What is a coding bootcamp?
How is it different from coding schools, online courses, and a college degree?
How to choose a coding bootcamp so it would fit all your needs and help you land a dream job in IT?
This ultimate guide on coding bootcamps gets all the answers straight.
What is coding bootcamp?
A coding bootcamp is a short-term, intensive learning course that teaches hard tech skills to people willing to start a career in the IT field or get new skills to develop their competencies.
The purpose of coding bootcamps:
- Provide real-world training for people with no or little experience in coding
- Teach tech skills to people willing to shift their careers and join software engineering or any other IT field
- Do the above within a tight time frame and for an affordable price
Coding bootcamp providers focus on immersive learning. They offer similar outcomes — hard skills employers require from tech specialists — but differ by format, subjects, payment plans, and career services a student can get from them after graduation.
What you can learn at coding bootcamps:
Most bootcamps teach coding languages and their applications in computer programming: Python, Java, JavaScript, Swift, PHP, SQL, and others. Have you already chosen yours? If not, here’s the hint:
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Besides, they offer courses on more specific subjects:
- Web and mobile app development
- Cybersecurity
- Data science
- UX/UI design
- Software engineering
With the market’s demand for computer science professionals exceeding the supply, more and more people begin thinking about breaking into tech or enhancing their skills to win new tech horizons. Coding bootcamps seem an ideal way to do that quickly yet effectively, and that’s the #1 reason for their growing popularity.
Let’s dive into more detail:
Why choose a coding bootcamp:
Affordability and fast result are two core benefits of coding bootcamps for applicants. They look like a great alternative to college degrees, which are so time-consuming and expensive to get.
Let’s compare:
| Bootcamp: | College: | |
| Length: | 8-16 weeks; 24 weeks when part-time | 4 years when full-time; part-time pacing varies |
| Goals: | Introduce technology and tools; develop hard skills in coding; prepare for coding careers | Deliver a high education; enhance soft skills; provide technical training; prepare for entry-level opportunities |
| Format: | Online or in-person | Online or in-person |
| Class type: | Practical courses to develop specific job skills | Theoretical and practical courses to explore general and fundamental major-specific education |
| Price: | $7,500-$13,950 total on average | $37,430 per year on average |
The benefits of coding bootcamps are self-evident for IT beginners and career shifters:
- They are faster to complete and start a career
- Coding bootcamps are affordable, providing numerous payment options for students to join and start learning
- They welcome individuals who have no experience in tech
- Bootcamps focus on specific subjects, preparing to deal with real-life tasks
- They partner with industry experts and major tech companies to teach students and hire them after graduation
- Coding bootcamps are super flexible when it comes to learning schedule, and every student can tailor it to their needs
- Besides theory and practice lessons, most bootcamps also provide career coaching and job assistance
The last but not least reason why choose bootcamps is career outcomes and salaries you can get after graduating.
| What is my position after a coding bootcamp? | Duties: | Salary, $: |
| Software Developer | Manage the creation of computer programs | 110,140 |
| Web Developer | Plan and produce websites | 77,200 |
| Software Engineer | Design and unify software creation | 111,600 |
| Data Scientist | Analyze data and address targeted problems | 98,230 |
| Computer Programmer | Write code to generate programs | 93,000 |
| Security Analyst | Protect networks from cyberattacks | 103,590 |
| IT Architect | Design data communication networks | 91,914 |
| Game Developer | Design games | 67,050 |
| Web Designer | Create websites | 52,000 |
| Information Researcher | Create cutting-edge technology | 102,860 |
| Network Administrator | Maintain the daily operations of computer networks | 52,472 |
| Database Administrator | Store, order, and protect company data | 62,697 |
| Systems Manager | Oversee and coordinate IT operations | 80,366 |
How to choose a coding bootcamp:
Here’s your few-clicks way to choose an ideal coding bootcamp that fits your goals and needs. Just fill in the form — and get the job done for you:
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For those in doubt and willing to go a long way in research and choosing a coding bootcamp themselves, below is your detailed instruction:
First, answer these five questions
- What do I want to learn?
- What are my goals?
- Do I have any background in the niche?
- How much time and money do I have for learning?
- What learning format does suit me best?
What do I want to learn?
It stands to reason that you’ll search a bootcamp by programs they provide to see if they offer the area of your interest. Do you want to learn Python or become a Game Developer? Or you’re more about machine learning or AI?
So, decide on a particular tech area you plan to learn: It will allow you to narrow the search of a coding bootcamp.
Tip: The more specific you’ll be about the subject of your interest, the better. Think of “Java” instead of the more general “Computer Programming,” ensure you get the difference between software engineering and software development, etc. It will help filter coding bootcamps and focus on those providing what you want specifically.
What are my goals?
Why do you want to join a coding bootcamp?
- Learn the coding fundamentals and understand if this niche is right for you?
- Develop your existing coding skills to grow your competencies for a career jump and higher salaries?
- Get a certificate and use it for a job search in IT after graduation?
- Network with IT experts and get guaranteed employment after completing the bootcamp?
Depending on your goal, you’ll consider coding bootcamp options accordingly.
Do I have any background in the niche?
Different bootcamps welcome students of various knowledge levels. Some accept complete beginners with no experience in coding, while others focus on intermediate or even expert mentees and craft their learning programs accordingly.
Consider bootcamps that fit your background best. Why spend time on schools for beginners if you already know the fundamentals of your chosen course?
How much time and money do I have for learning?
Coding bootcamps differ by type, duration, and price. (You don’t say!) When trying to narrow down your search, first decide how much money you are ready to spend on learning.
The same is true about the duration: Some bootcamps are 8-16 weeks long, while others can take up to a year to complete. Do you have so much time for learning?
What learning format does suit me best?
Do you plan to visit a coding bootcamp in person, or are online lessons more comfortable for you to attend? Are you ready to spend the whole day in a class? Or do you have a full-time job and can devote evenings or only weekends studying?
Consider these details when choosing a coding bootcamp. Their learning formats differ, so you’ll have to narrow down the searches even more. Here’s the difference:
Then, check these five things about a bootcamp
Now that you have all the answers on what, why, and how you want to learn, it’s time to organize coding bootcamp options accordingly.
When researching a bootcamp online to see if it fits you, consider the five criteria:
1) Curriculum
It’s not enough to choose a course by name. You need to open and check the whole program of your chosen bootcamp, step by step:
What exactly will you learn about cybersecurity in this bootcamp? Ask them to send a curriculum so you can see if the course structure fits you.
2) Payment options
Coding bootcamps are not about upfront payments only. You can find a course that offers loans, income share agreements, deferred tuition, and even scholarships.
Read all the guidelines carefully when choosing your option: The details matter, and you need to follow all the requirements to afford the program and get the most out of your learning experience.
3) Type
And again, the format matters. Check how you’ll learn if choosing the particular program: online, online, or both (hybrid)? Does it suit you?
Here go the core differences between the three types of coding bootcamps:
| In-person: | – Fixed schedule – Face-to-face interactions with teachers – Networking with peers – Interactive environment |
| Online: | – More flexible schedule – Less expensive than in-person courses – Perfect for independent learners and introverts – May be less efficient because of a student’s procrastination and motivation lack |
| Hybrid: | – Combine traditional and online learning – More flexible than in-person bootcamps – Encourage networking via face-to-face sessions on weekends |
4) Employment rate
If you plan to get a job after a coding bootcamp, check the information about its employment rate: What percent of its students do get employed? Does a bootcamp have any job guarantee program for its alumni?
As a rule, coding bootcamps place information about employment rates on their websites to prove their authoritativeness and trustworthiness for applicants. According to CIRR, the average employment rate of bootcamp graduates who got a job in the field 180 days after graduation is 79%.
5) Alumni feedback
It’s probably the most critical detail to check about a coding bootcamp when deciding if it’s worth your attention. You know that all service websites are about marketing, so first-hand reviews and comments would come in handy.
Read them on third-party coding bootcamp review websites, join corresponding discussions online, or you can go even further: contact an alumnus directly and ask for feedback. Their thoughts on a coding bootcamp’s program, teachers, and outcomes may influence your decision heavily.
Finally, compare the options and choose yours
Phew!
With all the above information in your pocket, you’ll have several coding bootcamp options that more or less fit your learning needs, career goals, and other criteria. It’s high time to compare them and choose the final variant.
Tip: Create a comparison chart of two or three coding bootcamps for better visibility to see all the pros and cons at a glance.
Don’t hesitate to contact a bootcamp for more details before applying. You’ll see if they are open-minded, customer-oriented, and sincere in their willingness to help.
Be ready for challenges on your way
As well as any other niche, coding bootcamps have both pros and cons for your career in IT. Yes, they are short-term and focused on developing practical skills, but, at the same time, it’s an unregulated industry with no independent accreditation.
When choosing a coding bootcamp, be ready for some challenges:
- Bootcamps are intense: If you want to graduate with knowledge and skills, prepare to work hard.
- Your job prospects will be narrower compared to college degree graduates: Some employers are still skeptical about bootcamps’ certificates and the skills a person can get there.
- Bootcamps give you fundamentals or limited knowledge: No matter how hard you try, you won’t turn into a coding expert after 8-12 weeks in a bootcamp. Be realistic about the outcomes, and don’t expect top positions or sky-high salaries at once.
A coding bootcamp is the beginning of your exciting journey into the world of information technology. They give you a ticket, but it’s you who decide on a further direction. If you are looking for more tips – subscribe to our email newsletter!
