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Key Takeaways
- Coding bootcamps are condensed, accelerated training programs designed to prepare graduates for tech industry careers.
- Popular focus areas for bootcamps include software engineering, web development, cybersecurity and data science.
- Bootcamps are typically shorter and less expensive than college degrees, but offer a more limited curriculum and potentially reduced employer recognition.
Coding bootcamps were born out of necessity. Modeled after trade schools, bootcamps provide the tech industry with a pipeline of ambitious graduates armed with job-ready skills.
Whether it’s UX/UI design, cybersecurity or full-stack development, bootcamps teach students the skills they need to succeed in their desired careers. They also prepare learners to enter the job market; some even offer tuition refunds to graduates who do not land a qualifying job within a certain period after finishing their bootcamp.
Let’s dive in to learn more about what a bootcamp is and whether it might be the right fit for you.
Defining a Bootcamp
Tech bootcamps are high-impact education courses that teach students practical, job-ready tech skills in a short amount of time. Bootcamps may also offer mentorship opportunities, personalized feedback and the ability for students to expand their professional network.
Most bootcamps offer fast-paced, immersive learning environments, usually taking a matter of months to complete. Coding bootcamps emphasize a practical teaching method that quickly progresses from foundational knowledge to the creative application of problem-solving skills. And these programs are typically effective: According to a Forbes Advisor survey of bootcamp grads, about two-thirds of respondents reported feeling “very satisfied” with their bootcamps’ curriculums and content, and the majority saw a moderate to significant salary increase.
In addition to teaching technical skills, bootcamps offer career preparation services to help students land jobs after graduation. Many provide career coaches and maintain official hiring partnerships. Some bootcamp providers even offer job guarantees, issuing a tuition refund if a graduate does not land a qualifying position within a specified period after graduation.
What Can You Learn in a Bootcamp?
Just like traditional colleges, each bootcamp is different. Some offer students a variety of skills; others focus on one computing area or coding language. Common bootcamp subjects include the following:
Can a Bootcamp Replace a Degree?
A certain level of prestige and respect comes along with a degree from a well-known university, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. However, tech industry veterans know that whether their UX designer studied computer science at Cornell University or at a bootcamp, what matters is that the designer knows how to do their job.
There is a caveat, though. If a job listing asks for a bachelor’s or master’s degree, a bootcamp may not cut it. Many employers only hire bootcamp graduates for entry-level positions, from which they can further prove themselves and work their way up.
How does a company know a bootcamp graduate is proficient? They test them. It is common practice in the tech industry to require applicants to pass technical assessment tests before offering them a job.
Where Can You Complete a Bootcamp?
Bootcamp providers are diverse. You can complete a bootcamp through a private company, such as CareerFoundry or General Assembly. You can also explore university-affiliated coding bootcamps, such as those offered by the University of South Florida and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Because bootcamps are relatively new and unregulated, it’s hard to provide exact data on how many there are—and it’s even more difficult to evaluate their quality. However, the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR), a nonprofit organization, seeks to change the bootcamp ecosystem by creating standards for evaluating bootcamps’ objectives and outcomes.
Benefits of Completing a Bootcamp
Practical Learning
Bootcamps trim the fat when it comes to course requirements. If you want to learn about coding, then that’s what you will study—no electives or general education courses required.
Bootcamp classes are hyper-focused on teaching career-ready skills; class projects may require students to build a website from scratch or write code to operate a financial software program for a small business.
Flexibility
With so many bootcamps on the market, you can shop around for one that fits your schedule. Full-time, part-time, online, on campus, hybrid—you can find a modality that offers the flexibility and structure you need to succeed.
Career Preparation
Bootcamps equip students with job-ready skills. By enlisting seasoned tech professionals as teachers, counselors and career coaches, bootcamps connect learners with industry professionals who can provide valuable examples of how students’ assignments translate into real-world situations. They also prepare students to apply and interview for jobs.
Job Guarantee
Many bootcamps are so confident their students can land a job after graduating, they offer a tuition-back guarantee to those who are unable to do so.
Of course, you’ll need to read the fine print for each tuition guarantee. For example, Coding Temple offers students a tuition reimbursement if they are unable to land a tech job within nine months of graduation. However, job seekers must meet specific criteria regarding the number of job applications submitted, attendance of job search workshops, portfolio updates and other factors to qualify for a refund.
CIRR’s website provides detailed data about the percentage of graduates who land full-time jobs after completing bootcamps CIRR has audited.
Shorter Than a Degree
Bachelor’s degrees usually take four years of full-time study to complete. By comparison, the average length of a coding bootcamp is about 20 weeks, according to Forbes Advisor research.
Potential Drawbacks
Tuition Cost
Although some tuition-free bootcamps do exist, reputable bootcamps rarely come cheap. A December 2022 analysis by Forbes Advisor found that the median coding bootcamp cost was nearly $11,000—and bootcamp attendees do not qualify for federal student aid.
Some bootcamps offer scholarships, and some outside organizations offer scholarships—often aimed to help diversify the tech world—that can apply to bootcamp programs. Also, bootcamps such as General Assembly may accept the GI Bill® and certain government grant funding.
Intensive Commitment
A bootcamp’s rigorous schedule is not for the faint of heart, often taking up at least 40 hours per week for a full-time, intensive program. A part-time program may require as few as five to 25 hours per week. Expect to spend most of these hours attending class meetings; completing individual assignments and group work often takes place outside of scheduled class time.
Limited Scope
Bachelor’s and master’s degrees allow students to take electives and receive a more well-rounded education in fields outside of their main area of study. The short-term nature of a bootcamp limits the number of topics that can be studied. But for those who want to further their expertise in a particular area, such as Python programming or data science, a bootcamp can provide the education you need.
Not as Recognized as Degrees
A degree’s value is in the eye of the beholder. Some employers always prefer to see a degree, while others prioritize demonstrated skills. CoderPad’s 2024 State of Tech Hiring Survey found that about 40% of companies regularly hire software developers with nonacademic training such as bootcamps. Another 40% hire these developers, but only rarely, and the remaining 20% say they never hire developers with nonacademic backgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Bootcamps
What is a bootcamp, and how does it work?
A bootcamp is a high-impact, short-term educational program providing practical, job-ready tech skills such as coding, full-stack development and UX/UI design. Bootcamp students take accelerated learning courses taught by industry professionals who guide them from foundational concepts to real-world problem-solving and applicable skills.
Is a bootcamp as good as a degree?
A bootcamp cannot replace a degree if you aim to pursue a career or particular job that requires a traditional college degree. However, many employers say bootcamp graduates are just as capable as college graduates.
Do I need a background in computing or coding before taking a bootcamp?
No. Most bootcamps welcome rookies, and many even offer prep courses to help ease newbies into the course content.
How can I trust that a bootcamp will prepare me for finding a job?
Like anything in life, do your research. Ask the bootcamp’s recruiters about their graduate employment numbers, and see if you can speak with an alum. You can also check out CIRR, a nonprofit organization that advocates for transparency in the reporting of bootcamp success rates. CIRR’s website contains a list of bootcamps with which it is affiliated.