Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It in 2023?

These days, coding bootcamps are gaining traction and respect in the tech industry and among tech companies for their ability to train students to be job-ready in a short period of time. Although bootcamps continue to gain momentum, some people still wonder: are coding bootcamps worth it in 2023?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for tech jobs will grow another 15 percent from 2021 through 2031, meaning there are plenty of jobs to go around for skilled professionals. Below, you’ll discover whether a coding bootcamp is worth it in 2023, including bootcamp pros and cons, and what coding bootcamps reviews can reveal about the value of a bootcamp program.

Top Reasons to Attend a Coding Bootcamp

It is often said that there is no such thing as “luck”. Rather, success in any endeavor hinges on looking for opportunities others may not see. And, most opportunities present themselves through your determination to be in the right place, at the right time, with open eyes and an open mind. Below are some of the top benefits of a coding bootcamp, including the reasons a coding bootcamp is worth it.  

1. Fast and efficient training. Bootcamps have been designed to impart critical and in-demand technical skills to their students in a short period of time. The program curricula and instruction are focused on getting students job-ready in a year or less.
2. High job placement rates. Bootcamps that offer job placement assistance will give you access to support and guidance from professionals. This can make the process less stressful. Because of the focused training, many companies are keen to hire directly from bootcamps.
3. Networking opportunities. Attending a coding bootcamp can open doors to networking events or hackathons and earn you contacts at various companies and organizations. Moreover, the professional relationships you build with your instructors and fellow students during your coding bootcamp program are invaluable.
4. Access to support system and career services. Bootcamp students have access to a structured support system. Learning in a more structured environment ensures the skills you acquire are relevant to employers. Bootcamps also often offer coding bootcamp career services to help you prepare for the job search post-graduation, such as resume or interview preparation.
5. Hands-on curriculum. A bootcamp program focuses on teaching the key skills for careers in the tech field. To get students ready for the job market, a coding bootcamp curriculum provides many opportunities for hands-on learning and projects to make students comfortable with applying the skills and not just the theory.

The Pros and Cons of Coding Bootcamps

Weighing coding bootcamp pros and cons can help you to decide if studying at a bootcamp is right for you. While there are many advantages of learning from a coding bootcamp, it’s important to also be aware of where a bootcamp may fall short against other types of education. Below is an in-depth list of bootcamp pros and cons to consider.    

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Bootcamp Advantages	Bootcamp Disadvantages
Short time frame Industry-driven curriculum Part-time or self-paced options allow you to work while you study Many can be completed online and remotely Career services and job guarantees help you find work after graduation	Curriculum is focused on a specific career outcome and not broad knowledge of the field Intensive coursework requires commitment and self-discipline Some programs can be costly Most coding bootcamps do not qualify for federal aid Some companies may be wary to hire someone without a degree

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Coding Bootcamp Reviews: What Do Bootcamp Alumni Think?

Researching bootcamp reviews can help you decide if a coding bootcamp is worth it or not. A good way to determine if a bootcamp program is right for you is by hearing what former bootcamp alumni think about their experience. Coding bootcamps reviews can shed valuable light on the program’s ability to prepare you for the workforce, the demands of the curriculum, and the expertise of the professors. 

For example, App Academy has a BootcampRankings rating of five stars after 10 reviews. Reviews from alumni say the program was intense but well worth it, comparing the knowledge gained to four years in a computer science degree. Flatiron School coding graduates’ reviews describe the programs as rewarding though challenging, with professors showing genuine care for their success.

How Much Do Coding Bootcamps Cost?

A coding bootcamp costs anywhere from less than $2,000 to more than $30,000. The coding bootcamp price is usually less expensive than a traditional college degree. While the higher range can be a hurdle for many prospective students, coding bootcamp scholarships, financial aid, and income share agreements (ISAs) can help.  

How to Pay for Coding Bootcamp

Finding a way to pay for a coding bootcamp may be a challenge. But many programs offer students multiple ways to pay for tuition, such as through income sharing, monthly payments, or other financing options. It is wise to explore every option to help pay for all or part of coding bootcamp tuition.

• Scholarships. There are many kinds of coding scholarships available to students. While most often they are offered by the bootcamp, there are also organizations that offer scholarships for coding bootcamp students based on merit, minority status, and more.
• Income share agreements. Coding bootcamp deferred tuition programs most often come in the form of ISAs. These contracts ease the cost of studying and allow you to pay back the tuition fee through your future salary. This lessens the financial burden during your program so that you can focus on your studies.
• Coding bootcamp loans. These days, there are more and more lenders offering loans for bootcamp students specifically. Companies such as Upstart, Skills Fund, and Climb Credit offer loans for students at schools such as Hack Reactor, Coding Dojo, and Fullstack Academy. You can also take out a personal loan from your banking institution to finance your program.

Will I a Get a Job After Coding Bootcamp?

Getting a job after a coding bootcamp is the main goal of most bootcamp curricula. With this motivation, many bootcamps offer services to help students land a job after the coding bootcamp program finishes. Some also offer a coding bootcamp job guarantee in which the student is refunded the cost of tuition if they fail to get a job within a certain period of time following graduation.

Because of the high demand for tech professionals across not only the tech industry but many other industries, bootcamps want to train students quickly to get them into the workforce. For example, according to the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting, 81 percent of graduates of Code Platoon’s full-time bootcamp program found full-time employment within six months of graduating.   

Companies That Hire Coding Bootcamp Graduates

Some of the world’s top companies hire bootcamp grads, as they’re always looking for bright minds to contribute to their growth. Companies that hire coding bootcamp graduates are attracted to their work ethic, skillset, and drive. Below are some of the top companies hiring bootcamp grads today.

• Comcast
• Progressive Insurance
• Access Development
• Cisco
• Clorox
• Granicus
• NerdWallet
• The Honest Company
• Eventbrite
• Sony Pictures

Salary After Coding Bootcamp

Earning potential can be a factor in deciding whether to pursue a four-year degree or a coding bootcamp. A worldwide survey shared in a report by Arc reports that a coding bootcamp graduate’s salary is higher in the early years of their career as compared to bachelor’s degree holders. This means graduates can look forward to an industry-competitive salary after a coding bootcamp.

Most bootcamps prepare students for high-paying tech roles. Some of these top roles include software developer, with an annual median salary of $109,020, data scientists who earn $100,910 per year, on average, and cyber security professionals earning an average of $102,600 annually. These figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook for 2021. 

Bootcamp vs Traditional Degree

Coding bootcamps and university degrees both impart the skills necessary to work in a range of tech fields. However, they are different in many respects. For example, a coding bootcamp program lasts anywhere from three months to one year, while a computer science degree requires four years of full-time study.

Also, the intensity of learning is a lot higher in a coding bootcamp vs a CS degree because the curricula have different focuses. A computer science degree curriculum wants to educate students to be well-rounded in a range of topics, including electives that are not related to computer science. On the other hand, a coding bootcamp curriculum focuses solely on the skills needed to fulfill a specific career’s requirements.

Price is also a factor when it comes to choosing between a coding bootcamp and a college education. A coding bootcamp tuition can range from $1,000 to $20,000 for the entire program, while a CS degree could cost that per year for four years. 

Coding Bootcamp vs Self-Learning

With so many free resources available online today, you may wonder why paying to attend a coding bootcamp would be worth the cost. Of course, much of your decision will depend on your learning style, situation, and level of commitment. One benefit of self-learning is, of course, the low cost involved. It also allows you to study on your own schedule, offering you the flexibility to work or tend to other personal commitments.

However, studying with a coding bootcamp provides a learning environment with accountability built in, meaning students can rely less on their own self-discipline when following a structured curriculum. Those self-learning could find it difficult to stay motivated and on track, or to know exactly what knowledge and skills they need to learn. 

A coding bootcamp also offers professor assistance and services such as career services to help students launch their careers after graduating. This alone could be invaluable for someone who wants to gain the skills quickly and find work right away.  

Types of Coding Bootcamps

Whether you are considering a coding bootcamp in data science, web development, software development, or even software engineering, the following are some of the highest-rated coding bootcamps arranged by industry focus:

• Best web design bootcamps. Web design is one of the most common areas tech companies hire bootcamp tech talent for.
  
• Best data science bootcamps. Data science is another highly sought-after bootcamp skill. The complexity of the field gives people in this area of expertise a lot of flexibility when looking for opportunities.
  
• Best data analytics bootcamps. Data analytics experts often go on to make remarkable discoveries to solve problems with innovative solutions.
  
• Best cybersecurity bootcamps. The ever-evolving security threats to companies makes this field of expertise one that will remain in demand for decades to come.
  
• Best tech sales bootcamps. The focus in tech sales is not to create products, but to create innovative solutions to sell products. If a development job isn’t really your area of interest, tech sales may be an ideal way to break into the tech industry.
  
• Best digital marketing bootcamps. Digital marketing is another great way to get into the tech industry without learning to code. Similar to tech sales, your skills for finding innovative ways to get products in front of potential customers will be in high demand.
  
• Best product management bootcamps. Product managers take charge of the lifecycle of a product, from the design phase all the way through to its last days on the market.

Coding Bootcamp Formats

Studying at a coding bootcamp means you have many options when it comes to the format in which you learn. Some bootcamps provide a wide range of options for learning, while others may stick to only one or two options for their courses. No matter what you want to study, a coding bootcamp is worth it if it can fit into your schedule and lifestyle.

• Part-time vs full-time. The time to complete the program is the key difference between a full-time and a part-time coding bootcamp. While both have their pros and cons, a part-time program also allows you the flexibility to attend a coding bootcamp while working a full-time job. A full-time, immersive bootcamp option help students gain skills fast. 
• In-person vs online. Attending a coding bootcamp online program can be just as effective as an in-person coding bootcamp. While in-person learning tends to help students stay more focused on their studies, an online bootcamp program allows students to access courses regardless of location.
• Self-paced vs instructor-led. In these two formats, discipline and accountability are the key factors, with instructor-led coding bootcamps being the top choice for students who need these factors in their learning. A self-paced coding bootcamp, however, is perfect for someone who can stay motivated and could even help them complete their program earlier than planned.

Is Attending a Coding Bootcamp Right For Me?

Whether a coding bootcamp is right for you depends on your situation, your personality, and your overall dedication to joining the tech industry in one of the areas that coding bootcamps offer instruction. Commitment to successfully completing a coding bootcamp is essential. Committing fully to the demands of the program will help ensure that your experience and outcome are positive.

A coding bootcamp is worth it as it can offer an immersive, effective, and affordable way to gain the skills needed for some of the most in-demand careers in tech today. With a variety of formats and high job placement rates, a coding bootcamp could be the right fit for you.    

Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It FAQ