Last updated: 13 October 2026 (full refresh; syllabus, projects, prerequisites, ratings and prices re-checked on Udacity’s nd303 program page that day). Reviewed by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you enroll through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change our verdict, and several of the alternatives we name pay us nothing.
Udacity’s Intermediate Python Nanodegree (nd303) is a 35-hour program for people who know Python basics and want to write larger, better-organized programs: data structures, functional and object-oriented programming, file I/O, modules and packages, open-source libraries, command-line tools and a small web application. It has two reviewed projects and was rated 4.4 from 118 reviews when we checked it on 13 October 2026.
This review covers what the program teaches, how the projects work, whether the certificate carries weight with employers, and how it compares to cheaper alternatives on Coursera and Udemy.
QUICK VERDICT
Our rating: 3.5 / 5
- Best for: self-taught Python users who can write scripts but struggle to structure larger programs, and who want two graded projects for a portfolio.
- Not for: complete beginners, professional Python developers, and anyone who learns well from books or cheap video courses without feedback.
Bottom line: a focused, short program with two genuinely useful projects. Because it is only 35 hours, one month of subscription usually covers it, which makes it one of Udacity’s cheaper programs to finish. It loses points for price relative to the many low-cost Python courses and for a narrow scope.
See the Intermediate Python Nanodegree →
Intermediate Python Nanodegree at a Glance
Before you sign up for another data science course, read this.
I've taken DataCamp, Dataquest, Coursera ML, and the Udacity nanodegrees. Get my Tuesday picks — plus reader-only codes when they drop.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Program | Intermediate Python Nanodegree (nd303) |
| Platform | Udacity |
| Skill Level | Intermediate (Udacity’s label; basic Python required) |
| Estimated time | 35 hours |
| Structure | 2 core courses plus a Shell Workshop, 14 lessons, 2 reviewed projects |
| Projects | Exploring Near-Earth Objects; Motivational Meme Generator |
| Instructors | Sam Redmond and Gabriel Ruttner |
| Rating | 4.4 from 118 reviews on Udacity’s page |
| Certificate | Yes (Udacity Nanodegree certificate) |
| Price (13 Oct 2026) | $249/month, $846 for 4 months, or $999 one-time |
| Last updated by Udacity | August 10, 2026 |
Source: Udacity’s nd303 program page, read 13 October 2026. Two corrections to our previous version: Udacity estimates 35 hours, not “2 months at 10 hours a week”, and the plan card no longer lists career services.
What You’ll Learn
The program has two core courses and a short command-line workshop:
Course 1: Advanced Python Techniques
Five lessons cover how Python represents data (and practical work with its core data types), functions and functional programming (parameters, functions as objects and decorators), object-oriented programming with Python’s exception hierarchy, and file I/O for plain text, JSON and CSV. It ends with the Exploring Near-Earth Objects project.
Course 2: Large Python Codebases with Libraries
The second course is about writing code that scales past a single script. Lessons cover foundations for clean code (object-oriented design, documentation, typing and tests), building modules, installing and using open-source libraries with pip and virtual environments, using Python from the command line, and Python for the web: consuming web APIs and serving an application with Flask. It ends with the Motivational Meme Generator project.
Shell Workshop
A short lesson on the Unix shell, useful if you have mostly written Python inside notebooks or an IDE.
Udacity’s skills list for nd303 also names magic methods, creational and object-oriented design patterns, PEP 8, REST APIs and application routing. Our previous review listed generators, context managers, closures and web scraping; those are not named in Udacity’s current syllabus, so we have removed them.
Three concepts the program makes you comfortable with
Decorators: functions that wrap other functions to add behavior, such as timing or caching, without changing the wrapped code. They appear in most Python web frameworks, Flask included, so understanding them makes framework code readable.
Magic methods: special methods such as __init__, __repr__ and __eq__ that let your own classes behave like built-in types when printed, compared or iterated.
Virtual environments and packages: isolating each project’s dependencies with a virtual environment and installing libraries with pip, so a project you share runs the same way on someone else’s machine.
What it does not cover
- Data analysis libraries such as pandas and NumPy in depth (see Programming for Data Science with Python)
- Back-end web development with databases and deployment (see Backend Developer with Python)
- Concurrency, async programming and performance tuning
Projects and Hands-On Work
Udacity Nanodegrees are project-driven, and the two projects are where most of the learning happens:
- Exploring Near-Earth Objects: a command-line tool that searches and explores close approaches of near-Earth objects using data from NASA/JPL’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. The course’s object-oriented and file I/O lessons (CSV and JSON) feed directly into it.
- Motivational Meme Generator: an application that combines images with quotes. It draws on the second course’s lessons on modules, open-source libraries, the command line and Python for the web.
Each project is graded against a rubric by a reviewer, and Udacity’s plan card lists personalized project reviews. A senior back-end developer who took the program wrote on r/Udacity that he learned some things despite years of Python, and that the browser workspace gives you a file explorer, editor and terminal, though he preferred his own local environment.
Turn the projects into portfolio pieces
- Push both projects to GitHub with a README that explains what they do and how to run them.
- Add a few tests. The course covers testing, and tests show care to reviewers and employers.
- Extend one project after you pass: for example, add a date filter and a summary chart to the NEO explorer, or deploy the meme generator.
View the Intermediate Python Nanodegree on Udacity →
A four-week study plan
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Course 1: representing data, functions and functional programming, object-oriented programming |
| 2 | File I/O; build and submit Exploring Near-Earth Objects |
| 3 | Course 2: foundations, building modules, using libraries, Python in systems; Shell Workshop |
| 4 | Python for the web; build and submit the Motivational Meme Generator |
This assumes about 10 hours a week and fits inside one month of subscription if both projects pass on the first submission. Leave a few extra days for reviews.
Who Is This Nanodegree For?
This program fits a specific niche:
- Self-taught developers who learned Python from videos or free resources and have gaps in object-oriented and modular design
- Analysts and scientists who write long notebooks and want to structure code as modules and packages
- Career changers preparing for junior developer or data roles that expect solid Python
- Learners who want two graded projects and structure rather than a library of videos
If you already write Python professionally, or completed a CS degree with Python coursework, this program will feel too basic.
A quick readiness check
You are ready for nd303 if you can, without looking anything up, write a function that takes a list of dictionaries and returns a filtered, sorted list; use a for loop with an if statement inside; and explain the difference between a list and a tuple. If those feel shaky, spend a week or two on a free beginner course first, because the first project assumes them.
Which Udacity Python program fits you?
| Program | Level and time | Best if |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Programming (nd000) | Beginner, 109 hours | You have never programmed |
| AI Programming with Python (nd089) | Beginner, 52 hours | You want Python, NumPy, pandas and a first neural network |
| Programming for Data Science with Python (nd104) | Beginner, 63 hours | You are heading toward data analysis |
| Intermediate Python (nd303) | Intermediate, 35 hours | You know the basics and want to structure larger programs |
Levels and hours are from Udacity’s program pages on 13 October 2026. For Udacity’s free introductory Python options, see our Udacity Introduction to Python review.
Pros and Cons
What Works Well
- Two graded projects with written reviewer feedback
- Focused 35-hour curriculum: object-oriented design, functional programming, modules, libraries and a small Flask app
- Short enough to finish in one month of subscription
- Browser workspace with an editor and terminal, so there is little setup
Where It Falls Short
- Premium price compared with Coursera or Udemy alternatives that cover similar syntax
- Narrow scope: no pandas, databases, async or deployment
- No live instruction or cohort
- Career services are not listed on the current plan card
What learners say
Udacity’s page shows 4.4 from 118 reviews. Recent 2026 reviews are short and positive, and one 2025 reviewer asked for more explanation of how to use the terminal to test code. On r/Udacity, the 2021 thread on this program was skeptical about price: replies pointed to free video tutorials and cheap Udemy courses, and a learner who finished said the full price was too high but worth considering with a discount.
Across Udacity as a whole, Trustpilot showed 4.5 from 3,406 reviews on 13 October 2026. In the 60 newest reviews, the complaints were about slow support tickets, a project review pending for three weeks and workspace terminals failing to install packages.
Pricing and Value
Udacity sells access by subscription. On 13 October 2026 the nd303 page offered $249 a month, $846 for a four-month bundle (about $212 a month), or $999 to buy just this program, with a 40% discount banner for new users.
Live sale
Udacity sale: 50% off all programs. 4-month bundle $423 instead of $846. Verified 21 Oct 2026 05:15 UTC by the detector (HALLOWEEN50 $423.00 vs our code $507.60).
See the Udacity sale →| Your pace | Time to finish 35 hours | Likely cost (list price) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 hours a week | About 2 to 3 weeks plus reviews | $249 (one month) |
| 10 hours a week | About 3 to 4 weeks plus reviews | $249 to $498 |
| 5 hours a week | About 7 weeks plus reviews | $498 |
Whether it is worth the price depends on what you value most:
- Feedback matters: graded projects are the main thing you pay for; most cheap video courses do not grade your work.
- Budget is tight: you can learn the same Python concepts for under $20 on a Udemy sale, or free, just without the reviews.
- Career value: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a median wage of $135,980 for software developers (May 2025), but one 35-hour program is a step toward that, not a qualification for it.
Check current Udacity pricing →
Alternatives Worth Considering
| Platform | Course | Best For | Notes (13 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursera | Python for Everybody Specialization (University of Michigan) | Structured beginner path with a university certificate | 5 courses, Beginner; 4.8 from 280,778 reviews. More basic than nd303. |
| DataCamp | Python tracks | Data-focused Python in short interactive exercises | Subscription |
| Educative | Python courses | Text-based, hands-on browser coding | Subscription |
| Udemy | 100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp (Angela Yu) | Budget-friendly, very broad | 4.7 from 438,006 ratings; 1,890,573 students; updated 9/2026 |
Ratings and counts were read on the course pages on 13 October 2026. For more options, see our full guide to the best free Python courses online and our best Udemy Python courses.
Not sure you need Udacity? Try the free options first, then come back if you want graded projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Udacity Intermediate Python Nanodegree worth it?
It depends on whether you will use the two reviewed projects. At 35 hours, most people finish inside one month of subscription ($249 at list price on 13 October 2026), and you get object-oriented design, functional programming, file I/O, modules, libraries, a small Flask web app and two graded projects. If you are self-motivated and do not need feedback, books, free courses or a $15 to $20 Udemy course on sale teach the same syntax.
Is a Udacity Nanodegree worth it in general?
A Nanodegree is worth paying for when the reviewed projects matter to you: a reviewer grades each project against a rubric, and you finish with portfolio pieces. It is poor value if you only need the concepts. The certificate is a Udacity credential, not an academic degree or an industry certification.
Do I need Python experience before starting?
Yes. Udacity lists basic Python and control flow as prerequisites. You should be comfortable with variables, loops, functions, lists and dictionaries. Complete beginners should start with Udacity’s Introduction to Programming or AI Programming with Python programs, or a free beginner course.
How long does it take to complete?
Udacity estimates 35 hours. At 10 hours a week that is three to four weeks of lessons, plus a few days for each of the two project reviews. Fast learners who code daily can finish in two to three weeks. Our previous review said two months, which overstated the current program.
Is the Udacity Nanodegree certificate recognized by employers?
It is a Udacity certificate, not an industry certification or academic credit. Employers care more about what you can show, so put the Near-Earth Objects explorer and the meme generator on GitHub with a clear README and tests.
Does it include career services or mentors?
Udacity’s price card for nd303 on 13 October 2026 listed hands-on projects with expert feedback, personalized project reviews and a program certificate. It did not list career services, so we no longer claim them. Earlier versions of this review said resume, LinkedIn and GitHub reviews were included.
How much does it cost?
Udacity charged $249 a month, $846 for four months (about $212 a month) or $999 to buy the program outright on 13 October 2026, and showed a 40% discount banner for new users. Because the program is only 35 hours, the monthly plan is usually the cheapest route.
Can I get a refund if I don’t like it?
Udacity’s Terms of Use (updated January 16, 2026) give seven days from your first purchase to cancel for a full refund. After that, fees are not refunded, and canceling a monthly plan keeps access until the end of the month you paid for.
Verdict
The Udacity Intermediate Python Nanodegree is a short, focused program for developers who want structured, project-based practice with reviewer feedback. It covers the right topics for the jump from scripts to programs (object-oriented design, functional programming, modules, libraries and file handling), and the two projects produce real portfolio pieces.
The main question is price. Because it takes about 35 hours, one month of subscription usually covers it, and if graded feedback matters to you, that is fair value. If you are budget-conscious and self-directed, Udemy, Coursera, DataCamp and free resources offer similar content for less.
Enroll in the Intermediate Python Nanodegree on Udacity →
Related Udacity Guides: Every Udacity Nanodegree in 2026 (Hub) | Udacity Generative AI Nanodegree Review | Udacity Agentic AI Nanodegree Review | Udacity ML DevOps Engineer Review
Related: For the comprehensive Udacity Nanodegree breakdown (cost, programs, project reviews and our worth-it verdict) read our complete Udacity Nanodegree review (2026).