Hackbright Academy

Hackbright Academy: Bootcamp Reviews And Complete Guide

Hackbright Academy is one of the few software development institutes in the US focused exclusively on training women for tech roles. In our Hackbright Academy review below, you’ll get all the details on this software engineering institute for women, which ranks among the best coding bootcamps in San Francisco.

Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of women in tech. However, there is still a major gender gap and the industry remains male-dominated. Hackbright Academy is dedicated to tipping the scales in favor of women.

What Is Hackbright Academy?

Hackbright Academy is one of the best coding bootcamps for women. The coding school was founded in 2012 and has trained over 900 women to enter tech careers. The school’s bootcamp offers both in-person and online classes.

Its courses are ideal for any woman who wants to learn essential tech skills. To accommodate the busy lives of students, the institute offers full-time and part-time courses.

Is Hackbright Academy School Worth It?

Yes, Hackbright school is worth it because it gives women the chance to kickstart a lifelong career in tech. The school is determined to put more women in software engineering positions by providing them with the right learning environment and plenty of networking opportunities.

Although Hackbright Academy doesn’t provide its graduates with degrees, they will leave equipped with the skills they need to join the ever-evolving tech market. The online bootcamp is a much faster and cheaper alternative to a four-year bachelor’s degree.

Hackbright Academy Job Placement

Hackbright Academy has a higher job placement rate than many other bootcamps in the US, at 90 percent. Of those graduates, the institution reports that 84 percent got their first jobs within three months of graduating.

Almost all graduates went on to work for top tech companies in San Francisco and the rest of Silicon Valley. The average starting salary for a Hackbright Academy graduate is $88,000. It’s a very high starting salary in a field that is likely to offer many opportunities for growth.

Does Hackbright Academy Offer a Job Guarantee?

No, Hackbright Academy does not offer a job guarantee. However, it does provide career assistance through its mentorship program. The academy has helped students secure jobs at firms including Slack, Amazon, Google, and Yelp, to mention a few.

If you go on to a job at one of the school’s partner companies, you will get partial tuition reimbursement.

How Much Does Hackbright Academy Cost?

Tuition at Hackbright Academy is relatively low compared to other coding bootcamps in Silicon Valley. The full-time software engineering program costs $16,895, plus a security deposit of $250.

If you’d like to take part in Hackbright Academy’s deferred tuition program, you’ll have to pay an additional fee of $2,899. The school’s prep courses cost an additional $249 but aren’t compulsory.

How to Pay for Hackbright Academy: Upfront, Scholarship, Loans, and Deferred Tuition

Hackbright has a few tuition payment options to ease students’ financial burden.

Upfront Payment

With this option, you have to pay the entire $16,895 tuition fee in a single installment. Upfront payments are usually made before class begins as part of the registration process.

You may also need to pay a security deposit and some other fees amounting to around $17,500. An upfront payment is recommended if you have the money saved up or you have a sponsor willing to pay for your bootcamp education.

Deferred Tuition Program

Hackbright is known for its flexible deferred tuition program that allows students to pay for their course only after they have landed their first job. It is an attractive offer, but to take this option, you must still pay $2,899 before you start your course.

When you’re eventually hired and can afford to begin paying back your tuition, you’ll only have to make payments in installments over a predetermined period. At this point, you’ll need to pay back your full tuition plus the $250 security deposit.

To be eligible for the deferred tuition program, you will need to pass the school’s entrance exam and maintain an excellent performance throughout your bootcamp.

Scholarship

Many tech companies seeking to promote gender equality have partnered with Hackbright Academy to offer scholarships. Some are for women and others are to promote diversity. Each one comes with a unique eligibility requirement, so be sure to do your research to find out if you qualify. Hackbright also offers a discount of $1,500 to students who complete its online prep course.

Loan Financing

Another way to pay for your tuition at Hackbright Academy is through loans. Hackbright partners with Skills Fund and Climb Credit to help students finance their education. Both loan financers also cover living expenses if needed.

Eligibility and repayment terms vary, but most are affordable for full-time workers. Repayment plans range from two to five years, and interest is between 8 and 10 percent.

Hackbright Academy Locations

Before the COVID-19 outbreak began, students could choose to attend one of three Hackbright Academy locations in the US, or go for online courses.

• Hackbright Academy San Francisco California
• Hackbright Academy Dallas
• Hackbright Academy Lehi, Utah
• Hackbright Academy Online

The courses on offer are the same for online and physical locations. Students will receive equal treatment and equal access to educational resources regardless of their location.

Hackbright Academy Courses

As it is a software engineering school, most Hackbright bootcamps are related to software engineering.

Hackbright Academy Prep Courses

The school’s prep courses are for students who have no prior coding experience. While many online bootcamps provide free prep courses, Hackbright’s require a nominal fee of $249. The prep program lasts five weeks, and most classes take place at night.

Students will learn the basics of programming and will be introduced to popular languages and frameworks like Flask, Python, CSS, and HTML.

Software Engineering | Online

This full-time bootcamp takes three months to fully prepare students for a career in software engineering. Students will be taught the fundamentals of web development and computer science.

They will also learn Python, one of the most useful programming languages in the world. The part-time version of this course covers the same subjects but follows a different schedule.

Online Python 101 | Online

If you don’t want to enroll in a full software engineering program, you can opt for the online Python program. This course lasts five weeks and covers Python basics. Most people choose to attend this program first so that they can get an idea of what to expect from the more intensive software development course.

If you realize that you’re not cut out for coding, you can opt-out before having to pay the full tuition fee.

What Is the Hackbright Academy Schedule?

Hackbright offers both full-time and part-time programs to women looking to break into the tech industry.

Full-Time

The full-time software engineering program at Hackbright Academy takes place from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and lasts 12 weeks.

Part-Time

Part-time programs take 24 weeks, with courses running from 6pm to 9pm Tuesday to Thursday, and 10am to 6pm on Saturday.

How to Get Accepted Into Hackbright Academy

If you’re a woman in tech, you can get into Hackbright Academy by following the school’s application process. However, be aware that the school is very selective about who is admitted.

Hackbright Academy Acceptance Rate

It’s not clear what percentage of applicants get accepted into Hackbright, but the school has reported a 99 percent graduation rate. This shows that only the most motivated applicants are admitted.

Application Process

The Hackbright Academy application can be completed online by following the simple steps below.

1. Fill out the application form on the website.
2. Wait up to two weeks for Hackbright to contact you.
3. Prepare for two rounds of interviews.
4. Wait to hear back from the school’s admissions board.
5. If you are accepted, you must now select your payment option.
6. Now, you can start attending class.

Interview Questions

The interviews for admission at Hackbright Academy are technical. You will need to be well prepared and ready to answer a range of questions. You can expect to be asked questions related to the following topics.

1. Conditional logic
2. Algorithmic problem-solving
3. Basic data types, like strings and integers
4. Use of arrays/lists
5. Looping and control flow

Is Hackbright Academy Right for You?

If you are a woman who wants to pursue a career in tech, then Hackbright Academy is right for you. Although the interview process requires more preparation than other bootcamps, it is designed this way to ensure that only the most qualified candidates are offered admission. So, if you are determined and well-prepared, you will stand a chance of getting in.

The starting salary for graduates in many other bootcamps ranges from $50,000 to $70,000. At Hackbright, new graduates are earning $88,000 on average, making the school even more appealing.