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Holberton School: Bootcamp Reviews and Complete Guide

Holberton School is a software engineering school based in San Francisco. Its two-year courses help students enter the tech industry fully prepared to be engineers in various fields with a focus on full stack development.

The school achieves this by providing training and encouraging students to round-out their learning with projects and internships. Holberton also has 13 campuses across the US and abroad.

What Is Holberton School?

Holberton School Quick Facts
Cost First Year: $45,000; second year: $40,000
Start Dates Contact the school for more information.
Locations Campus: San Francisco, Tulsa, New Haven, Haust-De-France, Medellin, Bogota, Cali, Barranquilla, Tunes, Beirut, Montevideo, Mexico City, San Juan. Virtual Campus: Peru, France, Ecuador
Courses Software Engineering, Data Science, Game Development, Machine Learning, Coding
Available Programs Full-time

Holberton School is a software engineering school with many successful alumni. Graduates have gone on to careers at companies such as Tesla, Google, Apple, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

This school’s teaching approach goes beyond simply preparing students with the technical knowledge they’ll need on the job. Students must also practice public speaking, presentations, and turning ideas into usable products.

Is Holberton School Worth It?

If you can make a time commitment of two years, then Holberton School is worth it. Unlike some other bootcamps, this institution can be described as a perfect mix of university-style learning and course-based learning.

Each specialization at the school takes two years to complete, which is much longer than other bootcamps but still shorter than a bachelor’s degree program. During this time, students will complete projects and intern at a tech company to get an idea of what their career will be like after graduation.

If you enjoy practical learning, then Holberton School is for you. As a bonus for those attending class in person, the school’s campuses have all the modern tech equipment you can imagine.

Holberton School Job Placement

One of the best ways to determine whether a bootcamp is effective is to check the employment rate of its recent graduates. At Holberton, this rate is impressive.

Ninety-nine percent of Holberton graduates find employment after completing their two-year program. Recent Holberton graduates report average earnings of close to $118,000 per year, which is higher than the average salary of recent university graduates in related degree programs.

Among students who only complete the first nine-month foundation phase of their US Holberton program, 78 percent get a job within six months.

Does Holberton School Offer a Job Guarantee?

Holberton School does not offer a job guarantee. Instead, the school arranges hands-on training and internships to prepare students for their future job.

How Much Does Holberton School Cost?

The tuition price at Holberton School is divided into two parts. The on-campus courses cost $45,000 during the first year, and $40,000 the following year.

The price for attending Holberton’s international campuses varies. For example, in France, a course costs 6,120 euros the first year, and the second year varies depending on a student’s specialization. Among the international campuses, online courses are only offered in France, Ecuador, and Peru.

How to Pay for Holberton School: Scholarships, ISAs, and Installments

Holberton School offers several payment options. Below, we’ll look at the details of the scholarships, loans, and income share agreements that are available.

Scholarships

Students who are attending Holberton School in the US as part of a corporate sponsorship can obtain a scholarship.

ISAs

Holberton School does not offer loans. Instead, it uses income share agreements. If you are a US citizen and cannot pay your tuition upfront, you can apply for an ISA plan, which allows you to defer payments until you get a job.

If you are making at least $40,000 a year, Holberton requires payments of 17 percent of your monthly salary. You will then make payments over 42 months with a repayment limit of $85,000.

Loan Financing

Holberton School does not work with traditional loans. Instead, it prefers to use payment alternatives like ISAs.

Installments

Students who want to pay upfront can choose to make annual, monthly, or quarterly installments. These installments will correspond with the three stages of the course, which are listed below.

Stage 1 – Nine-month foundation course
Stage 2 – Six-month internship
Stage 3 – Nine-month specialization course

GI Bill

For now, veterans cannot apply to Holberton School through the GI Bill.

Holberton School Locations

Holberton School has expanded to four continents. These locations all teach the same courses and are divided into traditional campuses and virtual campuses, as seen below.

Campuses:

  • Holberton School San Francisco
  • Holberton School New Haven
  • Holberton School Tusla
  • Holberton School San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Holberton School Barranquilla, Colombia
  • Holberton School Cali, Colombia
  • Holberton School Bogotá, Colombia
  • Holberton School Medellín, Colombia
  • Holberton School Beirut, Lebanon
  • Holberton School Mexico City, Mexico
  • Holberton School Montevideo, Uruguay
  • Holberton School Haust-De-France, France
  • Holberton School Tunis, Tunisia

Virtual campuses:

  • Ecuador
  • Peru
  • France

Holberton School Courses

Holberton offers a robust software engineering program with optional specializations in machine learning, VR, low level and algorithms, and front end, backend, and full stack web development, among others.

To complete a specialization, students must complete a program separated into three parts, as follows:

  • Foundation. In this nine-month course, students will learn about programming languages ​​and general computer operations. This includes working with databases and algorithms using JavaScript, HTML, Git, MySQL, and CSS.
  • Internships. In this phase, students will complete a six-month software engineering internship. This experience will allow them to apply their knowledge and get familiar with a professional work environment.
  • Specialization. This final nine-month stage consists of working in a specific field within software engineering. This part of the program is optional, but it is a key part of the success and high salaries reported by Holberton graduates.

Below is a breakdown of what is covered in the software engineering program.

Software Engineering Program

Holberton School’s software engineering program is comprehensive and competitive with universities. For two years, students learn everything about this career, use tools, create large projects, and apply knowledge to projects. After completing the program, your future in the tech industry is nearly guaranteed.

In the program, students can choose a specialization in the following subjects, among others.

Machine Learning

In this specialization, students learn how to train machines to process data and make decisions automatically. Specifically, students will learn how to use coding libraries such as Numpy, Python Pandas, and Keras.

Virtual Reality

This program includes interactive projects with C# and Unity3D mixed reality. In this specialization, instructors will teach you how to apply VR methods in the automotive and construction industries.

Low Level and Algorithms

In this program, students will learn to create their own cryptocurrency using logic and cryptography. The class also covers how to use the Linux Kernel API and all the fundamentals of algorithms and data structure.

What Is the Holberton School Schedule?

Holberton School’s programs are intensive, so they require a serious time commitment. For now, Holberton School only allows full-time students.

Full-Time

One reason Holberton School requires a full-time commitment from its students is its emphasis on projects. Many projects and internships require full-time dedication, and setting time constraints could affect a student’s progress.

How to Get Accepted Into Holberton School

Getting into this school is all about how you come across in your application, which takes approximately two hours to complete. Applicants must fill out a form, then complete several tests and an interview.

This school has an automated selection process. For that reason, previous studies, race, degrees, gender, economic situation, and age are not taken into account.

Holberton School Acceptance Rate

Holberton School has an acceptance rate of three percent.

Holberton Application Process

The application process at Holberton School consists of three stages, as seen below.

  • Complete mini-challenges. Once you have registered online, you’ll have to complete a series of small tests.
  • Build a website. Now, you’ll have two weeks to build a Linux-based website as part of your application process. This will be reviewed by the admissions department before your Q&A session.
  • Q&A Session. Finally, if you pass the first two steps, you will be invited for a Q&A session.

Holberton Interview Questions

If you have passed the three steps of the application process, Holberton School will send you an email to schedule an interview. People who reach this final phase of the application process still only have a 10 percent chance of being accepted. However, the interview is fairly simple. Below are a few of the questions you are likely to be asked.

  • What are some of your professional accomplishments?
  • Why do you want to attend Holberton School?
  • What are your future goals after graduating from Holberton School?

Is Holberton School Right For You?

Although the course is more expensive than other bootcamps, the employment rate of Holberton School graduates shows that the price is worth it. Although the acceptance rate is only three percent, Holberton School offers exciting, rigorous tech programs. The school’s international expansion reflects the level of success it has achieved in the US.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for skilled tech workers will grow by 11 percent by 2029. Taking this data into account, Holberton School seems like an ideal way to get prepared for the future.

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  • Anonymous December 20, 2019
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    I will make this really simple. I attended the first-year curriculum with Holberton School which is 9 months long. Our 1st programming language is C for 1st semester then Python for 2nd semester. Surprisingly these two primary languages will be required for my job. Even though the curriculum prepare... Read More
  • Anonymous January 11, 2020
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    Great work, definitively you learn to learn, all from scratch. It’s no necessary that you knows about tech, here you will learn independent of your previous core.
  • Anonymous February 9, 2020
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    Intense study, on projects where you can become a programr super advanced in little time, where you can learn all by itself is the motto
  • Anonymous March 7, 2020
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    I started Holberton School in January 2019. Before that I had little experience in coding, I learned some Java, C++, and JavaScript by following tutorials on the Internet and asking some friends. At Holberton, I learned a lot in a short period of time and now I feel more confident in my coding skill... Read More
  • Anonymous March 8, 2020
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    Holberton has been an amazing, intense, and difficult experience. I’m learning a ton, though often times I feel like I’m not absorbing as much information as possible. The curriculum moves at a break-neck speed. If you’re not prepared to dedicate most of your time and energy then you’ll fall... Read More
  • Anonymous April 9, 2020
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    I have learned a lot in such a short time.
  • Anonymous May 9, 2020
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    Holberton School has been the most challenging and rewarding curriculums I’ve taken. The peer to peer learning style and the challenges we face together has helped make learning a fun and flourishing experience. The best learning experience is when we have mandataroy days called peer learning days... Read More
  • Anonymous June 18, 2020
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    Holberton School is not the easy way to learn to code but nowadays I think it is actually the best option. The most valuable there is that they are teaching you not just how to code but how to learn whatever you want. The hardest is not the curriculum or the projects you are working in, the hardest ... Read More
  • Anonymous July 20, 2020
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    Hi, I am currently a student who is about 7 months into the first year here. I would highly recommend Holberton to anyone who wants a deeper dive into computer science. If you want to learn how to code, there are many options but where I think Holberton really shines is in the depth of the curric... Read More
  • Marc November 1, 2022
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    I'm more than halfway through my first year at Holberton and so far am very pleased with my experience. I enjoy the style of learning Holberton provides, specifically the self-motivated peer-learning. This type of learning might not work for everyone though. If you're the type of student that needs ... Read More
  • Rodrigo November 4, 2022
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    Holberton change the scenario of education, first of all, you don't have to pay in advance you pay later when you have a job in the tech industry, second, there are no instructors or professors you learn by yourself or from your peers as it is in the real world. The program is really demanding and n... Read More
  • Steven November 14, 2022
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    Holberton School is unparalleled in it's curriculum which is focused on prepping it's students to learn the full scope of coding to fully prepare them for a career in the software engineering field. The entire program consists of a two year dual-sided commitment in which you are given the time to gr... Read More
  • Diego November 15, 2022
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    Holberton School is the best programming bootcamp in Latin America. In my experience, I studied at the site in Bogotá, the first in all of Latin America. "Project-based learning is a proven, alternative learning methodology to the traditional teacher-led reading and memorization educational method"... Read More
  • Chandler November 21, 2022
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    Holberton is setting the standard for training new software engineers with a two-year program that can take anyone, no experience required, and make them an impeccable Full-Stack Software Engineer. I was coding and working with peers on the first day at Holberton. This was a refreshing change for... Read More
  • Siphan December 4, 2022
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    Pros Peer learning Project-based, hands-on Full-stack curriculum Network of industry experts Staff and mentors care about students Projects prepare you well for professional life Cons Inaugural batch faced a trial and error approach Being lucky enough to be selected for Ho... Read More
  • Philip December 10, 2022
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    I'm a student from Batch 1, which is the second batch from Holberton (since we go by zero index in programming). Also, I'm currently in the second phase of the program, where you get 6 months to either find a job/internship to work in the industry or you can self-study. So I have not completed the p... Read More
  • Liz December 13, 2022
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    Holberton School is an amazing place to learn full stack software engineering - from the fundamentals and low level software engineering to higher level programming. All assignments are project based and there are no traditional teachers. The students are expected to do their own research to learn t... Read More
  • Steven December 20, 2022
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    I have been a student at Holberton for about a year. Before I came to this school, I knew virtually nothing about coding or how an operating system works internally. Now I feel I can confidentially say I possess that knowledge in addition to acquiring the priceless skill of independent learning with... Read More
  • Bennett January 4, 2023
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    I have been attending Holberton for approximately 4 and a half months. Over the first three months, we learned in depth about C and bash for low-level development and fundamental computer science concepts. Those three months were perhaps the most valuable. We are getting into more high-level program... Read More
  • Alexa January 10, 2023
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    Choosing to attend Holberton School was probably the best decision I've ever made in my life. Before attending, I graduated from a prestigious engineering school cum laude with a Chemical Engineering degree and couldn't have felt any less prepared to enter the job market. After months of applying to... Read More
  • Mitali January 17, 2023
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    I am currently a student at Holberton School San Francisco (Batch January 2018). I finished my year 1 in october 2018 and least to say I have come a long way from a digital marketer to a software engineer in a matter of 9 months! Like the title mentions Holberton School is not just any bootcamp,... Read More
  • Vasudha January 24, 2023
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    I moved all the way from Canada to find an education institution that served my needs and work in the coveted Silicon Valley. Coming from a university background I was very unsatisfied with my degree, job support and University's overall involvement in my success. Holberton's application process is ... Read More
  • Spencer January 28, 2023
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    Hi I'm Spencer. I was in Cohort 5 at Holberton School SF and I started in Jan 2018. Before starting I was a chef, and before that a Navy vet. I got a job at a startup called Naborly 2 months before I finished year 1. Holberton School was one of the best experiences that I've had at a school as well... Read More
  • Kiren February 8, 2023
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    Having gone through traditional university at NYU as an econ major, worked in the tech industry, and started my own startup, it was not easy to get an interview for any junior/intern developer position in tech. However, I was eventually able to get an iOS contract job at an early stage startup that ... Read More
  • Omar February 13, 2023
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    I love the self-training, learn the number of things I could find in reputable sources, I tried really hard to find something good enough to take as my professional route when I was close to taking my decision to be an entire autodidact. I meet Holberton, read the syllabus and feel secure that I fin... Read More
  • Robert February 19, 2023
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    My experience at Holberton has been mostly positive. I will say that it is a commitment, and that I had to cut out various social aspects of my life to finish projects, but if you go into the program with the mindset of devoting large portions of your time to it, you'll be good to go. The content... Read More
  • Jose February 27, 2023
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    I am from cohort 0 from Bogota Colombia and I just can say. if you are a person who wants to learn/improve your tech skills Holberton is the perfect place for you, therefore, you have to be willing to learn from scratch in a high-level. Honestly, I learned more in three months here than a year in ... Read More
  • Ethan March 5, 2023
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    I'm writing as a student halfway into the program. Coming from a background of studying Computer Science's in high school and one year of communal college, I was in awe after coming here. I always felt the way I was learning wasn't very efficient. Starring at a professor hours at a time while he go... Read More
  • Juan March 12, 2023
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    Is a really good program to develop all your endemic an non-endemic skills .The projects are designed to feed and boost your hungry for knowledge. The framework is a remarkable way to polish your knowledge by teching othes and letting others help you.
  • Lady March 16, 2023
    Rating Curriculum Instructors Job Assistance
    It's a great experience from every aspect, helps you grow personally and professionally, not only teach you programming also teach you soft skills to have a better performance in real life, create very strong ties with your peers, can make friends for life, as far as academics has a good management ... Read More

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