You’ve done some serious thinking and you’ve decided that now is the time to make your move. It’s time to finally start moving toward your dreams of a future full of rewarding work and delicious money, and you know which path will get you there. It’s time to take the steering wheel and burn rubber toward the future, baby! Coding bootcamp is calling you, and you’re ready to answer. The real question, then, is how much you should expect your coding bootcamp to cost.
In this guide, we provide some examples of coding bootcamp costs and the financial packages you can use to cover those costs. While you will find all kinds of payment packages at coding bootcamps, most of the ones they offer will fall into one of three categories: upfront, deferred, or plans that include both deferred tuition and living cost stipends. We examine the different payment options and point you toward additional resources to help you make an informed decision. Getting set up for coding bootcamp can be a pain, but with our help, you can keep your finances in the black.
Upfront Payment Plans
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Upfront payment plans are the more traditional options for coding bootcamps, and you’re probably going to find an option at your school of choice that allows you to get all of the expenses out of the way before you get started. If you have a nice chunk of savings and can afford to pay upfront, you should consider doing so, as this option is generally less expensive in the long run. Upfront payments incur less interest and offer lower rates compared to other financial arrangements.
The Flatiron School has an excellent example of an upfront payment package. You can expect to pay about $15,000 to attend a Flatiron School bootcamp. Don’t forget to factor in living expenses and additional costs, as well—you’re still gonna have to buy food and have a roof over your head while you’re in bootcamp.
Make Deferred Payments After You Find a Job
Over the past few years, coding bootcamps have begun looking at their graduates’ value and developing payment schedules that take your potential future earnings into account. Income share agreements (ISAs) have started popping up in more and more bootcamp’s payment options and have opened up a lot of opportunity for students who couldn’t have previously afforded the upfront costs.
With App Academy’s ISA, you only need to place a refundable $3,000 deposit down before you begin class. Once you graduate and find a programming gig, you will make regular payments until you’ve covered school costs of $14,000–$25,000.
Get All Expenses Covered With Deferred Payments and Stipends
Upfront payments and simple ISAs are swell when you have a few grand just hanging out waiting to become a deposit. If you’re like me, though, you have issues making your paycheck stretch till next Friday, let alone having enough extra to give to a coding bootcamp. Relax, my impecunious friend; some schools have begun adding living expenses to coding bootcamp costs and offering monthly stipends in addition to ISAs.
That’s right—if you attend Thinkful’s bootcamp in Atlanta, Minneapolis, or Denver, you can arrange to receive a monthly $1,500 stipend. That’s enough to pay for rent, bills, and food, which is a sweet deal. You pay nothing upfront with this plan, and after you begin making over $40,000 a year, you make regular payments to pay back $16,000–$28,000, depending on the program and financial arrangements.
Pay Now? Pay Later?
The downside of having more and more choices among coding bootcamp cost and payment options is that it can become confusing and hard to determine what financial path is best for you. Coding bootcamps are a significant investment of time and effort, so you want to make the choice that lets you make it through the course with the least possible money concerns. You’ll need to focus on your studies, so pick the one that allows that to happen. If upfront is an option for you, go for it. But, if you need to arrange for an ISA or even a stipend to get through bootcamp, that’s fine, too. What’s important is to make it through your courses and get moving in your new career, however you get there.
So, there you have it. Coding bootcamp will cost you a bit, that’s for sure. But, the rewards— competitive salary, career satisfaction, more than compensate. Coding bootcamps want to help you out, so pick the plan that rings your bell and keeps your wallet full, and start moving toward your perfect job. Happy coding!
