You may have the idea that gaining admission to study a tech course takes time and money. This may be true if you don’t know about coding Bootcamp opportunities. Coding Bootcamp is an opportunity to acquire tech skills at an affordable rate within a short period of time. If you ask whether coding boot camps are worth it? Then, the answer is Yes!
Do you wish to acquire tech skills without having to attend a traditional college to earn a degree? If yes, then grab this opportunity now.
Coding bootcamps provide students the intensive training in software development skills. This program is normally created for people that wish to enter the tech industry job market. This is the reason why coding bootcamps are called a “fast track” to well-paying tech jobs.
Because coding institutions depend on coding bootcamp graduates to stay in business, they deal with teaching programming languages that tech companies need on a daily basis.
Statistics from Course Report show that full-stack JavaScript and Ruby on Rails are the two most popular languages that coding bootcamps teach. Other prominent programming languages that coding bootcamp teach followed are Python, Java, PHP, and .NET.
With lower tuition costs, shorter class times, and a practical learning curriculum, coding bootcamps are praised for increasing access to tech education. This is why coding bootcamps are worth it.
What is a coding bootcamp?
A coding Bootcamp is an intensive, accelerated program that teaches participants digital skills like Full-Stack Web Development, Data Science, Digital Marketing, UX/UI Design, and Cybersecurity.
Over the last decade, coding boot camps originate to fill a talent vacuum. However, tech companies appeared to have more jobs than qualified applicants and the number of graduates with four-year degrees couldn’t meet the demands of growing industries.
The assumption of coding boot camps is inferred to be; learning to code in a condensed rigorous format. Pioneers of coding boot camps like Dev Bootcamp in San Francisco and The Iron Yard in Greenville, South Carolina, created coding boot camps to prepare students to be ready for tech jobs within months rather than years.
Most importantly, the combination of speed and accessibility is attracting a growing number of upskilled seeking high-paying, high-tech jobs. Statistics show that over 23,000 students will graduate from code schools this year.
The 2019 Course Report has it that the number of code schools increased to 96 in-person boot camps across 71 cities in the United States plus fourteen (14) fully online coding boot camps. The larger part of this increase is as a result of corporate partners that see the advantage of this model for retraining employees.
How much will a coding bootcamp cost me?
Even though coding boot camps increase access for many students that cannot acquire a four-degree computer science education as a result of the cost, some code schools are more expensive than others.
The Course Report reports that coding boot camps will cost participants from between $7,000 at CodingNomad for an 18-week format to $24,000 at RithmSchool for a 16-week format.
Meanwhile, statistics of 102 schools from Course Report show that the average tuition cost of coding boot camps in 2019 rose to $13,584. For an online coding Bootcamp, it will cost a participant, average tuition of $12,898.
You can also read 21 Cheapest Online Ph.D. Computer Science Program
Do coding bootcamp grads get jobs?
This is where it actually matters most. You may be asking yourself if you can actually acquire good-paying jobs after a code Bootcamp. Well, the answer is yes because participating in coding boot camps is worth it.
According to the Course Report, 80% of respondents say they have worked in jobs that require the technical skills acquired from coding boot camps. So, if you are nursing the ambitions of becoming a software developer or data scientist, or a tech-adjacent job like a product manager, a coding boot camp is always worth it.
How much will I make after a coding bootcamp?
According to a survey of 1450 graduates which was carried out by Course Report, statistics show that coding Bootcamp graduates earn an average of $70,698. Even so, this increases as developers gain seniority in the industry.
On average, graduates earn $79,944 at their second job after boot camp, and $90,421 at their third job after boot camp so salaries typically increase by 25% as boot-campers progress in the industry.
On the other hand, 83% of coding Bootcamp grads gain full-time employment and it takes them between one to six months to land their first job.
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Do employers think coding bootcamps are worth it?
Employers continue to use coding boot camps as a tech talent pipeline to fill roles – we’ve found that Bootcamp alumni are working in over 650 different companies. And it’s not just startups! In 2018, established companies like Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Amazon, Dropbox, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Amex all hire from boot camps like Fullstack Academy and the Grace Hopper Program.
Employers like the above-mentioned can receive tech talents with hands-on experience in a short period of time. Meanwhile, there are several reasons why employers rush to hire coding Bootcamp grads. Below are comments from some key employers:
Dan Ayoub, Microsoft Education General Manager, says “a Bootcamp is not only a great way to learn the skillset of coding, but also to network and see what a career in coding could look like based on an individual’s areas of interest.”
Pat Poels, Eventbrite’s Director of Engineering, says “If you make the investment, you choose the right people and invest in them in the right way, it’s going to pay off. Those bootcamp grads will be worth so much more to you along the line. Think beyond the next six months; what can these new hires mean for the next six years?”
What are the benefits of coding bootcamps?
There are several benefits of participating in coding bootcamps. Here, we will look at the pros and cons of coding bootcamps.
Pros
Coding bootcamps do not have general education classes or strict requirements for admission. They can also be cheaper than a four-year degree program.
Bootcamps for coding offer flexible and self-paced learning. In a situation whereby a code bootcamp requires around 12 weeks of full-time study, a full-time bachelor’s degree will require four years to complete.
Another benefit of code bootcamps is that some code schools provide innovative repayment schemes including deferred tuition, income-sharing agreements, or employer sponsorships.
All coding boot camps focus majorly on practical skills that are needed in tech industries whereas computer science degree programs focus on theory.
Cons
Coding bootcamps do not hold national or regional accreditations like colleges and universities. Accreditation helps to measure the quality of instruction in institutions of learning.
The format of coding bootcamps which are short and condensed may be offered at the expense of depth and focus. However, a four-year degree program offers the much-needed time to explore different areas of computer science.
There is little or no financial aid because currently, private code schools do not qualify for federal financial aid.
Coding boot camps are not versatile like computer science. In other words, code boot camps focus on teaching one area of computer science such as web development while a computer science degree can prepare you for a variety of jobs in the field.
You can also read: What can I do with a computer programming degree? Salaries & Career
Are there online coding bootcamps?
Online coding bootcamps will give you the opportunity not to quit your job or change your location.
It offers participants the opportunity to spend more time on topics and study around work and family schedules.
No matter the exact online coding bootcamp you wish to pursue, always remember that learning to code online is different from face-to-face learning in a classroom.
You will start by choosing a course that supports your learning style. Ensure to make out enough time that you’ll dedicate to the online bootcamp. Afterward, you make the most of your support network (instructors, mentors, alumni network, etc).
Upon completion, make sure that you code every day and network aggressively to get a job.
Below are some of the online coding bootcamps for you:
Altcademy
This is an institution in Hong Kong that offers online programming classes in backend and front end development. The courses which you’ll learn include coding languages like JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Node.js, and Ruby on Rails.
Altcademy programs are designed for beginners with no pre-requisites.
App Academy
This is one of the best and most popular online coding schools. App Academy offers online and in-person training programs tuition-tuition free until you’re hired as a Software Engineer earning more than $50,000.
Over 3,000 people have gained full-time Software Engineering jobs through App Academy at average salaries of $105,000 in San Francisco, $90,000 in New York, and $80,000 nationally.
On the other hand, App Academy’s alumni work at over 1,000 companies all over the world including Google, Apple, Netflix, Twitter, and more.
Bloc
Bloc is an online coding bootcamp that integrates 1-on-1 mentorship to prepare each student for a career as a professional software engineer or UX/UI designer.
Its apprenticeship method is designed specifically for each student’s learning needs. In the Web Developer Bootcamp, the curriculum focuses on frontend JavaScript and students can choose whether to learn Ruby on Rails or server-side JavaScript with Node.
In addition, Bloc offers students 80 hours per week of real-time access to an experienced developer to answer any questions they may have.
Bloc has an acceptance rate of 100%. However, it looks out for students who are driven, hard-working, and ready to learn.
Fullstack Academy
It offers full-time and part-time immersive software engineering bootcamps and cybersecurity bootcamps. Fullstack Academy offers these through its online platform as well as offline via its campuses in New York City, and Chicago.
Its software engineering courses cover advanced JavaScript-oriented technologies and computer science topics like compiler theory, logic gates, and building an operating system.
However, cyber bootcamp focus on encryption, networking, system architecture, cryptography, risk detection, etc.
Fullstack Academy offers students and people who wish to continue working flexible options to learn modern tech skills. The Summer of Code program is an accelerated version of the immersive bootcamp for college students on summer break.
Tech Elevator
This is an immersive 14-week coding bootcamp with tracks in Java and .NET. Students will gain an understanding of the basic concepts and theory of computer science concepts that are required for a professional software developer. It lays special emphasis on practical application, techniques, and tools for software development.
Additionally, students in both the Java and .NET tracks will learn client-side web programming such as Javascript, JQuery, Bootstrap, Web services, XML, JSON.
In the .NET track, students will also be taught C#. For the final capstone project, students will work collectively on a business project by building a fully-functional app using either Java or .NET.
NYC Data Science Academy
This online program offers 12-week data science bootcamps in New York City. In these programs, students learn beginner and intermediate levels of Data Science with R, Python, Hadoop, Spark, Github, and SQL plus popular and useful R and Python packages like XgBoost, Caret, dplyr, ggplot2, Pandas, scikit-learn, etc.
To apply, applicants must possess a Masters’s or Ph.D. degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math or equivalent experience in quantitative science or programming. In addition, applicants with BA’s who have enough experience are also considered.
BrainStation
This coding program offers full-time and part-time courses in data science, design, development, marketing, and product in New York City, Toronto, Vancouver, and through an Online Live platform.
Its class structure combines in-person instruction with interactive online content and a hands-on project-based curriculum.
Meanwhile, Online Live learning allows students to attend live lectures, collaborate with fellow professionals, and receive immediate, real-time feedback from instructors from any part of the world.
Springboard
Springboard offers online, flexible, mentor-led courses including the Data Science Career Track, UX Design Career Track, and Machine Learning Career Track.
The Data Science Career Track includes a deferred tuition option whereby students can enroll for a small deposit and finish paying upon landing a job.
If you wish to apply for this online coding bootcamp, you will fill out an online form and take an aptitude test. Afterward, you talk with a school representative about their background and motivations.
To enroll for the data science career track, you must have a background knowledge of statistics and/or programming.
For the UX career path, you should have academic or professional background in user design or development-oriented fields.
Can I get free coding bootcamps?
Unfortunately, most coding bootcamps are very expensive to pursue. Luckily, there is an opportunity for you to undertake a coding bootcamp for free.
Free coding schools do not charge any fees. They offer most of the same benefits that a paid program offers. In addition, these free coding programs serve as a great introduction to computer programming.
Therefore, here are the best free coding bootcamps for you:
Is a coding bootcamp worth it?
Educational institutions are not suitable for everyone especially for nontraditional learners who don’t have the time or finance to acquire a four-year degree. Coding bootcamps are worth it because they are designed for professionals who may wish to switch careers, retrain, or upskill.
The fast but immersive nature of the bootcamps allows professionals to get enter the industry or accelerate their careers in a new direction.
Nevertheless, bootcamps do not reflect the depth and scope of a four-year computer science degree.
Finally, coding bootcamps serve different purposes and different student populations. It also serves the diverse needs of a growing industry.
Get to know: How to Get a Ph.D. in Computer Science Online in 2021: Schools, Programs, Cost
How do I make my coding bootcamp experience to worth it?
A lot of things can happen to you on a coding Bootcamp. During the Bootcamp, you might feel lost, frustrated, stressed, or overwhelmed. Additionally, you might feel like you’re not learning fast enough or other persons are learning faster than you. This can make you start asking yourself if you made the right decision.
However, you can make your bootcamp experience worth it if you prepare very well before the program. It is not compulsory that you do this but this will give you an edge over other people. You can do this by looking for some intro to coding resources, like Codecademy.
Do your homework. This actually sounds crazy but it will surprise you during the bootcamp how people do nothing in the course they have paid for.
Meanwhile, do all the homework you are assigned. This will help you to learn much faster. You will find yourself learning better by doing rather than listening.
Finally, ensure you do not compare yourself to other persons on the coding bootcamp. You may at some point lose courage but bear in mind that the aim of the bootcamp is to leave with the skill set that will fetch you job opportunities. With this mindset, you can now kickstart your career with a coding bootcamp.
Having read this, you can make your coding bootcamp worth it. Always remember that whatever you invest during the course of the bootcamp, you’ll surely receive it tenfold.
Conclusion
There are several coding bootcamps out there and they are all a bit different from each other. Some coding bootcamps are in-person and have live instruction while others are online and have their learning materials available on an interactive platform.
There are coding bootcamps that have individualized instruction through 1-on-1 mentorship while there are others that offer a mix of these attributes.
These coding bootcamps teach candidates the skill set that modern tech companies require. Coding bootcamp grads work in top tech companies including Google, Amazon, Facebook, and LinkedIn where they earn lots of money. Well, you can see why coding bootcamps are worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is coding bootcamp hard?
Yes. High-quality bootcamps are created to keep tension on both advanced attendees and beginners as well.
How long will it take me to undergo a coding bootcamp?
It will take you an average period of 14.1 weeks (around 3.5 months) to undergo a coding bootcamp program. This is according to the Course Report’s 2017 Coding Bootcamp Market Size Report.
Are coding bootcamps for beginners?
Yes. At coding bootcamps, beginners get to learn digital skills including Full-Stack Web Development, Data Science, Digital Marketing, and UX/UI Design.
Can I gain a job after undergoing a coding bootcamp program?
Yes. After acquiring digital skills from a coding boot camp, you’re exposed to lots of job opportunities. However, it is not necessarily pain-free.
Does Google and Amazon hire coding bootcamp grads?
Google and Amazon as well as Facebook, LinkedIn, Dropbox, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Amexn started hiring coding Bootcamp grads in 2018.
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