Are Project Management Bootcamps Worth It?

A bootcamp is a popular way to learn project management. Bootcamps are programs that run in an accelerated format, giving you a comprehensive education and preparing you for an entry-level job within a relatively short period of time. They typically cost thousands of dollars. While this is a significant investment, it is cheaper than some other educational options, like a college degree, and can definitely be worth it if you want to learn project management quickly. Keep reading for more information about bootcamps, including information about what makes them unique, and how they compare to other types of classes.

What Is Project Management?

Project Managers oversee the process of planning and organizing projects, from beginning to completion. They define the scope of a project, figure out what needs to be done in order to complete it, facilitate communication between the various people involved, and manage risks. Project Managers work in many different fields including construction, engineering, healthcare, and information technology. They can work with many different types of resources including finances, material resources, time, and labor.

What Can You Do With Project Management?

Gaining project management skills can be a way to a relatively high-paying job and a stable career. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)--a federal agency that gathers and analyzes U.S. labor market statistics--finds that between 2022 and 2032, the projected change in employment for Project Management Specialists is 6 percent. This is higher than the average U.S. job growth rate of about 3 percent. According to BLS, “As organizations seek ways to maintain and improve productivity, employment of project management specialists is expected to increase.” It adds, “Demand for project management specialists is expected to be strong in computer systems design services. More project management specialists will be needed to manage the growing volume and complexity of information technology (IT) projects required to support expanded telework.” Depending on what type of projects they manage, Project Managers earn between $88,000 and $117,000 yearly.

Why Learn Project Management in a Bootcamp?

A bootcamp is a popular way to learn project management and is a great option if you’re a beginner or you’re looking to transition into project management from another field. Most bootcamps run in an accelerated format, covering a wide range of skills in a short amount of time. They are typically designed for students who don’t have a lot of prior experience, so they generally don’t have a lot of prerequisites. One goal of most bootcamps is to get students career-ready, so these types of courses often include many different forms of career support, like help building your resume and portfolio, interview practice, and even networking or internship opportunities.

There is a lot of research showing that students who graduate from a bootcamp are likely to find a job more easily and are also likely to earn more than their peers. In a 2022 article, Gallup reports on the results of the Gallup-2U Boot Camp Graduates Study, where almost 4,000 U.S. adults were surveyed. It says, “One year after graduation, the median salary for all boot camp graduates surveyed was $11,000 higher than what they reported making the year they graduated. And the median income growth in the year following boot camp graduation was 17%.” It adds, “Median pay increased across all groups of boot camp graduates surveyed, regardless of race, gender, age and urbanicity.”

Bootcamps Compared to College

Another way to learn project management is to earn a college degree. Forbes Advisor discusses this route in a June 2, 2023 article and explains, “A bachelor’s in project management typically consists of 120 credits and takes four years for full-time students.” Further, it says, there are typically admission requirements for a program like this which can include a minimum high school GPA, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, and supplemental essays. Most college degrees 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. 

While a college degree is still valued by most employers, many people do not have the time or the money that is needed to earn one and in recent years, a growing number have been turning to an alternative way to learn the skills that they need to work in project management; a bootcamp. A project management bootcamp is shorter and more intense than a college program, covering the skills that you’ll need for an entry-level project management job, but doing so in a fraction of the time. Bootcamps also cost a lot less, with tuition typically ranging from a few thousand dollars to more than $10,000, which is significantly cheaper than attending college. Further, students who learn through a bootcamp often gain more practical 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.

There is evidence that a growing number of employers are less likely to require that hiring candidates have a college degree, and have become more focused on finding people who have the skills and practical experience that they need to get the job done. Since bootcamps are a way to gain skills and experience in a relatively short amount of time, they have become a popular alternative to college programs in recent years. Wall Street Journal reporter Lauren Weber discusses this in a February 27, 2024 podcast. She says, “It's called skills-based hiring, that's what this approach is known as. So that might mean . . . [that companies use] different types of assessments to really try to determine whether someone has the communication skills, or the writing skills, or the teamwork skills, or the technical skills, that you're looking for. So it does change the way companies have to think about their hiring process.”

Bootcamps Compared to Self-Paced Courses

Self-paced courses are another way to learn project management. With this format, students have access to a series of pre-recorded lessons, which they work through at their own pace, without a live instructor. Since self-paced classes are not live, they can be relatively inexpensive. They also offer 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 a number of downsides to on-demand learning compared to a bootcamp. While the lack of a live instructor can reduce costs, many people find that learning alone can be more difficult and that they do better with the guidance of an expert instructor who can help them stay motivated and on track. Without that guidance and accountability, some people struggle to stay engaged and motivated, and may even fail to complete the class. Another disadvantage of an on-demand class is that since project management tools and theories change often, the pre-recorded material has the potential to become outdated quickly.

Another downside to an on-demand class is that most do not include the same level of career support that you’ll get with a bootcamp. Many bootcamps are designed to help students find a job after they graduate and include access to a career coach who can provide help with building your resume and offer advice on searching for a job and attending an interview. 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

You can also learn some project management skills by utilizing free training options. One of the good things about using free options is that you’ll have a lot of freedom to direct your own learning. However, project management is a complex topic that involves some unique tools and methods, and if you’re a beginner it can be difficult to teach yourself some of these things. As a result, many people end up choosing to enroll in a paid project management course rather than using free resources. With a paid course, you’ll be guided by an expert instructor and you’ll know that you’re receiving accurate and up-to-date information. In addition, you’ll get feedback on your progress, and in many cases, instructors will share valuable tips and tricks that it could take years to figure out yourself. When you try to teach yourself by using free resources, you will save money, but you won’t have access to any of this support. 

Free training options also lack the benefits that are associated with learning as part of a group of peers. When you enroll in a bootcamp, you’ll be interacting with fellow students 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 it can be a valuable professional resource for career support or job opportunities.

Learn Project Management with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is based in New York City and offers a number of different project management classes, with both short courses that can help you quickly master the basics, and longer, more comprehensive programs, where you can develop a strong project management skill set. Its project management 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 introductory class, Noble offers Project Management Level I, which covers the methods and strategies of modern project management theory. You’ll learn about the process of project management and cover the five phases. After that, you’ll spend more time focusing on the initiation and planning stages. Finally, you’ll learn about what it takes to be a successful project manager, including important strategies and skills. This course includes an overview of project management apps, associations, and certifications. You’ll also receive a slide deck that contains practical knowledge and a variety of exercises. 

Noble Desktop also has a more advanced class called Project Management Level II, which builds off the skills covered in the Level I class. In Level II, you’ll learn about the execution monitoring, and closing phases of project management. Instructors will also cover working with budgets and costs, managing limited resources, and staying within your budget. This course includes an introduction to Agile Project Management and popular Agile frameworks.

If you want a more comprehensive course, Noble also runs a Project Management Bootcamp. This class is designed for students who want to learn more about project management, including the five phases of a project, and who want to begin a project management career. It is a combination of the school’s Level I and Level II classes and is offered at a discount. When you take the Project Management Bootcamp, you’ll learn the five phases of project management and will receive a slide deck that contains a variety of exercises. You’ll also learn about Waterfall, Critical Path, and Agile methods of project management, including popular Agile frameworks. You’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end of the class.

Another class option is Microsoft Project Level I, which is focused on this popular project management tool. This class is for PC users only; it cannot be completed with a Mac computer. The class is intended for users who need to manage multiple projects, want to increase efficiencies, and need to better manage resources. You’ll learn about the basic functions and features of Microsoft Project Professional. Covered topics include essential project management concepts, defining projects, entering tasks and examining task relationships, managing resources, optimizing, setting baselines, and sharing project plans. 

Noble also offers Microsoft Project Level II, where you’ll cover more advanced features of this application. You’ll learn how to update a project plan to reflect progress, how to monitor project progress in the project plan, and how to adjust the plan to control constraints. You’ll also learn to create project reports and customize project settings. Students who want to take the Level II course should have first completed Level I.