2025 Best Part Time
Bootcamps

Enter the coding bootcamp. Part-time coding schools are particularly enticing for anyone who needs to balance learning with work or family responsibilities. And prospective students—no matter their age or location—are increasingly taking advantage of this flexible, part-time schedule.

In this article, we’ll help prospective students learn more about the pros and cons of a part-time coding bootcamp, so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you.

What is a part-time coding bootcamp?

A part-time coding bootcamp is a technology career training—typically requiring less than 40 hours per week of lessons and coursework to acquire practical coding skills. Most bootcamps focus on a specific technical skill, such as UX design, cyber security, web development, or data science. Students typically have a singular goal: Secure a job as a junior software engineer (or potentially a software engineer), web developer, full-stack developer, or data scientist.

Part-time coding programs vary widely. But most offer a combination of prerecorded lessons and coursework, which you’ll complete on your own time or synchronously with a cohort of other part-time students.

What are the differences between full-time and part-time coding bootcamps?

There are a few main differences between part-time and full-time coding bootcamp formats.

Full-time programs provide more structure. In many cases, full-time courses require you to log in at a certain time each day to participate in live online or in-person instructor-led sessions. This applies to most full-time coding curricula, whether it's in software engineering, cyber security, or data science. Computer science is not a field that emphasizes conditional logic as much as coding skills, which is why this level of immersion is recommended.

If you want to learn coding part-time, your online coding resources and training materials may include prerecorded videos—some programs may offer limited synchronous learning with other students, like scheduled mentoring sessions. Enrolling in a part-time coding bootcamp means you’ll have to be extra-disciplined. You’ll be responsible for setting a schedule and sticking to it in order to graduate on time.

A part-time program offers more personal freedom. If you learn coding skills part-time, you’ll have more freedom to continue working, balance family with your education, and even schedule breaks and time off without feeling like you’re falling behind. This is a huge benefit for many students. In several part-time courses, you can also set your hours. So if you want to work early in the morning or late at night, you can arrange your schedule accordingly.

Full-time programs are less flexible. Since they tend to consist of fully live, instructor-led sessions, you won’t have quite as much freedom to set your schedule.

Part-time bootcamps may have fewer live learning opportunities. Some part-time bootcamps may offer fewer opportunities to engage directly with other students and professors in live workshops and labs. Others offer the same level of paired student coursework. Either way, you’ll want in-depth lessons and opportunities to ask questions asynchronously.

So consider how you typically learn and whether you’ll be comfortable in a more independent environment.

Part-time bootcamps may cost less. According to research from EducateMe, part-time programs are often less expensive than full-time ones.1 If tuition is a big factor, you may find that a part-time coding bootcamp is more affordable.

How will I learn in a part-time coding bootcamp?

Many part-time coding bootcamps offer some combination of the following:

• Pre-recorded video lessons
• Virtual office hours with instructors, TAs, or assigned mentors
• Interaction with other students via online messaging software, such as Slack
• Limited synchronous learning
• Online quizzes, assignments, and capstone projects completed at home

In a part-time coding bootcamp, learning will be a bit more spread out. That means you’ll establish a study schedule following completion of the day’s work, a critical step in putting the concepts to memory.

Since there are no rigid regulations around how bootcamps present their course material, experiences in programs can vary widely.

Should I enroll in a part-time coding bootcamp while working?

The primary benefit of working while attending a bootcamp is having an income. For some, a job can eliminate the need to take out a loan. And if you can pay in one lump sum upfront, you might be able to lower the overall cost.

Studying part-time might sound like the obvious choice. But you’ll face the added challenge of balancing work with school responsibilities. Bootcamp programs often come with homework assignments and quizzes, which could be an added stress if you’re balancing studying with working.

So plan for long days with little time off. That might be feasible for you, especially since most coding bootcamps only last a few months. But it’s important to be realistic about the schedule you’ll be setting up for yourself.

What are the requirements for enrolling in a part-time bootcamp?

The enrollment criteria vary by bootcamp, but most have pretty light requirements. If you have a high school diploma, are well above average in digital fluency, and can demonstrate motivation to succeed in your interview, you’re likely to be accepted.

In most cases, you don’t need prior experience in coding or your tech field of choice. However, many part-time bootcamps require you to take a short practice module and pass a quiz.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean a part-time bootcamp is ideal for everyone. To benefit from a program, you’ll need to make sure you can find the time to focus and complete coding assignments. You should also feel personally excited to embark on a new career. That motivation will help propel you through the program, even when the work becomes more challenging.

How should I prepare for a part-time coding bootcamp?

Before enrolling in a part-time bootcamp, research all programs available to you. Whether you’re considering a course that focuses on data analytics, coding, UX design, or any other tech field, you should be confident it’s the right direction for your career. Even if you’re studying part-time, you’re still making a huge commitment, so you’ll want to make sure that it helps you earn all the necessary skills needed to reach your career goals.

To excel in any bootcamp, you’ll need a laptop, Wi-Fi (this seems trivial, but it can be overlooked), and a quiet place to work and study. Headphones might be helpful, too, so you can listen to video tutorials without disturbing others. Some part-time coding bootcamps may require you to meet regularly with a mentor, so you may need a microphone, too.

How can I get the most out of a part-time bootcamp?

When you’re learning a skill through a part-time coding bootcamp, there are a few best practices that will help ensure you can digest the material.

• Minimize distractions. It’s hard to learn software development, and it’ll be even harder if you’re trying to learn new concepts, practice data structures, and solve programming challenges while someone else is watching a movie, the kids need attention, or the dogs are barking. Life happens, but to the best of your ability, try to reduce the number of distractions around you during study time. Block off at least one hour a day so you can fully concentrate.
• Take advantage of every resource. Some bootcamps come with virtual office hours, a career advisor, mentors, career services, student groups, or other types of learning and career support. Take advantage of every career development resource at your disposal throughout your coding journey. That way, you can decide which individuals, resources, or communities are most useful for you—and also connect with others in the field. Those entering web development also have incredible resources that other fields don't have. A web developer being able to see what others are programming in real time on GitHub, Reddit, or Discord can bring some of those ideas, creative skills, and coding bootcamp tools back to their individual or team coding project.
• Stick to a schedule. For many, the benefit of a part-time bootcamp is that you don’t have to adhere to a firm nine-to-five schedule. However, some structure can help you stay on track. Before you even enroll, decide what your schedule will look like day-to-day, so it’ll be easier to build a study routine around earning in-demand skills and practicing coding concepts.
• Remember to take breaks. A software engineer needs rest, too. Some part-time bootcamps allow you to move ahead at a faster pace. That doesn’t mean you should sit down for 12 hours and get through as much of the curriculum as possible. You’ll be absorbing dense, technical information, so give yourself breaks to recharge.
• Adopt a project management system. Start setting goals for yourself, such as completing a certain percentage of the curriculum or starting on your career prep, and attach a deadline to each one. Document those goals in a calendar app or project management system, such as Trello, Gmail, or even an Outlook calendar. You can set reminders before each deadline to hold yourself accountable.

Tips for evaluating part-time programs

The world of online coding bootcamps is expansive, and choosing the right one for you and your goals is your first challenge. Coding bootcamps aren’t regulated by the same accrediting bodies as traditional higher education. So, it’s up to you to carefully evaluate whether you’re enrolling in a program you can trust to help you gain practical expertise and transition into a thriving career in tech.

Start by doing some research online. Identify the top five part-time coding programs that offer the particular in-demand skill you’re looking for—whether that's web development, software engineering, cyber security, or artificial intelligence. Then, read student testimonials from real students who have successfully transitioned into entry-level web developers, software engineers, and more.

Be sure to learn a bootcamp’s estimated time commitment, overall cost, location (if there is one), and compare it to the other programs you’re considering. The part-time category may include some programs that are completely flexible and require no firm time commitment.

Whatever you choose, prepare for a significant time commitment in both the curriculum and application of new coding languages. An insider secret: Even though a bootcamp may be part-time, one of the mistakes new students make is estimating 25 hours per week. More often than not, you’ll spend additional time practicing coding challenges and interacting with peers and faculty.

Also, remember you can ask questions during your bootcamp interview. Ask your admissions representative or student advisor for more details about the student support offered in their part-time program, and find out what type of students are most likely to succeed and launch fulfilling tech careers.

How to get a job after graduating from a part-time coding bootcamp

Your decision to attend a part-time coding bootcamp doesn’t mean you’re any less committed than a full-time student. You will still have a high-quality tech education, along with all the impressive skills and attributes that future employers are looking for. By completing your studies, you will have demonstrated an incredible work ethic and dedication to your future career in tech.

You may find that part-time bootcamps offer career services, including job search support. But here are a few things you can do to help catch the eye of employers, even before you graduate.

• Add your program to LinkedIn. List your bootcamp course in the education section of your LinkedIn profile. If you complete projects you’re proud of, share the links in a post. Be sure to add the PDFs to your profile. If you receive a formal credential when you graduate, add that to the education section, too.
• Create a professional portfolio. Some bootcamps help you prepare a software engineering portfolio, but it never hurts to get a head start. As you pick up new skills and finish assignments, keep a collection of links to the finished product. When you’re ready, you can compile them using a portfolio website or your URL.
• Leverage existing connections and support. Talk to friends and family about your decision to enroll in a bootcamp. See if anyone in your LinkedIn network is already in your field of choice. You may discover you already know people who have also studied with a bootcamp, made a career change, or started a successful career in your new field.
• Take advantage of your bootcamp’s professional network. Some bootcamps have an employer network, a pool of organizations that have hired previous bootcamp grads. If that’s the case with the bootcamp you've chosen, find out how you can leverage that network once you enroll. Sometimes, a simple action like sending a few cold emails to employers or joining a professional group on LinkedIn could result in a job offer.
• Start applying early. Don’t wait until you graduate to apply for jobs. If you see an attractive role for web development or junior software engineer that has a competitive salary for your market and budget, apply. Whenever you can find a spare 30 minutes during your studies, take time to make connections, work on your portfolio, tweak your resume, or apply to a few jobs. The earlier you start, the better your chances of getting hired quickly.

Wrap-up: Finding the part-time coding bootcamp for you

As long as you commit to adopting new skills throughout a bootcamp, you’ll be eligible to apply for a variety of tech jobs when you graduate—regardless of whether you enroll full-time or part-time. Companies in a range of industries hire bootcamp grads with coding, data, or other technical skills.2 It’ll be up to you to decide whether you’d be happier with an established corporation or a startup.

Once you’ve added your new skills to your resume and LinkedIn profile, you’ll be a prime candidate for a successful coding career. Start your search for the best part-time coding bootcamp for you today.

Sources

1 https://www.educate-me.co/blog/bootcamp-market-statistics

2 https://meritamerica.org/blog/top-companies-hiring-from-bootcamps-job-training-programs/