So you made the decision to learn to code? Great. The tech industry is ripe with talented professionals and the tech field continues to grow as our world continues to become more digitalized. These days, there are a number of options available to learn the technical and soft skills needed to break into tech. If you’ve begun your research, coding bootcamps have likely come up as one of the fastest ways to learn to code. However, you’ve likely also seen people talk about self-teaching as a practical, low-cost alternative to learn to code.
If you’re wrestling over whether a coding bootcamp or self-teaching is right for you, we’re here to help! This guide will break down the pros and cons of both coding bootcamps and teaching yourself to code.
Cost Considerations
The cost of a coding bootcamp can vary based on the institution. According to NerdWallet, the average in-person coding bootcamp costs $13,584, and the average online bootcamp costs $12,898. Many coding bootcamps offer financial options, such as deferred tuition and income shate agreements, that allow students to pay little to no upfront cost to attend coding bootcamps. In addition, there are scholarship opportunities available to students experiencing financial hardship or those from underrepresented background in tech.
Those choosing to self-teach can benefit from the wide array of free coding resources on the internet. In addition, there are paid courses and tutors that can assist you in learning to code. While self-teaching can just as easily be the cheapest option, it can also end up being a costly one if you end up requiring more paid, guided courses to assist in your learning.
Structure and Learning Style
Coding bootcamps offer structured curriculums that aim to help you achieve proficiency in the coding language most relevant to your career path. You will be taught by expert instructors and will cover JavaScript, Python, Ruby, NET/C#, Java, or PHP stacks. Bootcamps can vary in length but typically range from 6 to 28 weeks.
Students typically filter through class alongside a cohort of classmates with whom they complete projects and rely on for support throughout the program. If you are someone who enjoys a traditional classroom structure and would benefit from a supportive network of staff and peers to keep you motivated, a coding bootcamp may be right for you. On the other hand, you will have less control over the timeframe and curriculum that you will be taught, as this is primarily determined by the coding bootcamp
If you are someone who can work independently and are self-motived, self-teaching can be a great option. Self-teaching provides learners with more autonomy over their learning, including what they will learn and the timeframe dedicated to learning to code. While not an impossible endeavor, it is extremely difficult to teach yourself to code. Whether you're experiencing a lack of motivation, imposter syndrome, or other personal circumstances, it is easy to have your learning derailed without a built-in accountability or support network to keep you going. This can often lead to longer time spent self-teaching or spending more on guided courses.
Coding Knowledge
Self-teaching may come easier to those who already know a programming language. Coding bootcamps often tell students they are providing them with the technical skills and knowledge to continue learning throughout their careers. This is because many programming languages have similar design concepts, making it easier to pick up others once you are proficient in one or more.
Self-teaching can be a good option for those who have coding experience and are looking to enhance their understanding of other programming languages, without the hassle of a coding bootcamp.
If you are someone with no previous coding experience, a coding bootcamp may be a more appropriate option. Coding bootcamps are intended to teach beginners the technical skills needed to become successful developers. Their structured curriculums are curated to guide you through learning your first programming languages, alongside a supportive network of peers who have similar technical backgrounds.
Career Support and Outcomes
Many coding bootcamps offer career services to students to help them land jobs after graduation. Career supports are often provided to current students and alumni of coding bootcamps and can include:
- Building a personal brand through a resume, cover letter, and Linkedin workshops
- Hosting mock interviews that cover both technical assessment and soft skills
- Connecting students to prospective employers
- Pairing students with a career advisor or alumni mentor
- Portfolio development
- Negotiation preparation
Coding bootcamps typically disclose their job placement rate on their websites and the average amount of time it takes for graduates to land a job. Enrolling in a coding bootcamp that offers career support and job placement can be crucial for students from non-technical roles. According to Course Report, a majority (79%) of coding bootcamp graduates find full-time employment in jobs requiring the technical skills they learned in bootcamp. The average salary of a bootcamp graduate is $69,079.
While there are plenty of self-taught developers in the field, many will admit they had to jump through many hurdles to attain employment. A lack of formal educational credentials, such as a coding bootcamp or computer science (CS) degree, prevent self-taught coders from attaining employment because many employers require CS degrees or look for completion of a coding bootcamp. Additionally, they will not have the same network to rely on as coding bootcamp graduates who have career supports and networking integrated into their programs.
So which is a better option for me?
Ultimately, this decision depends on you! Both self-teaching and a coding bootcamp can help yor achieve your goal of learning to code. If you have technical experience, are self-motivated, or want to learn to code as a hobby, self-teaching may be the best option for you. In contrast, if you have no previous coding experience, are interested in making a career change into tech, and would benefit from a traditional learning format, a coding bootcamp may be a more viable option for you.
Regardless of which you pursue, self-teaching will be an important part of your career journey. If you decide to enroll in a coding bootcamp, you will likely need to teach yourself new programming languages as your progress through your career as technology changes or you move to different organizations. Likewise, before you enroll in coding bootcamp, you can choose to teach yourself the basics of programming languages, such as JavaScript or HTML/CSS, to help kickstart your bootcamp learning.
Ready to start your coding career?
Are you interested in finding the coding bootcamp that’s right for you? Check out Noble Desktop’s coding bootcamps. You can take in-person classes at Noble’s location in NYC or attend a live online coding bootcamp from anywhere in the world. You can also find other coding bootcamps in your area using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool.