Whether you’re looking to switch careers late in life or a freshly graduated high school looking to make your first foray into the working world, the idea of paying thousands and thousands of dollars just to get the qualifications to start your dream job can be terrifying. What’s more, the higher education system in America is somewhat antiquated, and worse, willing to draw every single penny from you that it possibly can. Superfluous requirements like making new enrollees stay on campus for their first year, sign up for meal plans, or load their coursework with courses that have nothing to do with their chosen profession are only meant to siphon money from student’s banks, not provide any real value.
While the university track may be perfect for some, say those who are able to get the cost covered through scholarships or through exceptionally generous relatives, it isn’t the best way for everyone to get what they need to enter their first job.
Fortunately, for jobs in growing industries like coding and programming, higher education alternatives are available; these alternatives, known as coding bootcamps, are intensive programs that typically last a matter of months and are meant to be adaptable to any schedule. For a fraction of the price of attending a higher institution, would-be students can get everything they need to hop directly into their first job. With a large number of options on the market, there are coding bootcamps for every specialization and situation.
Sounds too good to be true? Well, it isn’t. Here are some things you might want to know about coding bootcamps before you start packing all of your stuff for the dorm.
1. The Price is Right
Coding bootcamps don’t have one standard price per “semester,” as they are offered by many providers, and requirements for attending vary from provider to provider. Prices also tend to vary depending on whether you decide to attend as a full-time student and live onsite for the duration of the program (which typically is more expensive but also helps you get through the program faster), or whether you go as a part-time student or live off-campus. On average, however, coding bootcamps can cost as little as five hundred dollars or as much as thirty-thousand – still a far cry from the average cost of an online degree in coding (which tends to be cheaper for most students) from a four-year university, which runs anywhere from $42,000 to $60,000.
2. How Much Time Gets Spent at Camp?
As opposed to most four-year programs, which take…well, four years, coding bootcamps typically run anywhere from 10 to 36 weeks, at which point you will have graduated with all of the skills necessary to jump right into your first job. It can take longer to complete your coursework or significantly shorter depending on how much time you can commit to the camp. Full-time students will likely complete their degree long before people who only have three hours a week to engage, although they will still finish long before university students as well.
3. What Kind of Skills Can You Learn?
Coding bootcamps are designed to get you from novice to job-ready professional in a matter of months, so a lot of the flotsam and jetsam foisted upon you by academia has been cut out of the curriculum. Instead, at most coding bootcamps, you’ll be likely to learn:
- The fundamentals of web design, including frequently used coding languages and how to use libraries like Bootstrap, AJAX, and jQuery.
- Full-stack web and program development, including learning how to use Javascript and other lesser-known technologies. You’ll be able to design your own application by the time you exit the doors.
- Web optimization skills and lesser-known programming languages.
This is all in addition to forming partnerships with colleagues you’ll have after graduation, possible mentorships, and even opportunities to work with employers before graduation.
Enrolling in a Bootcamp of Your Choice
With the constant advance of technology and the resultant ever-growing pool of jobs in coding and programming, there has also been an exponential growth in coding bootcamps. There are several options available for people all over the US, coding bootcamps meant for people in every situation. Take a look at what’s out there and get started today. You might be surprised at how quickly you’re able to achieve the career of your dreams.