The Best Chicago Coding Bootcamps in 2021
Chicago is known for its vibrant tech scene. It houses some amazing tech companies such as Grubhub, Groupon, and Orbitz. The Windy City does not have an extensive list of coding bootcamps. However, the overall quality of coding bootcamps in Chicago is high. Students who graduate from these bootcamps often go on to find successful careers in tech.
Why Study at a Chicago Coding Bootcamp?
There are many tech firms in Chicago, which means the job opportunities are high. There’s a gap and need for skilled workers. Chicago coding bootcamps understand this and teach students how to work in these industries. It doesn’t matter what your experience with coding or software engineering may be, these bootcamps will take you from beginner to industry expert.
Benefits of Chicago Coding Bootcamps
- Industry ready in 6 to 9 months. Most coding bootcamps take less than a year to complete. This means you’ll become a professional coder in a matter of months.
- Part-time and full-time courses. Students can choose between part-time or full-time courses to fit their schedule. There is even self-paced and online learning. Some bootcamps offer night and weekend classes to help students who have responsibilities throughout the day.
- Mentors and advisors. Several coding bootcamps provide students with mentors, along with experienced instructors. These mentors guide you through the course and help ensure your success.
- Iterative curriculum. The curriculums of coding bootcamps are often changed to meet the current demands of the market.
The 10 Best Coding Bootcamps in Chicago
The tech scene in Chicago has grown tremendously in the past five years, and the future looks even brighter. With each new company, the need for employees increases. If you’re in Chicago and want to take advantage of these career opportunities, coding bootcamps are a great way to start. Below is a list of the best coding bootcamps in Chicago. Any of these institutions will give you the tools needed to start working in tech today.
| Actualize Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Courses | Web Development |
| Cost | $13,900 |
| Financing Options | Online, Full Payment, Part-time, Self-Paced |
| Alumni Employers | The Difference Engine, Oracle, AT&T, JP Morgan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Montana, Costco Wholesale, NorthShore University Health System, Ritani, Evolent Health, Home Chef, Negotiatus, IBM, Chicago Athletics Club |
Actualize is a coding bootcamp that prepares you to enter the ever-growing tech field. The bootcamp caters to people who have a desire to learn to code. Among bootcamps, Actualize is considered one of the best.
Actualize offers courses in software and web development. Students can take part in full-time, part-time, or online courses. Graduates from Actualize have gone on to work at companies such as IBM, NorthShore, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and AT&T.
| BrainStation Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Courses | UI/UX Design, Data Science, Data Analytics, Web Development, iOS Development, Digital Marketing, Product Management, Full Stack Development |
| Cost | $15000 |
| Financing Options | Upfront Payments, Month-to-month Installment |
| Alumni Employers | Shopify, RBC, Scotiabank, CIBC, TD, Konrad Group, TELUS, Canadian Tire Corporation, Lululemon, BMO Financial Group, Freelance, Loblaw Digital, Loyalty One, ecobee |
BrainStation offers courses, both part-time and full-time, in product management, data science, web and app development. The coding bootcamp is located throughout the United States and Canada.
The curriculum at BrainStation is project-based. Students learn through collaborative efforts that simulate working in the industry. Every instructor is trained within their field and they have several years of experience. Small class sizes allow instructors to give students the one-on-one time needed for a proper education.
| Coding Dojo Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Courses | Data Science, Web Development, Engineering Immersion, Full Stack Development |
| Cost | $4995- $6995 |
| Financing Options | Online, Full Payment, Part-time, Self-Paced |
| Alumni Employers | Microsoft, Amazon, Self Employed, HCL Technologies, Freelance Web Development, Amazon Web Services, Starbucks, Relativity, Silicon Valley Polytechnic Institute, The Difference Engine, EPAM Systems Lyft |
Coding Dojo teaches students through a combination of live and online courses Students in the program learn through project-based, collaborative tasks that teach them how to work in the industry. The coding bootcamp is recognized for its unique learning style and the success students find after graduating.
While attending the bootcamp, students learn from experts in the industry. There are also advisors and mentors to further guide students to success.
| Flatiron School Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Courses | Data Science, Web Development, Engineering Immersion, Full Stack Development, Cybersecurity |
| Cost | $9600-$15000 |
| Financing Options | Online, Full Payment, Part-time, Self-Paced |
| Alumni Employers | WeWork, Infosys, Wayfair, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase & Co. BlackRock, 2U, Priceline, The New York Times, Forbes, Etsy, MongoDB |
Flatiron School has established itself as one of the best coding bootcamps in the country. Both online and offline courses are available in software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity.
Over 90% of graduates from Flatiron School find employment. An overwhelming amount of graduates work with large companies, such as JPMorgan Chase, Infosys, Wayfair, Microsoft, and Forbes.
| Fullstack Academy Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Courses | Web Development, Engineering Immersion, Full Stack Development, Cybersecurity |
| Cost | $9600-$15000 |
| Financing Options | Upfront Payment, Loan Financing |
| Alumni Employers | Fullstack Academy, The Grace Hopper Program, American Express, Google, Bloomberg LP, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Etsy, Cedrus Digital, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, The New York Times, BlackRock, Priceline, Freelance, Paintzen |
Fullstack Academy is a favorite among employers. It has an immersive coding bootcamp that provides students with all the necessary information needed to work in tech. Students at Fullstack Academy learn how to think like a developer and apply problem-solving skills to their work.
Through an involved curriculum taught by industry experts, graduates from Fullstack Academy often go on to find full-time employment with many high profile tech companies.
| General Assembly Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Courses | UI/UX Design, Data Science, Data Analytics, Web Development, Digital Marketing, Product Management, Engineering Immersion, Full Stack Development |
| Cost | $950-$3,950 |
| Financing Options | ISA, Deferred Tuition, Upfront Payments, Month-to-month Installments, Loan Financing |
| Alumni Employers | Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, IBM, Capital One, American Express, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Salesforce, Uber, LinkedIn, WeWork, Spotify, Airbnb |
General Assembly has campuses located all over the world. Students can choose to study data science, product management, digital marketing, and more.
There are several learning programs to fit student’s schedules. Full-time students take less time to complete their course. However, there are also part-time and self-paced learning options that are more flexible and less time-consuming.
General Assembly is partnered with several large companies, such as Google, Microsoft, and Nast. This means that after graduation, you have the potential to connect and work with any of these companies.
| Make School Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Courses | Computer Science |
| Cost | $1480-$1880 |
| Financing Options | Upfront Payments, Loan Financing |
| Alumni Employers | Tonik Ad’s, Yelp, August Home Inc, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Savai, Zookyo, Stanford University, Coda, TheGirlCode, Piedmont Post, Piedmont LaunchX Club, ClientBird, RubensteinTech |
Make School is unique in that it offers a two-year fast-track bachelor’s degree program in computer science. Most coding bootcamps don’t offer degrees in their programs. This sets you apart from other bootcamp graduates. The coding bootcamp also offers free online courses in app development.
While Make School does provide a bachelor’s degree program, it is different from others. The curriculum only teaches you what’s necessary. You’ll learn about the tools used in the industry and how to work as a programmer.
| Nucamp Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Courses | Web Development, Software Engineering |
| Cost | $1480-$1880 |
| Financing Options | ISA, Deferred Tuition, Upfront Payments, Month-to-month Installments, Loan Financing |
| Alumni Employers | Amazon, Western Washington University, Microsoft, Facebook, Scott’s Cheap Flights, United States Marine Corps, Absopure Water Company, Tribus Services, Visiting Angels, Tamalpais Technology, United States Army National Guard, Yardi |
Nucamp students learn how to become full-stack mobile developers or web developers in 18 weeks. This coding bootcamp provides part-time courses to students that want to transition into a new career field.
Courses at Nucamp are highly affordable and come in at a lower price point than most other bootcamps. There are financing options, such as deferred tuition and income-share agreements, which allow students to pay for the bootcamp after graduating and finding employment.
| Product School Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Courses | Product Management Product Leadership Product Executive |
| Cost | $3,999 |
| Financing Options | Upfront Payments, Loan Financing |
| Alumni Employers | Google, Adobe, Cisco, Facebook, Amazon, Visa, Apple, Salesforce, Walmart eCommerce, Kaiser Permanente, Prudential Financial, Macy's, Lyft, VMWare |
Product School teaches its students how to become product managers and leaders. Students learn with personal career coaches who guide them to new careers. Throughout the bootcamp, students take part in portfolio projects and labs to better develop their skills.
This bootcamp is committed to developing student’s skills in building software products. Students receive instruction from well-trained individuals who have several years of professional experience.
| Thinkful Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Courses | UI/UX Design, Data Science, Data Analytics, Web Development, Digital Marketing, Product Management, Engineering Immersion, Full Stack Development |
| Cost | $7000-$12,2150 |
| Financing Options | ISA, Deferred Tuition, Upfront Payments, Month-to-month Installments, Loan Financing |
| Alumni Employers | Freelance Web Development, Trilogy Education, IBM, Starbucks, Coding with Kids, Tin Roof Software, Upwork, Walmart Labs, Cox Automotive |
Thinkful offers several full-time and part-time courses to its students, which include full-stack web development, data science, and product design. The coding bootcamp has a strong focus on helping students find employment.
Through Thinkful’s job guarantee, students are eligible for a full-tuition refund if they do not receive a job offer six months after graduating. However, that is highly unlikely. Thinkful states that 90% of its graduates become full-time developers.
Is a Chicago Coding Bootcamp Right For You?
While coding bootcamps in Chicago aren’t for everyone, they do give many people a chance to start a career. Most coding bootcamps don’t have credentials you must meet before acceptance. This gives you a second chance to find a career in tech, without meeting certain academic requirements.
Coding bootcamps in Chicago give students many opportunities to learn. Some bootcamps provide various financing options. Others offer scholarships to eligible students.
Most full-time and part-time coding bootcamps are huge undertakings. They take several months to complete and can be difficult with no prior coding experience. However, many people have gone on to graduate from these programs and work at companies such as Google, Microsoft, Dell, and IBM.
If you’re in the Chicago area and want a tech career, a coding bootcamp may give you the tools needed to succeed.
