, Davis.
Identifying Security Vulnerabilities in C/C++ Programming is facilitated by Matthew Bishop, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Computer Science. He breaks the class down into 4 modules:
- Users, Privileges and Environment Variables
- Validation and Verification, Buffer and Numeric Overflows and Input Injections
- Files, Subprocesses and Race Conditions
- Randomness, Cryptography and Other Topics
You will spend approximately 22 hours working through the course material. Registration is free.
Advanced C++ Online Courses
Do you have extensive experience using C++ in the classroom or on the job? These advanced courses are well worth your time and money.
7. Learn Advanced C++ Programming by Udemy
Who it's for: Advanced students
Price: On sale
Learn Advanced C++ Programming is also worth considering if you want to learn more about the programming language's advanced features. It also teaches you how to develop more complex C++ applications without pulling your hair out. Plus, you will position yourself for career advancement opportunities.
Here’s a quick look at the course syllabus:
- Introduction
- Exceptions
- Files
- The Standard Template Library
- Operator Overloading
- Template Classes and Functions
- Passing Functions to Functions
- C++ 11’s Amazing New Features
- About GUI Programming in C++
- A Project: Drawing Fractal Images
- Bonus Videos
Register today to unlock full lifetime access to 105 lectures jam-packed into 15 hours of on-demand video, 2 articles and 2 downloadable resources. You will also receive a certificate of completion when you reach the finish line.
The course is instructed by software development trainer John Purcell.
8. Learn Advanced Modern C++! by Udemy
Who it's for: Advanced students
Price: On sale
Discover proven advanced strategies to develop professional C++ classes. This highly-rated course from Udemy will show you how.
Learn Advanced Modern C++! is best for individuals who have prior knowledge of C++ and a compiler, like C++14, that supports C++11. It includes the following segments:
- Introduction
- Files and Streams
- Vectors, Strings and Arrays
- Operator Overloading
- Iterators
- Algorithms
- Containers
- Pointers
- Inheritance and Polymorphism
- Error Handling and Exceptions
- Move Semantics
- Bonus Videos
Sign up today for full lifetime access to 107 lectures condensed into 15 hours of on-demand video and 116 downloadable resources.
Facilitator James Raynard is a software developer that specializes in the C++ programming language.
Get Started with a C++ Online Course
Consider our C++ online courses to learn the basics, launch your career or position yourself for a promotion. They’re taught by subject-matter experts and feature supplementary resources to help you get the most out of the course. Plus, you can work around your busy schedule as all the options are self-paced.
Southern New Hampshire University Online
SNHU Online Offers:
- Flexible schedules
- Affordable tuition
- Online tutoring
- Access to electronic research materials
- Specialized academic advising
- Supportive online community