what is the cost of creating a new course at a college?

by Adan Stiedemann 10 min read

At an estimated 80 to 280 hours required to develop a 1-hour course, you can expect to pay roughly $5,850 USD to over $15,000 USD to get a fully polished course, in addition to the cost of your Instructional Designer (ID) and SME.

At an estimated 80 to 280 hours required to develop a 1-hour course, you can expect to pay roughly $5,850 USD to over $15,000 USD to get a fully polished course, in addition to the cost of your Instructional Designer (ID) and SME.

Full Answer

How much does it cost to create content for a course?

The cost of creating content for your course is time-relevant which means you have to think about how many hours you or the freelancer professional will need to work on it. If you are hiring freelancers for the job, the cost formula is this: According to Salary.com, the average hourly rate for an instructional designer in the US is $36.

How much does it cost to take a class in college?

Since a typical college class is worth three credits, one college class at the average American college costs $1,677 in tuition ($559 x 3 = $1,677). It’s also helpful to know that to be considered a full-time student, the usual minimum course load is 12 credits.

Why are some college courses more expensive than others?

This is because courses at some schools — like the most expensive on the list — count for more credits, meaning that students have to take fewer courses to graduate. The fewer courses a student has to take, the more a single course is going to cost.

How do you calculate the cost of a single course?

We divided the cost to graduate by the number of courses needed, giving us the cost of a single course. (The credit number we used to represent a typical course is specified for each university.)

How much does creating a course cost?

It can cost anywhere from $200 to $10,000 to create an online course. The main source of expenses is the labor involved, followed by the equipment and software. If you are creating the online course yourself and not paying someone else to do it, this means that other than your time there are very few expenses involved.

How many hours does it take to create a course?

Depending on the duration and detail of the program, it can take anywhere between 25 – 500 hours to formulate an online course. A mini-course with just 4 or 5 videos you could develop it in a couple of days. An in-depth flagship course with numerous modules and assignments could take eight weeks or more to accomplish.

How long does it take to develop a college course?

In the study, 29% of respondents said it took them over 100 hours, while 87% take up to 16 weeks to develop their course. A good rule of thumb is to allow 2-3 months to account for research, designing the course, testing with students and finalizing.

Is making a course profitable?

Are Online Courses Profitable? Yes, they are. Online courses offer one of the best business models to digital entrepreneurs. The demand is rising and people are more than willing to pay for them, and they are one of the top ways to make money online.

How do you price an instructional design project?

According to Upwork, the hourly rate of an instructional designer starts at about $50. A simple scenario with the main character and a linear plot can be written in 20 hours, so the work will cost at least $1,000. The harder the task, the higher the price.

How do you develop a training course?

How to Create a Successful Training Course or Program: 10 StepsAssess your needs and develop goals and success metrics. ... Determine the type of employee training plan. ... Keep adult learning principles in mind. ... Develop learning objectives/outline. ... Finalize your training plan. ... Design and develop training materials.More items...

How much time does it take to create an online course?

It can take anywhere between 3 days to 2 months to create an online course, assuming that you are working on it full time. A mini-course covering a very narrow topic can be produced in only 3 days or less, while a complete in-depth 20h masterclass covering all levels can take several months to produce.

How long does it take to create an eLearning course?

The research gives a mid-point for medium interactivity courses of approximately 180 hours development for every 1 hour of eLearning. Therefore, by their estimates, a 20 minute course would take 60 hours of development. If you work a 40 hour week, that's about a solid week and a half of your hard labor.

How long does it take to create a teachable course?

Depending on the length and detail of the course, it can take anywhere between 25 – 500 hours to create an online course. For a mini course with just 4 or 5 videos you could create it in a couple of days. An in-depth flagship course with multiple modules and lessons could take 8 weeks or more to complete.

How much do course creators make?

Your online course could earn anywhere from a $0 – $50k+ per month. Many course creators will earn $1 – 5k/month and there are numerous examples of online course teachers earning $10k – $50k per month.. There are lots of factors that will determine how much you can earn by selling online courses.

How do you create a course and sell it?

Share this articlePick the perfect course topic.Ensure your course idea has high market demand.Create Magnetic and Compelling Learning Outcomes.Select and Gather your Course Content.Structure Your Modules and Course Plan.Determine the most engaging and effective delivery methods for each lesson.More items...•

How do you sell a training program?

How To Sell Training Courses To CompaniesIdentify your target market. ... Ensure you know how you're able to help a company. ... Offer taster sessions for your courses. ... Market your training courses in the right ways. ... Don't forget about repeat business. ... Attend the best networking events. ... Running a successful training business.

What Does the Cost to Create an Online Course Depend On?

As you can imagine, online course development costs depend on several factors, so estimating it isn’t a straightforward task. Here are some decisions that will influence it:

How to create a course?

Creating content for your course will be the first step in your course creation process. To estimate the cost at this step, let’s look at the different types of content you may need to create: 1 Written content for course videos, PDFs, presentation decks, website, etc. 2 Presentation slides for videos 3 Branding assets and graphics for your course material

What is the first step in course creation?

Creating content for your course will be the first step in your course creation process. To estimate the cost at this step, let’s look at the different types of content you may need to create:

Why do some courses count as more credits?

This is because courses at some schools — like the most expensive on the list — count for more credits, meaning that students have to take fewer courses to graduate. The fewer courses a student has to take, the more a single course is going to cost.

How many courses does Dartmouth take?

Note: Dartmouth uses a trimester system. A Dartmouth alum explained to Business Insider that students typically take three courses per trimester, which would come out to 36 courses before graduation. Using that number (more courses than technically required to graduate), one course would cost $5,195.

How much does it cost to advertise for a course?

Agency or freelancer costs vary wildly on quality and budgets, but can start as low as $100 plus your advertising budget.

When planning your course, what should you do?

When planning your course choose your materials wisely so that they respond well to your learners’ needs and abilities.

What is a course that encourages learners to interact fully and give feedback?

It makes use of serious games, avatars, simulated job performance exercises, customized audio and video, stories, scenarios. It includes high-end interactive elements that are complex, more expensive and need more time to develop.

How much does it cost to register a domain name?

Domain Name. Costs on registering a domain name for your business range from $10 per year up to $100, a thousand or a million depending on the type of domain name you choose. An old domain name is fine like good old wine, but it’s usually expensive, and there is always the option of registering a new one.

Is it easier to create puzzles than videos?

But since these are often easier to create compared to a video, there can be a slight reduction in the development time and costs.

Can you ask an instructional designer to review and edit your work?

For example, you can come up with good content and develop a course scenario while saving tons of money. Then, you can ask an instructional designer to review and edit your work. You can do the same with more complex online learning material – videos, quizzes, puzzles, and assignments:

Is online learning profitable?

The short answer is “YES it can be quite profitable!”. The long answer requires a more in-depth analysis. Creating and selling online courses is a highly profitable business with the potential to open up a passive stream of income.

How much will the e-learning market be in 2025?

eLearning is going to play an ever-larger role in the future of higher education. In fact, by 2025, the e-learning market will reach $325 billion. That’s more than four times the traditional higher-education market. Even better, the benefits offered by online courses include increased student engagement, ...

How much does EDpuzzle cost?

Video editing software — There are very simple options, like EDpuzzle ($9.95/month), which help you edit lectures into online videos, and more advanced options, like Adobe Premiere Pro (starts at $20.99/month), which will help you create professional-grade movies.

Why is it important to select a system that meets your needs?

Because it is the main framework that students and teachers will interact with, it’s important to thoughtfully select a system that meets your needs. Each system has different features and functions that will dictate the kind of content you can offer and the supplemental tools you may need to purchase.

Why is online learning better than traditional learning?

Even better, the benefits offered by online courses include increased student engagement, the opportunity for peer review and collaboration, and the promise of individualized attention , even in large classrooms. There are many reasons to embrace e-learning, ...

Is cloud learning more popular?

For all of these reasons, cloud-based options are becoming more and more popular. Cloud-based learning management systems usually operate on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, where users pay a monthly or yearly subscription.

Do you need to create a course material for an online course?

Just as you would need to create a curriculum and hire an instructor to teach an in-person course, you will need to create course materials and a lesson plan for an online one. You’ll either need to create the content yourself, have your staff do it, or hire someone else to do so.

What goes into the cost of a college class?

Now, keep in mind, tuition isn’t the only expense that goes into the cost of a college class. You’ll also need to consider books, supplies, student fees, and transportation.

How Much Does One College Class Cost?

So you’re planning for your degree and course load and making a budget. Now, you need to start breaking down the cost of your college classes. Here’s what you need to consider.

How much does Sarah's college credit cost?

Sarah’s college credits cost $600 each. Using her part-time job in retail, Sarah realizes that if she reduces her course load for the semester and takes classes over the summer, then she could use her wages and savings to pay for each class in full. This way, she completely avoids needing to take out a student loan.

How many credit hours are there in a semester?

Credit hours measure the amount of instruction you need to pass a course. One credit hour is equal to 15 to 16 class hours, and these credit hours are calculated across one semester, which generally lasts 16 weeks. Since most courses are worth three credit hours, you need to complete at least 45 to 48 hours of class time in one semester. This translates to three hours of instruction every week for a standard semester.

Why is it important to understand the amount of tuition you pay per class?

That’s because understanding the amount you pay per class means that you have better control over the classes you enroll in and the schedule that you can afford each semester. For example:

How much does a credit hour cost?

The average cost for one credit hour in the US is $559. Since a typical college class is worth three credits, one college class at the average American university costs $1,677. But why does this matter?

How much does it cost to take a college class?

Since a typical college class is worth three credits, one college class at the average American college costs $1,677 in tuition ($559 x 3 = $1,677).

How much does it cost to create an online course?

Creating an online course can run between $200 at the very minimum to $5500 or more a year depending on the method you choose to create and market it. These cost account for the hosting platform, screen capture software, email service provider, domain names, to advertising cost. However, the cost all depends on the hosting you use, ...

How much does it cost to host a course on WordPress?

Option #1 WordPress – $159. Your first option is to host your course on WordPress. A lot of people like this option because it gives you the most control over your content to the hosting you decide to use. With other platforms, you are stuck with the options they provide.

How to create an opt-in offer?

The final way to create an opt-in offer is to do a webinar. A webinar is a great way to teach your audience something to live and sell them your product in the end. Doing a webinar is the only time the 5-minute rule doesn’t apply.

How much does a shoestring budget cost?

If you’re on a shoestring budget then you’re looking at roughly a $166 a year or roughly $14 a month. However, this is using every free option possible and doing no advertising.

What is the best part about owning a blog?

The best part about owning a blog is that you have complete control over it. Just like this blog I own the entire site. It does not exist on someone else’s platform. To do this I recommend WordPress.org.

What do I need to promote my online course?

The next thing you’ll need is a way to promote your online course and for this, I recommend a blog. With a blog, it gives your audience a central hub to find you. You can share content like a blog post, videos, and even a podcast.

Do you have to spend money to start an online course?

Overall though you will likely have to spend some money to get your online course business off the ground. However, don’t look at this as an expense but rather an investment into your future business.

How much is Teachable?

The best part about Teachable is that the basic plan is really cheap at only $29 per month ($90 less than Kajabi's basic plan).

What is the best tool to create graphics for a course?

You'll need to create some graphics for your course in order to make it look appealing and professional. For beginners, we recommend Canva , a free graphic-design tool website. This tool will help you design all the graphics you need for your course, website, and social media.

Why is Teachable not selling?

Because Teachable doesn't include any tools for building an audience, it's like slapping up a "buy now" button and then expecting people to magically find your course and buy it. It just doesn't work that way. You aren't going to make sales without first attracting people to your online course. Plus, even if you already have an audience to buy your course, you'll have to pay a 5% transaction fee PER SALE with Teachable.

How to create a course proposal?

Each school will have its own procedures for formally establishing a course before making it available to students and including it in the course catalog. Write an effective course description that provides a basic overview of the course material that will be covered in one semester . Submit your proposal to the appropriate faculty members.

How to write a syllabus for a college?

Write the course syllabus based on the textbooks that will be used, your lectures and the course objectives you have established in the course proposal. The syllabus should include a comprehensive course schedule, the course objectives, information regarding the types of assessments that will be required (exams, quizzes, papers, etc.), your contact information and any required institutional statements that your college may require in all of its syllabi.

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What Does The Cost to Create An Online Course Depend on?

Creating Course Content

  • Creating content for your course will be the first step in your course creation process. To estimate the cost at this step, let’s look at the different types of content you may need to create: 1. Written content for course videos, PDFs, presentation decks, website, etc. 2. Presentation slides for videos 3. Branding assets and graphics for your course material Most online courses are betwee…
See more on sellcoursesonline.com

Recording Course Videos

  • The cost of creating videos for your course will depend on the type and the quality of videos you want to create. For instance, if you want to create talking head videos that show you speaking to the camera, you need to factor in the equipment cost for shooting the videos, setting up a basic home studio, plus the cost of video-editing software. On the other hand, you will need just an au…
See more on sellcoursesonline.com

Setting Up Your Course

  • Once your content is ready, you will need to upload them to an online course platform in order to start selling it. Now, you can choose from a wide variety of online course platforms, but in my opinion, Thinkific gives the best value for money for a beginner. The platform comes with powerful learning & engagement tools, gives you unlimited video hosting, and takes care of all th…
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Summary – Cost to Create An Online Course

  • In this guide, we have discussed the cost of creating a course under different heads – creating course content, recording course videos, and setting up your course. When you add all of them, you’ll get the total costs involved. The total cost of creating your course will be $140 + $100-$149/monthif you create screencast or presentation-style videos...
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Choosing A Learning Management System

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Before pricing out any other aspect of course creation, you’ll need to select a learning management system (LMS). This software manages the delivery of course materials and monitors student completion. Because it is the main framework that students and teachers will interact with, it’s important to thoughtf…
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Do You Need An authoring Tool?

  • Once you have an LMS to display your content, you may need to buy a separate piece of software called an authoring tool, to create your course content. This software combines e-learning materials into a course package, which you can then upload directly to your LMS. Whether you need to buy an authoring tool or not depends on the LMS you choose. Some LMS options, like E…
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Creating Course Content

  • Now that you have the tools to set up your course, it’s time to think about the content. Just as you would need to create a curriculum and hire an instructor to teach an in-person course, you will need to create course materials and a lesson plan for an online one. You’ll either need to create the content yourself, have your staff do it, or hire someone else to do so. This most likely means …
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Video Production Costs

  • Some online courses use only written materials, while others rely heavily on video lectures or demonstrations. At Eduflow we tend to lean away from stand alone video-based online learning experiences. We believe that instead of simply watching a series of videos, students need to actively engage with content and each other, to be held accountable for their own learning. Vide…
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Technical Support For Students and Teachers

  • Any new technology rollout is bound to generate questions and require troubleshooting. If you’re using a proprietary LMS, the company behind it may take care of technical support for you. However, in most cases, you’ll need to provide ongoing technical support for both the students and the teachers who use your course. While30% of universities are able to offer 24/7 technical …
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So How Much Does It Cost to Develop An Online Course? It Depends on Your Goals

  • If you started this piece hoping to come away with a solid quote for creating an online course, you may be disappointed. In truth, an online course costs as much as you’re willing to spend. If, for example, you used a cloud-based LMS like Eduflow, don’t need an authoring tool, don’t produce videos and create your content in-house, you might be able to put together and entire course for …
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