Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It?

One popular way to learn coding is to enroll in a coding Bootcamp. A bootcamp is an accelerated class that is designed to give you a comprehensive coding education in a relatively short amount of time. Bootcamps typically cost thousands of dollars, which is more expensive than an introductory coding course but a lot cheaper than a college program. If you want to learn to code quickly, then a bootcamp may be the perfect option. This article discusses bootcamps in relation to other types of coding classes so that you can get a better understanding of what makes a coding bootcamp unique, and whether a bootcamp is worth it for you.

What Is Coding?

Coding is how people communicate with computers. It is necessary because computers do not communicate with human languages. This means that when a person wants to tell a computer to do something, they need to translate their instructions into code, so that the computer can understand what they are saying. There are many different coding languages. According to the TIOBE Programming Community Index, which ranks coding languages by popularity, the top five coding languages are Python, C, C++, Java, and C#. 

What Can You Do With Coding?

Coding is an in-demand skill that is needed in many different industries. In January 2024, U.S. News & World Report posted a list titled, “20 Careers with the Most Job Security Right Now,” and that list contains a number of coding jobs, including Web Developer, Database Administrator, Information Security Analyst, and Software Developer. Many of these jobs pay well and are expected to experience strong growth in the future. For instance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which collects and analyzes statistics about the U.S. job market over the next ten years, Web developers and Digital Designers will see 16 percent job growth, which is much faster than the average job growth rate of only 3 percent. The growth rate for Data Scientists is expected to be 35 percent, and for Software Developers it is expected to be 25 percent.

Why Learn Coding in a Bootcamp?

Bootcamps differ from other training options in a number of ways. They are usually more accelerated, covering a lot of skills in a relatively short amount of time. In addition, they are typically designed for students who don’t have a lot of coding experience. If you’re a beginner looking to gain a comprehensive coding education, then a bootcamp may be a good option for you. Another thing that makes bootcamps unique is that they are typically designed to prepare students to work in a coding-related career. As a result, they often include many types of career support, like help building your resume and portfolio, interview practice, and even networking or internship opportunities.

Numerous studies show that people who attend bootcamps are likely to find a job more easily and earn more money after completing the bootcamp. According to Course Report’s “Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It In 2024?” this definitely makes a bootcamp worth it. Course Report says, “Coding bootcamp alumni earn ~51% higher salaries compared to their previous jobs!” It says, “On average, graduates earn $70,698 at their 1st job after bootcamp; that rises to $80,943 at their 2nd job after bootcamp and $99,229 at their 3rd job.”

Bootcamps Compared to College

Getting a college degree is another way to learn coding. One of the biggest benefits of college programs is that they are extremely comprehensive, covering many different aspects of coding, including theory and practical skills. There are a few different types of degrees, but they all take a number of years to complete. For example, a bachelor's degree is a four-year program. College degrees also cost tens of thousands of dollars. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average price of attending a four-year college ranges from $14,700 to $24,600, depending on whether it is a public or private college. Despite these costs and the time investment involved, a college degree remains a popular way to get an education and is still valued by many employers.

However, many people simply cannot afford the time and money required to pursue a college degree and in recent years bootcamps have become a popular alternative. A coding bootcamp is also comprehensive, but it is much shorter and more intense than college, typically taking only weeks or months to complete. The cost of a bootcamp can range from a few thousand dollars to more than $10,000, but this is still significantly cheaper than attending college. Further, students who learn through a bootcamp often gain more practical coding experience than those in a college program. Practical experience is important, with many employers wanting employees who can demonstrate that they have experience working on real projects.

Research shows that a growing number of employers are placing less importance on a formal education and are more interested in finding candidates who can demonstrate that they have the skills and practical experience that they need to do the job. Bootcamps have become popular because they can be an effective way to gain those skills and experience in a relatively short amount of time. In a December 2023 Forbes Advisor Education article, Christin Perry notes, “Many notable companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon now endorse bootcamps as a way for employees to learn specific skills in an intensive, accelerated format. Some bootcamps even guarantee employment or offer refunds on tuition.”

Bootcamps Compared to Self-Paced Courses

Another way to learn coding is by enrolling in a self-paced course. This type of course consists of pre-recorded lessons that you work through at your own pace. There is no live instructor, and tuition is typically less than a live class. Some people like this format because it offers a lot of flexibility; you can set your own schedule, and stop and start whenever you need to. You can even skip through sections that you already understand or rewind material that you need more time with.

However, there are some downsides to on-demand learning. While the lack of a live instructor can reduce costs, many people find that they learn better under the guidance of a teacher who can help them stay motivated and on track. In fact, some people struggle to stay on track without being accountable to a live instructor. An on-demand class can also be less engaging than a live one. Another disadvantage of an on-demand class is that since coding technology changes quickly, the pre-recorded material has the potential to become outdated quickly.

In addition, most on-demand classes do not come with the same career support that most bootcamps offer. For instance, when you enroll in a bootcamp, you might have access to a career coach who can provide help with building your resume and offer advice on searching for a job. Some bootcamps even include private mentoring sessions or access to professional networks or internship opportunities. Most bootcamps also include work on a portfolio as part of the curriculum, and experts agree that this is an important part of searching for a job. A strong portfolio allows you to showcase your skills to potential employers and clients and can make a big difference in whether or not you stand out in your job search.

Bootcamps Compared to Free Training Options

Free training options can also be a way to learn coding skills. One of the appealing things about using free options--in addition to the fact that they are free--is that you’ll have a lot of freedom to direct your own learning. However, coding is a technical topic and can be difficult to learn, especially if you’re a beginner. Most beginning students end up choosing a paid course, where they can be guided by an expert instructor. With a paid course, you won’t have to spend time vetting your sources, and you’ll know that you’re learning all the important foundational concepts. You’ll follow a structured curriculum and you’ll get feedback on your progress. Instructors can also share valuable tips and tricks that it could take years to figure out yourself. In contrast, when you learn alone by using free options, you don’t have access to any of this support. 

Free training options also lack the networking benefits that come with learning as part of a group of other students. When you learn through a bootcamp, you’ll be interacting with peers who are in a similar position to yourself and they can be a source of support now and in the future. Not only can a peer group enrich the learning process, but they can be a valuable professional resource.

Once you’ve already gained some coding skills, free training options can be a better choice because you’ll already have a good understanding of the fundamentals. With this foundational knowledge, it can be easier to use free resources to learn a new coding skill. However, even experts often prefer paid classes over free resources because of the many benefits that come with a class.

Learn Coding with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is a coding and design school based in New York City and it offers many different types of coding classes, with both short classes that can help you quickly master the basics of coding, and longer, more comprehensive courses where you can develop the skills that you’ll need to code in a professional setting. Its coding classes can be taken in person at its Manhattan facility or in a live online format. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department. All courses include the option of a free retake within one year.

If you’re looking for a short coding class, Noble offers a beginner class called Web Development with HTML & CSS, where you can learn to create webpages by coding with HTML and CSS. In this class, you’ll learn to use HTML to create webpages that have text and images. You’ll also learn to use CSS for styling content, creating centered page layouts, adding background images, style navigation, and for making responsive pages that adapt to various screen sizes. If you already know the basics of HTML and CSS, you might be more interested in Noble’s Advanced HTML and CSS class. This class covers a variety of advanced topics including SVG, CSS variables, gradients, shadows, positioning, transitions, transforms, and responsive images.

Noble Desktop also offers many bootcamps. The Python for Data Science Bootcamp is a multi-day course that starts with Python basics and takes you to the start of machine learning with Python. You’ll begin by covering fundamentals like writing statements and expressions, creating variables, and working with different data types. After that, you’ll learn about structuring programs, which includes using conditional statements and control flow tools. The next part of the bootcamp is focused on arrays and dataframes and covers importing and cleaning data using NumPy and Pandas. Finally, you’ll learn to analyze and visualize data. This includes working with key data science libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib. This class also comes with a one-on-one bonus training session.

Another bootcamp option is the FinTech Bootcamp. This course is designed to help you gain the skills that you’ll need for an entry-level position in data science and financial technology, and covers a variety of in-demand finance and data skills. You’ll learn Python fundamentals, including advanced libraries. You’ll also learn to use Python for data visualizations and financial analysis. The bootcamp also covers working with SQL to query databases. This bootcamp can be taken either full-time or part-time. It includes six one-on-one mentoring sessions.

Noble Desktop also offers a variety of certificate programs that include coding. One popular option is the Full-Stack Web Development Certificate. This course covers everything you need to know to create a website from scratch. You’ll learn a variety of both front end and back end skills. These include HTML and CSS, JavaScript, Express.js, MongoDB, React, and Node.js. You’ll also learn about databases, APIS, interactivity, and server environments. You’ll receive ten one-on-one mentoring sessions. As part of the bootcamp, you will also have the option to attend Noble’s SQL Bootcamp or WordPress Bootcamp for free. Finally, you’ll work on real projects that can be used for a portfolio. 

Another popular Noble Desktop option is the Software Engineering Certificate. This is a comprehensive, multi-week course designed for students who want to become a Software Engineer or a Full Stack Developer. You’ll learn about front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development. This includes learning a variety of front end tools including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You’ll also learn Flexbox and Grid for layout and adapting to different screen sizes, and Git for version control. The program also covers JavaScript, and the JavaScript library, React. As part of the course, you’ll create a working desktop application with React and deploy it using AWS. In addition, the course covers Python, including syntax, dictionaries, sorting algorithms, and custom functions. Finally, you’ll learn to use Django and Django Rest. Twelve one-on-one mentoring sessions are included, and you’ll also create a portfolio.