An honest, cited answer. We make no ROI, salary, placement, or 'worth it' claim, and we don't track live job demand — where we don't know, we say so.
Cheaper than most people assume — because a lot of the training is free; you mainly pay for the exam. The vendors' own self-paced training is often free: AWS Skill Builder self-paced digital training and Microsoft Learn learning paths cost nothing. So the realistic floor to get started is roughly an exam fee plus your time — AWS publishes the Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) exam at US$100, the lowest entry-exam fee we hold a dated read for. Free or funded structured programs also exist: AWS re/Start for unemployed and underemployed learners; WIOA-funded training through your local American Job Center, where eligibility is determined locally and funding is limited and not guaranteed; employer tuition assistance up to US$5,250/year tax-free under IRS Section 127; and, for GI Bill-eligible veterans, VA reimbursement of licensing and certification test fees up to $2,000 per test — you pay first, then claim. The honest sequence: learn free → take the exam → add paid training only if you want instruction and structure (it buys teaching, not the credential).
What we don't know
Eligibility and amounts for funding programs vary and change — verify each at its official source.