2023 Best Coding
Bootcamps

What Is a Coding Bootcamp?

A coding bootcamp is a postsecondary educational institution that offers short-term, immersive, and intensive training for a career in tech. An affordable alternative to a college degree, programming bootcamps help both beginners and professionals who want a career change by giving them access to an industry-led curriculum, career services, and an alumni network.

Coding bootcamps give prospective students many flexible options to choose from. There are in-person bootcamps and online coding bootcamps, and students can often choose between a part-time program and a full-time program. Some coding schools also offer self-paced coding bootcamps. A typical immersive program lasts between three and six months whether you attend your coding bootcamp online or in person.

More people than ever before are trying to find the best coding schools. According to Career Karma’s 2021 State of the Bootcamp Market Report, there was an over 30 percent increase in programming bootcamp attendance between 2019 and 2020.

What Skills Will I Learn at Bootcamp?

Whether you attend a coding bootcamp online or in person, you can expect to learn the coding skills and other technical skills you need to get a high-paying job in tech. To efficiently target those skills and teach students how to collaborate with others, the best coding bootcamps rely heavily on hands-on projects as well as pair programming. A coding bootcamp is the ideal training option to master the following skills:

• Web development
• Software engineering
• Data science
• Cyber security
• UX/UI design
• Data analytics
• Tech sales
• Project management
• Product management
• DevOps
• Digital marketing
• Web design

Web Development

Demand for web development skills will continue to grow rapidly throughout the next decade, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. At a web development bootcamp, you will learn the foundational languages of web development: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

You will also learn popular libraries, frameworks, and tools like Node.js, React, js, GitHub, and the Document Object Model (DOM). Most web development bootcamps also include web design in the curriculum. The best web development bootcamps, such as Le Wagon and BrainStation, boast job placement rates of 90 percent and above.

Software Engineering

Work for software engineers will not be in short supply any time soon, with BLS projecting a 25% growth in this field. Some of the best software developer bootcamps include Flatiron School, Galvanize, and Fullstack Academy.

A software engineering bootcamp will teach you programming languages, databases, web development, software architecture, software testing, and even project management. Some of the best software engineering bootcamps cover a whole array of full stack development skills or front end development topics. Others approach coding through a specific language or application. As such, you can find Python bootcamps, full stack JavaScript or Unity game development.

Data Science

The reliance of companies on data has been steadily increasing over the past decades, making data scientists and data analysts some of the most sought-after professionals today. Attending a data science bootcamp can be your ticket to this highly lucrative career. For example, Thinkful has helped its data science students land jobs at top companies like Google, IBM, and Amazon.

A data science bootcamp will teach you the analytical skills required to know what data to collect as well as how to interpret such data. You will also learn data collection, cleaning, and visualization, as well as statistical analysis and languages like Python and SQL. Machine learning and big data are also part of most curricula these days.

Cyber Security

The size of the cyber security market is set to triple by 2030, making this one of the best fields if job security is on your mind. A typical cyber security bootcamp will cover the skills required to become a competent cyber security professional, including network security, cryptography, penetration testing, security protocols, risk management, and ethical hacking.

The best cyber security bootcamps are those that have a strong team of career professionals to assist their students before, during, and after the job search. For example, through career coaching, alumni networking, and employer partners, Evolve Academy helps 95 percent of its students land a job within six months of graduation.

UX/UI Design

If you are looking for a tech career that doesn’t require programming, UX/UI design could be for you. The fields of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design commonly overlap and some of the best coding bootcamps teach these skills as part of a single program. Their curricula often include user research, wireframing and prototyping, visual design and typography, and user testing.

The best UX design bootcamps as well as the best UI design bootcamps employ seasoned instructors that have worked in design for many years, a learning method based on hands-on experience and collaboration, and an updated curriculum that teaches the latest tools. Likewise, in the best tech bootcamps, students have access to extensive career services to maximize their chances of success during their job search.

Is a Coding Bootcamp Worth It?

Yes, a coding bootcamp is worth it if you want to learn specific skills quickly with lots of career support. Whereas most computer science degree programs teach coding in a theoretical way, coding bootcamps focus on giving you the practical skills you need to start your career in the tech track of your choice.

But are coding bootcamps worth it in the eyes of the people who take courses there? Judging by the proliferation of positive coding bootcamp reviews written by former students of schools like Flatiron School and Hack Reactor, the answer is a resounding yes. Factors that loom large in students’ coding bootcamp reviews include high job placement rates, flexible payment options, and the availability of part-time and online learning formats.

The many bootcamp graduates who have gone on to earn high average salaries in the tech industry speak for themselves. In fact, according to an ARC report from 2022 that surveyed over 2,500 remote developers, coding bootcamp graduates earn a higher starting salary than developers with a bachelor’s degree.

Will a Coding Bootcamp Help Me Get a Job?

Yes, a coding bootcamp will help you get a job. Coding bootcamps are known for having high job placement rates. In fact, according to data from Burning Glass Technologies, the best coding bootcamps have similar placement rates to computer science degrees from Ivy League schools. Coding bootcamps like Codesmith and Devmountain boast higher in-field employment rates than the University of Pennsylvania or Johns Hopkins University.

It is not hard to get a job after a coding bootcamp, largely due to coding bootcamps outstanding career services. Top coding bootcamps help students build excellent resumes, practice before interviews, and learn how to negotiate a higher annual salary when they start a new job.

A good example is Flatiron School, arguably the best coding bootcamp in the United States. Flatiron School sprinkles career coaching and job preparation throughout its curriculum. This approach gets results, as evidenced by the fact that 90% of Flatiron School students find jobs after graduation.

How Much Does a Coding Bootcamp Cost?

A coding bootcamp costs anywhere from $0 to $22,000, depending on the program and your payment method. On the low end are cost-free bootcamps like Ada Developers Academy, which you have to be a woman or a gender-nonconforming person to attend. On the high end is BloomTech, formerly Lambda School, which charges California residents $22,005.

There is also a difference between the cost of online coding bootcamps and that of in-person options. According to NerdWallet, the average online coding bootcamp costs $12,898, whereas tuition for your typical on-campus bootcamp is $13,584.

You should pay as much as you can afford for a coding bootcamp. If efficiently learning coding is worth it to you, the coding bootcamp cost is a sensible investment. A $15,000 coding bootcamp price compares favorably to a four-year degree program, the average tuition cost of which is $16,647 per year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

What Are the Most Affordable Coding Bootcamps?

Some of the cheapest coding bootcamps with full-time programs are CodeStack Academy, The Tech Academy, and CareerFoundry. CodeStack Academy has a full-time software engineering bootcamp priced at $5,000, the Tech Academy has a web development bootcamp that costs just $5,300, and CareerFoundry’s data analytics course will set you back $6,900.

Meanwhile, Altcademy, Nucamp, and Devmountain are some of the cheapest coding bootcamps if you are looking for part-time programs. Altcademy’s part-time web development bootcamp is just $1,490, whereas Nucamp’s Backend and DevOps Development bootcamp is $2,124. Finally, the Software Quality Assurance bootcamp by Devmountain is just $4,900.

How Can I Pay for a Coding Bootcamp?

You can pay for a bootcamp with a single upfront payment or with a number of alternative coding bootcamp financing options. These include deferred tuition, private loans, tuition discounts, installment plans, and tuition discounts. There are also many coding bootcamp scholarships, many of which are designed to increase diversity and equality in the tech industry.

One popular form of coding bootcamp deferred tuition is the income share agreement (ISA), which allows the student to wait until after they find a high-paying job to pay the bulk of their tuition cost. An ISA stipulates that the student will pay a fixed percentage of their monthly income after they start earning a certain amount. Some ISAs come with a money-back guarantee if the student fails to find a job within a specified timeframe.

Here is a list of the most typical ways to pay for a coding bootcamp:

• Upfront payment
• Monthly installments
• Private loans
• Deferred tuition
• Income share agreement (ISA)
• Scholarships
• Tuition discounts

How Long Are the Best Coding Bootcamps?

The length of coding bootcamps ranges from two months to one year. Most coding bootcamps have programs that run between three and six months, but this depends on the program and bootcamp you choose. The typical bootcamp coding regimen is rigorous, which it needs to be to fit inside this tight window.

A coding bootcamp is usually eight to ten hours a day of lectures and project-based training, though this assumes a full-time schedule. The class duration for a part-time coding bootcamp is usually a few hours in the evenings and up to eight hours on the weekends. It takes about three months to fully learn coding if you study full-time six days a week.

All told, the best coding bootcamps will get you in and out in about six months. The coding bootcamp application process takes a couple of weeks, followed by another two weeks for online training and prep work. Once the course itself starts, you can expect to spend six to ten weeks learning hard skills through hands-on projects, and another two to three weeks brushing up on soft skills for success on the job market.

Can I Work and Go to a Coding Bootcamp?

Yes, you can work and go to a coding bootcamp. While some bootcamps require a full-time commitment, you can find a coding bootcamp for working professionals, something that offers part-time schedules and flexible study options. You should consider a part-time coding online bootcamp, which will allow you to study from home on nights and weekends. There are also self-paced coding bootcamps to study whenever it fits your schedule.

More and more coding bootcamps appreciate the need for people in career transition to be able to study while continuing to work. To accommodate as many students as possible, many bootcamps offer both part-time and full-time courses. You may even be able to sell your current employer on the benefits of a coding bootcamp. Instead of quitting your job, you should ask your boss to let you take time off to attend a bootcamp program.

How Do I Choose the Best Coding Bootcamp?

Choose a bootcamp that offers your preferred learning format, whether that is online, in-person, part-time, full-time, self-paced, or instructor-led. Likewise, ensure the curriculum aligns with your career goals and that the financing options available suit your current financial situation. On top of that, consider the following key aspects:

Career Services

Access to a team of professional development specialists is one of the trademarks of coding bootcamps and something that sets them apart from other educational options such as college degrees. Top bootcamps provide a career coach or mentor, have a wide network of hiring partners, and provide assistance with your resume and interview preparation.

Job Placement Rate

According to data compiled by Council on Integrity and Results Reporting (CIRR), the average coding bootcamp job placement rate is around 70 percent. As part of your research into each bootcamp, make sure to look at this important figure, which you can find in student outcomes reports. Aim for a coding bootcamp job placement rate of at least 60 percent.

Student outcomes reports are often published by the bootcamp itself, but you can find reports that have been independently verified and vetted by CIRR. Some of the top coding bootcamps with the highest job placement rates are Flatiron School and Fullstack Academy, both boasting figures in the 90s.

Job Guarantee

Some top coding schools offer a job guarantee, making your investment risk-free. The most common coding bootcamp job guarantee consists of a full or partial tuition refund if the student fails to get a job within a specified time after their program. However, some schools, such as Revature, promise a job with one of their clients for any student that manages to complete the program.

How Do I Apply for a Coding Bootcamp?

You apply for a coding bootcamp by first choosing the best bootcamp for coding that you can find. Once you have done that, go to the school’s website and begin the coding bootcamp application process. From there the process is relatively straightforward, and usually entails the following steps:

1. Fill out your coding application online for the bootcamp you wish to attend. You will be asked to provide details such as your name, location, education level, and program of interest. You may also be asked to provide information about your professional experience and your familiarity with coding.
2. An admissions representative will contact you about the next steps, which will likely involve a virtual coding challenge, an admissions interview, or both. You qualify for coding bootcamp admission by passing these coding assessments, which evaluate your problem-solving skills, your general aptitude, and your chances of success.
3. If you pass these coding assessments, you will be invited to submit another coding application online. The purpose of this second set of forms is to finalize your course selection, start date, and your preferred tuition payment method.
4. Before you officially enroll in your bootcamp, coding preparatory courses may be required, especially if you are a beginner. These self-paced, online programs ensure that you have the proper foundation to be successful once your main bootcamp starts.

It is not hard to get accepted into a coding bootcamp as long as you prepare for your interview and have the basic knowledge to pass the coding challenges. Keep in mind that some top coding bootcamps keep their admissions pretty selective. If you want to attend one of the more selective bootcamps, be patient and apply as many times as necessary.

How Do Coding Bootcamps Compare to Coding MOOCs?

Coding bootcamps compare favorably to coding MOOCs in terms of the hands-on experience and career support they can offer students. MOOCs may be able to teach you a particular coding skill, but they won’t help you build a strong portfolio of projects or prepare you for your job search the way that the best coding schools will. And a MOOC certainly won’t give you a job guarantee, which is something that the best coding bootcamps offer.

The superiority of bootcamps remains clear even if we compare a coding MOOC to a coding online bootcamp. Most MOOCs are made up of recorded video lectures, whereas online coding bootcamps make sure that their virtual classes occur in real time. Online coding bootcamp students also often have the option to meet face to face with career advisors, something that’s denied to students of massive open online courses. This access to career coaches and advisors is one of the main reasons the top coding schools enjoy overwhelmingly favorable reviews.

The one clear advantage that MOOCs have over bootcamps is that their coding courses are cheaper. At a bootcamp, coding comes at a price, with the typical coding bootcamp cost ranging from the high four figures to the low five figures. MOOCs, meanwhile, are often free. But you get what you pay for, and the chance that programming bootcamps give you to work for top tech companies after graduation more than makes up for the steeper coding price they charge.

Can Anyone Learn Coding?

Yes, anyone can learn coding if they can find the best coding bootcamp for them. Many of the top coding bootcamps are beginner-friendly, accepting applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. It is a common misconception that you need to know advanced math to acquire coding skills. Regardless of your learning style, there are programming bootcamps for you. Some of the best coding bootcamps for beginners include Codecademy, General Assembly, Flatiron School, and App Academy.

You will probably find coding easier to learn if you are good at solving problems and recognizing patterns. The good news is that there are classes you can take to develop these skills, with many coding bootcamps offering prep courses to streamline the learning process. This valuable resource will prepare you to tackle your first coding project with ease.

Learn Coding: Is a Coding Bootcamp Right for You?

A coding bootcamp is right for you if you want to learn coding and become a tech professional. By attending a coding bootcamp, you can quickly learn the skills you need and start a job shortly after. Coding bootcamps are good for beginners, recent high school graduates, people in unskilled professions, people dissatisfied with their current jobs, and people looking to upskill.

The best bootcamp for coding is different for everyone. There are in-person programs, online programs, full-time programs, and part-time programs, with different bootcamps specializing in different sets of coding skills. Many bootcamps are also beginner-friendly. A coding bootcamp is hard if you’re not prepared to work. Those who are committed to an intensive study schedule, however, will find it easy to learn coding in three to six months.