Key Takeaways
- Financial support for veterans: The GI Bill and VET TEC program offer veterans significant financial support for educational opportunities, including tech-focused coding bootcamps.
- Post-9/11 and Forever GI Bill benefits: The Post-9/11 GI Bill and Forever GI Bill extend benefits, with the latter removing time limits and supporting tech education.
- Tech job market growth: The U.S. tech job market is projected to grow significantly, making coding bootcamps a timely option for veterans seeking high-demand careers.
- Accelerated career pathway: Coding bootcamps are intensive learning programs that typically last four-six months and prepare individuals to enter tech careers without having to earn a four-year degree.
- Flexible learning options: Students enrolled in coding bootcamps can benefit from flexible learning formats, including online, in-person, and hybrid options.
- Comprehensive career support: Many coding bootcamps offer robust career services, including resume building, interview preparation, and networking opportunities to help veterans secure tech roles.
With so many approved coding bootcamps accepting these benefits, the most challenging part might be deciding which one aligns best with your goals.
In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about using your GI Bill benefits and share some coding bootcamps you may want to explore if you’re considering a future working in tech.
What’s the GI Bill?
Transitioning out of the military and into the civilian workforce can be challenging for veterans. To recognize both the sacrifices veterans have made and the difficulties they can experience once they’re out of their fatigues, the GI Bill — known as the “Montgomery GI Bill” after Mississippi Congressman “Sonny” Montgomery — was revamped in 1984 and provides financial help for veterans pursuing educational opportunities. The original GI Bill was passed by Congress after World War II. Since then, three new programs have been implemented:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
- Forever GI Bill
- Veteran Employment Through Technology Educations Courses (VET TEC) program
Understanding how these programs work and the benefits they provide is key for veterans looking to apply benefits to further their education and career.
What is the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or Post-9/11 GI Bill for short, provides up to four academic years of financial assistance for veterans — or, in some cases, their spouses and children — to attend an approved educational program within 15 years of leaving service.
The amount of assistance a veteran receives depends on their length of duty after 9/11/2001. Full tuition assistance covers costs for a program up to the most expensive in-state college tuition in the state where the program is offered.
Veterans are entitled to 40% of this assistance after serving just 90 days of active duty after 9/11. Oftentimes, private schools will “top-up” some or all of the GI Bill assistance enrolling students bring with them. To further aid in veteran readiness, the Post-9/11 GI bill also provides a monthly living stipend scaled to the location where the student will pursue their education.
What is the Forever GI Bill?
The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, or Forever GI Bill for short, removed the 15-year limit on the Post-9/11 GI bill and expanded other benefits. It also introduced the VET TEC program, which earmarks funding to be used to support veterans taking approved tech-ed programs, such as coding bootcamps, that offer technical training in areas such as software engineering, software development, stack web development, computer science, and more.
Editor’s note: The VET TEC program was a five-year pilot program that stopped accepting applications and new enrollments as of April 1, 2024. Approval for an extension of the program was passed by the House of Representatives under the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. As of December 2024, the Dole Act is still pending Senate review.1
How can veterans use GI Bill funds?
While GI Bill funds are most frequently used to help veterans pay for undergraduate and graduate courses, these funds can also be used to pay for certain training programs. For those interested in a career in tech, these training programs include some coding bootcamps.
To be eligible for GI Bill or VET TEC funding, coding bootcamps need to be approved by Veterans Affairs (VA). If a student enrolls in an approved program, this funding can be used for tuition and fees, housing, books and supplies, and other qualified expenses.
To see if you’re eligible for GI Bill or VET TEC funding and the amount of funding you’re eligible to receive, refer to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Why should veterans use GI Bill or VET TEC funds for a coding bootcamp?
It’s no mystery that the tech job market will be hot for years to come. The demand for tech jobs in the U.S. is anticipated to grow significantly faster than the average for other industries, as outlined in the Computing Technology Industry Association’s (CompTIA) 2024 “State of the Tech Workforce” report. The report estimates that the tech workforce will expand from six million jobs in 2024 to more than seven million jobs by 2034.2
Similarly, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in computer and IT occupations will experience above-average growth from 2023 to 2033, with approximately 356,700 job openings expected each year.3
Using GI Bill funds for a four-year degree program in computer science might seem like the most traditional way to leverage the GI Bill and best choice to optimize your chances of landing a lucrative position, but for military veterans leaving active-duty, four years can be too long to wait to enter the workforce and begin earning a salary, especially if there’s a family to support.
Increasingly, coding bootcamps, which have an average program duration of four-six months, offer a shorter path to becoming a software developer, software engineer, or pursuing other tech careers like cyber security. Many of these bootcamps advertise stellar job placement rates and some even offer money-back guarantees. While these kinds of claims and offers should always be scrutinized, the truth is that for many, coding bootcamps have helped them successfully pivot their careers and land a tech job.
How do coding bootcamps work?
Coding bootcamps are intensive, targeted courses of study that teach job-ready coding skills to help students land an entry-level position in software or web development. In addition to a rigorous curriculum, coding bootcamps offer career services such as resume and portfolio review, technical interview practice, and networking opportunities. Some even partner with companies so that their students get preferred status when they apply.
Coding bootcamps are offered in an array of learning formats, including in-person, online, or a hybrid blend of both. Online coding bootcamps enable students to learn from the comfort of home. Coding bootcamps are often offered through part-time options, so students can learn while continuing to work or care for family. Check out our article diving deeper into the topic of how coding bootcamps actually work.
How much do coding bootcamps cost?
Tuition for coding bootcamps typically run $12,000-$15,000, but if you’re studying full-time, the actual cost of a coding bootcamp can run much higher once you factor in housing and unrealized income from taking time off a job to study.
Luckily, many coding bootcamps offer special coding bootcamp scholarships to active duty military personnel, veterans, and their families. Add to this GI Bill funding, and many veterans can take advantage of the opportunities a coding bootcamp education can provide at little to no out-of-pocket cost.
If you’re interested in a coding bootcamp, but it doesn’t take the GI Bill — explore the featured GI Bill coding bootcamps below. You also might still be able to afford it without providing upfront costs as many coding bootcamps offer payment plans through providers such as Climb Credit as well as income share agreements (ISAs).
How do you use the GI Bill for a coding bootcamp?
To use GI Bill funds on a coding boot camp, you must first apply and be approved for GI Bill benefits by the VA. The VA’s application portal provides you with all the information you need to apply.
After you are approved for GI Bill funding, you’ll receive an official decision letter and basic information detailing the benefits you are eligible to receive. You can then use the VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool to learn more about what specific benefits you can receive at approved colleges and bootcamps.
Of course, even if a bootcamp is approved and the VA offers benefits under the GI Bill, you’ll need to apply and be admitted to the bootcamp. While many of these bootcamps are open to coding novices, some do require applicants to have existing coding experience. It’s a good idea to check application requirements online before you apply.
What Coding Bootcamps Accept the GI Bill funding?
As we noted above, you can use the VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool to identify approved coding bootcamps that accept the GI Bill — but that can still leave you with a dizzying amount of options. To get your research started, here are some coding bootcamps that take VA benefits, along with a summary of student and graduate reviews for each bootcamp provider.
All information has been gathered from each coding bootcamp’s website as of July 2025.
Code Platoon
Code Platoon is a non-profit educational provider offering training in full-stack software engineering, devops, and AI cloud engineering to veterans transitioning into the workforce and their spouses. All Code Platoon courses are taught by professional software engineers, and with online, in-person, self-paced, night, weekend, and full-time options, veterans can develop their technical skills in a way that fits with their lifestyle.
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
Compared to other bootcamps, Code Platoon is on the more expensive end of the spectrum—$20,000 for night, weekend, and immersive programs—and currently in-person classes are mostly limited to the Chicago area. Given that the program caters to veterans and their spouses, students prioritizing civilian interaction might be disappointed. That said, a limited number of apprenticeships allow vets to gain work experience embedded on a team at a real company.
- Location: Remote or in-person (downtown Chicago)
- Learning format: Immersive, self-paced, night and weekend
- Program length: 15 weeks (immersive), 28 weeks (night and weekend), self-paced
Tech Elevator
Tech Elevator offers full-time, part-time, and remote options for complete beginners who want to learn software development. They also leverage a network of over 1,000 hiring partners and the Pathway Program, a dedicated career coach program.
While Tech Elevator is available to students across the country who wish to study online, students can attend in-person coding bootcamps at their campus location in Columbus, Ohio.
- Location: Remote
- Learning format: Full-time or part-time
- Program length: 14 weeks (full-time); 30 weeks (part-time)
General Assembly
General Assembly’s software engineering course—one of several programs offered including data analytics, data science, information technology, and UX design—provides a full-stack curriculum developed in collaboration with leading employers. Students learn about programming languages, project management, version control, and more. Graduates can benefit from robust career services, including resume building, mock interviews, and access to a wide network of hiring partners. General Assembly’s programs are available both online and in-person, catering to students looking for full-time or part-time options.
- Location: Remote or in-person
- Learning format: Full-time or part-time
- Program length: 12 weeks (full-time); 24 weeks (part-time)
We Can Code It
Emphasizing social equity through coding education, We Can Code It offers full- and part-time coding bootcamps that focus on either full-stack software development, data analytics, and cyber security. These courses leverage project-based learning to help students gain job-ready skills in Agile, Scrum, Github, HTML, and much more. As part of their pre-apprenticement program, students are able to demonstrate these skills to employers.
As with other providers on the list, locals near We Can Code It’s Ohio headquarters are able to take courses in-person, while others can tune in remotely.
- Location: Remote or in-person
- Learning format: Full-time
- Program length: 13 weeks (weekdays); 15 weeks (evenings and weekends)
Divergence Academy
Divergence Academy offers immersive courses in cloud engineering, cyber security, governance risk compliance, and intelligent automation. In addition, students can pursue professional certification in cloud operations, IT service and project management, network infrastructure, and more..
Divergence Academy’s Student Success Advisors support students in their educational journey, and their Career and Placement Services team provides guidance and personalized support to assist alumni in achieving their goals post-graduation.
- Location: Remote or in-person
- Learning format: Full-time or part-time
- Program length: 9–22 weeks (depending on program)
What’s Next?
GI Bill benefits provide veterans with valuable financial support for coding bootcamps, as they look to find meaningful employment in high-demand tech careers. In this article, we’ve covered the basics of what the GI Bill is and what the advantages are of leveraging funding for coding bootcamps. We’ve also noted various GI Bill coding bootcamps that veterans may want to include in their exploration of how to apply their military service benefits.
Still looking for some guidance as to which GI Bill coding bootcamp is right for you? Start your search for a coding bootcamp program today.
Sources
1https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/Tech-job-market-statistics-and-outlook
2https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/
3https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm#tab-5
4https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm#tab-5
5https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm#tab-5
6https://www.learningrevolution.net/bootcamp-market-statistics/
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
