Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It?

Coding bootcamps are worth it for people who want a faster way to start a career in technology. Coding bootcamps aren’t as comprehensive as traditional four-year degree programs, but they are more affordable and take only six months to a year to complete. Many employers hire bootcamp graduates because of their specialized skills and the hands-on experience they receive from their bootcamp program.

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Do Coding Bootcamps Work?

Coding bootcamps work for people that want a career in tech but don’t know where to begin. Students start by choosing a coding bootcamp that trains them in a career field that is in high demand. They then go on to develop their tech skills, learn programming languages, and work on hands-on projects. 

Coding bootcamps are designed to help students achieve the following:

1. Ability to Secure a Job in Desired Field
2. Increased Income
3. Job Satisfaction

What’s more, you don’t have to worry about restricting your work to the tech industry. Half of all programming openings are in industries outside of technology. Those areas include finance, manufacturing, health care, fashion, and more. 

Coding Bootcamps vs Degree Programs

While bootcamp graduates and college graduates can work in similar fields, the two programs are very different.

A traditional college degree program is designed to teach students through a well-rounded curriculum. The college experience includes courses related to a student’s career field, but also extracurricular courses, and core courses such as math, science, and history. A coding bootcamp is much more streamlined.

The reason why coding bootcamps take only a few months to a year to complete is that they’re designed to help people make a career change. Coding bootcamp programs only give you courses related to your career. If you attend a web design bootcamp, every class you take will be related to web design, developing your coding skills, and getting you to a professional level as quickly as possible.

While both programs have their merits, a coding bootcamp is designed for people who want to start a new career in tech quickly without a degree.

How to Choose a Coding Bootcamp?

Due to the rise in popularity of bootcamps, there are many programs to choose from. These programs prepare you for popular careers, such as software development. However, the truth is that not all coding bootcamps are worth it. Picking the right one can mean the difference between finding a job quickly and struggling to get a company to hire you. 

Types of Coding Bootcamps

Coding bootcamps come in three types. Each type of bootcamp is designed to meet the needs of students.

Full-Time Bootcamps: These bootcamps allow you to find a job in a matter of months. Full-time coding bootcamps are intensive programs that develop your technical skills. Even if you’re a beginner, you can still become a professional in three to six months by attending one of these bootcamps.

Part-Time Bootcamps: A part-time bootcamp is for working professionals. While part-time bootcamps aren’t as intensive as full-time programs, they still require a time commitment. These programs take longer to complete and coding classes are usually held during the evenings and on weekends.

Online Bootcamps: These remote coding bootcamps allow people from all over the world to participate. People that enroll in a bootcamp online have access to the same tools as in-person bootcamp students. Most online bootcamps are self-paced, but some require you to attend your online courses according to a schedule.

Coding Bootcamp Programs

The range of topics that coding bootcamp programs focus on has increased rapidly in the last few years. In the past, students could only choose from a few types of programs, such as software engineering or web development. Since then, the industry has grown significantly. Below are just a few of the most popular coding bootcamp programs available.

• Mobile Development
• Web Development
• Cybersecurity
• Product Management
• Software Engineering
• Quality Assurance Engineer
• UX/UI Designer
• Data Science
• Digital Marketing

These are just some of the programs that coding bootcamps have to offer. Many bootcamps provide a long list of programs for careers related to tech.

Job Placement for Coding Bootcamp Graduates

The best programming bootcamps equip students with the knowledge they need to find a job after graduation. Most coding bootcamps offer job placement services. These services give students career counselors or coaches, mentors, and other resources to help them with their job search. Some of the tools coding bootcamps give their bootcamp alumni include:

• Interview practice
• Help with creating a resume
• Creating a professional LinkedIn profile
• Building a personal brand
• Networking

Bootcamp students have proven their worth in the real world. More hiring managers are taking bootcamp students seriously. Even large tech companies are hiring bootcamp graduates for their tech jobs. According to Indeed, four out of five US companies have hired a bootcamp graduate. Nearly all HR managers say they would hire a bootcamp graduate again.

Which Tech Companies Hire Coding Bootcamp Graduates?

A recent bootcamp report revealed the companies that hire coding bootcamp graduates the most. Those tech companies are:

• Amazon
• Google
• Facebook
• Microsoft
• JPMorgan Chase
• IBM
• Apple
• Accenture
• Booz Allen Hamilton

The best tech companies think coding bootcamps are worth it. Popular bootcamps such as App Academy, Flatiron School, Springboard, General Assembly, and Fullstack Academy have all placed several students in high-level positions at tech companies all over the country.

Coding Bootcamp Graduate Salary

The average coding bootcamp graduate salary is over $70,000. Bootcamp graduates find a job within 120 days and see their salary increase by over 50 percent within two years. Some bootcamp graduates go on to earn a six-figure salary through their new tech career. Furthermore, they see their salary increase by $10,000 with every new tech role.

How Much Does a Coding Bootcamp Cost?

The average tuition cost of a coding bootcamp is $11,727. By comparison, the in-state cost of attending a public college is $11,171 per year. Because an undergraduate degree takes normally four years to complete, this means college students end up paying nearly four times the amount coding bootcamp students pay.

While the cost of a coding bootcamp may seem steep, there are ways to reduce it. Several coding bootcamps offer scholarships, grants, and other ways to help students cover tuition.

You can learn more through our guide on how to pay for coding bootcamp.

How to Ensure Your Coding Bootcamp Experience is Worth It

Undoubtedly, bootcamps are hard. 

They are hard work but that’s why you learn so much. During the bootcamp, you can expect to feel lost, frustrated, stressed, or overwhelmed. You might feel like you’re not learning fast enough or like other people are learning faster than you. You might even question if you made the right decision. 

You’ll have a better bootcamp experience if you prepare a bit before. It’s not required, but it’ll make your time in the classroom (online or in-person) much more valuable. The more you know when you arrive, the more you’ll be able to build on that knowledge. So look for some intro to coding resources, like Codecademy and Fullstack Academy, before you walk into your first day. 

Do your homework. It sounds silly, but you’d be surprised how many people do nothing during the course they’ve paid for. You signed up and paid tuition to work hard; doing all the work you’re assigned and practicing the skills you acquire will help you learn much faster. Coding bootcamps teach through active learning: you’ll learn better by practicing rather than by listening. 

Last but not least, don’t compare yourself to others. Your classmates may be absorbing information much faster than you; instead of feeling sorry for yourself, remember that the point of a bootcamp is to leave with more opportunities than you had when you arrived. As long as you keep that mindset, you’ll be able to kickstart your career with a bootcamp.

So, Is a Coding Bootcamp Worth It?

In the past, the only way someone could get a coding job was through a four-year computer science degree program and moving to a popular tech hub, such as New York or San Francisco. The coding bootcamp model has made coding jobs more accessible and allowed people who can’t afford high-cost degree programs to find a successful career in tech.

Coding bootcamps are worth it, especially for people who are looking for a way to break into a new career but aren’t sure where to start. Many people have gone from complete programming beginners to working with some of the largest tech companies in the world.