Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It? How to Start a Career in Tech

Coding bootcamps are worth it for people who want a fast 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 usually take less than a year to complete. Many employers hire bootcamp graduates because of their specialized skills and the hands-on experience they receive from tech bootcamp programs.

When it comes to the question, “are coding bootcamps worth it?” there are several things to consider, including coding bootcamp reviews, costs, job placement guarantees, and time commitment.

This article answers questions like, “are bootcamps worth it?” and “how much do coding bootcamps cost?” Keep reading to find out how getting into the best coding bootcamps can help you start your career in tech.

How Do Coding Bootcamps Work?

Coding bootcamps work by equipping people with the skills they need to start a career in tech. 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 work by allowing graduates to secure jobs in their desired fields, earn an increased income, and find job satisfaction in a new career path. In addition, you don’t have to worry about restricting your work to the tech industry. There are job openings for programmers in many fields, including finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and fashion.

Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It? 10 Reasons Why Coding Bootcamps Are Legit

1. Coding bootcamps are worth it because they are less expensive than a traditional college program.
2. Coding bootcamps focus on training you for a specific career.
3. Most coding bootcamp programs last a few months to just over a year.
4. Many tech bootcamps allow students to attend with no prior technology experience.
5. You can be sure coding bootcamps are legit because programs are taught by industry professionals, many of whom are still working in the fields they teach.
6. Programming bootcamps are worth it because they provide additional aid outside of courses, such as mentoring, career coaching, and academic help.
7. Coding bootcamps often offer online, weekend, and night courses to fit around the schedules of working professionals.
8. There are several ways to pay for a coding bootcamp, such as through scholarships, the GI Bill, deferred tuition, and income share agreements.
9. Major tech companies such as Google, IBM, Apple, Salesforce, and Dell have hired students immediately after they’ve graduated from a coding bootcamp.
10. Many people consider coding bootcamps worth it because they go on to earn more after graduating, with the average salary of a coding bootcamp graduate being around $60,000 to $70,000.

Do Alumni Think a Coding Bootcamp Is Worth It?

Yes, most alumni think a coding bootcamp is worth it. Satisfaction may vary based on the coding bootcamp and the curriculum. However, the majority of coding bootcamp reviews from alumni are positive. Fullstack Academy, for example, has a 4.5 out of five-star rating based on 98 reviews.

One alumnus said it was the best educational experience they’d ever had, stating, “Now I’m confident enough to introduce myself as a software developer who’s proficient in NERD stack and have the skill to learn new technology on my own.” Coding bootcamps are worth it because they give their students the skills and confidence necessary to enter the tech job market.

What Are the Benefits of Coding Bootcamps?

The benefits of a coding bootcamp are speed, affordability, and an industry-driven curriculum. Although traditional bachelor’s degree programs teach a wide variety of valuable skills, not everyone is able to commit four years of time and money to their education. Coding bootcamps take less than a year to complete and cost about the same as one semester of college.

Coding bootcamps benefit their graduates by teaching programs that are updated and driven by industry trends. The tech industry is constantly changing, and coding bootcamps update their lessons to ensure students are getting the most relevant skills. This also makes graduates employable, which is the biggest benefit of a coding bootcamp. You’ll become job-ready in a short amount of time.

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The Pros and Cons of Coding Bootcamps

Coding Bootcamp Pros

Coding Bootcamp Cons

Coding bootcamps are affordable when compared to traditional four-year degree programs. Coding bootcamps provide market-driven education.  Students get access to job preparation services, like help with resumes and LinkedIn profiles, interview prep, and career coaching. Coding bootcamps take a short amount of time to complete, and many are designed to either allow people to continue working while they learn or have a small gap on their resume while they gain new skills.

The programs are intensive and fast-paced. Students have to be prepared to study hard and learn a lot within a short period of time. Coding bootcamp students aren’t eligible for most federal financial aid unless you are someone who is able to use the GI Bill to help pay for your education. Many people are still unsure if coding bootcamps are legit. Taking a non-traditional educational route may put some bumps in your career path.

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Coding Bootcamps vs Degree Programs

The biggest difference between a coding bootcamp vs a degree is the curriculum. 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 intended career but also extracurricular courses and core courses such as math, science, and history.

Coding bootcamps are designed to help people make career changes. Coding bootcamp and computer science university students will learn some of the same skills, but in a coding bootcamp vs a cs degree, you will only take courses directly relevant to your career path. 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 bootcamp graduates and college graduates can work in similar fields, the two programs are very different. 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 bootcamDue to the rise in the popularity of bootcamps, there are many programs to choose from. 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. Find out how to choose a coding bootcamp below.

1. Consider the Type of Coding Bootcamp

Coding bootcamps come in three types: full-time, part-time, and online. Full-time 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 are designed 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 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 remote bootcamps are self-paced, but some require you to attend your online courses according to a schedule.

2. Consider the Coding Bootcamp Cost

Most coding bootcamps offer students a variety of payment options. You can choose to pay the full tuition up front. Coding bootcamps cost an average of $11,727 in 2020. While this is cheaper than the average cost of attending a private four-year university as stated by the National Center for Education Statistics, it is still a large amount to pay at once. This is why bootcamps offer loans, scholarships, and income share agreements.

3. Consider the Coding Bootcamp Programs Offered

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
• Cyber Security
• 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. Make sure that you choose a program that will help you navigate life after coding bootcamp.

How to Make Your Coding Bootcamp Worth It

Tech bootcamps require a lot of hard work, but that’s why you graduate with so many new skills. 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. 

If you prepare for a bootcamp beforehand, it will enhance your overall experience. It’s not required, but it’ll make your time in the classroom much more valuable. The more you know when you arrive, the more you’ll be able to build on that knowledge and avoid coding bootcamp burnout. Codecademy and Fullstack Academy have free intro to coding resources for coding newbies.

Doing all the work you’re assigned and practicing the skills you acquire will help you learn much faster. It sounds silly, but you’d be surprised how many people do nothing during the tech bootcamp they’ve paid for. Coding bootcamps teach through active learning, so you’ll learn better by practicing rather than just listening.

Last but not least, don’t compare yourself to others. Your classmates may be absorbing information much faster than you, but 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, making your time at coding bootcamp worth it.

How Much Do Coding Bootcamps Cost?

Coding bootcamps cost an average of $11,727. Most tech bootcamp programs take less than a year to complete. In comparison, the average tuition cost at a college or university is $13,360 per year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Because an undergraduate degree normally takes four years to complete, this means college students end up paying nearly four times the average coding bootcamp tuition..

While the average coding bootcamp tuition may seem steep, there are ways to reduce it. Most coding bootcamps offer scholarships, grants, and other ways to help students cover tuition. Below is an overview of the common payment options offered to coding bootcamp students:

• Income Share Agreements. An income share agreement allows students to complete a bootcamp course without paying anything upfront. After graduating, the student agrees to pay back a certain amount of their income per month until the total cost of the bootcamp has been paid. For example, you can enter an ISA to finance the Thinkful cost.  
• Coding Bootcamp Loans. Many coding bootcamps partner with low-interest loan providers like Ascent Funding and Climb Credit. Interest rates and loan terms will depend on the program and bootcamp you choose to attend. 
• Coding Bootcamp Scholarships. Most coding bootcamps offer scholarships to people from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in tech. These scholarships are usually offered to women, LGBTQ+ students, people of color, and low-income students.

Will a Coding Bootcamp Get You a Job? 

Yes, coding bootcamps can get you a job. Coding bootcamp can get you jobs if you take advantage of the career services, mentorship, and skills coaching. Research has shown in recent years that 74 to 90 percent of bootcamp graduates get a relevant career within six months of completing a bootcamp program.

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.

Getting a job after coding bootcamp can be difficult which is why bootcamps focus on providing career coaching. Some bootcamps like Thinkful and Springboard offer job guarantees. Other coding bootcamps partner with tech companies to provide graduates with internship and career opportunities. Sometimes you can even get coding bootcamp jobs teaching at the school you attended.

Coding Bootcamp Graduate Salary

The average salary of a coding bootcamp graduate 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 Will I Make After a Bootcamp?

The amount you make after a bootcamp will depend on your job title, the company you work for, and your location. Entry-level jobs in tech provide relatively high salaries, and you can expect your salary to increase as you get more senior roles. Some tech careers pay more than others.

For example, if you attend a data science bootcamp, you can get a job as a scientist and potentially earn $97,575 per year, the average salary for data scientists in the US according to PayScale. However, positions like web developer pay less, with the average salary being $60,844, according to PayScale.

Job Placement for Coding Bootcamp Grads

The best tech 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 are listed below:

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

What Tech Companies Hire Coding Bootcamp Graduates?

According to Career Karma’s State of the Bootcamp Market Report from 2021, there are tons of tech companies that hire bootcamp grads:

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

Popular tech bootcamps such as App Academy, Flatiron School, Springboard, General Assembly, and Fullstack Academy have all placed many students in high-level positions at tech companies all over the country, including Apple, Accenture, and JP Morgan Chase.

Do Employers Think a Coding Bootcamp Is Worth It?

Yes, employers do think a coding bootcamp is worth it. Bootcamp students have proven their worth in the real world. 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.

Employers view bootcamp grads well because they are taught the necessary skills to succeed in their positions. While college degrees are the most common entry-level education requirement for tech jobs, it’s really the skills that are more important than the credentials. If you’re worried about employers’ respect for coding bootcamps, consider getting professional certifications after completing your bootcamp education.

So, Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It? 

Yes, 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.

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.

Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It? FAQ