Best Coding Bootcamps for Beginners [2021]

Our research methodology

For this guide on the best coding bootcamps for beginners, we reviewed 50 schools and scored them by the criteria specifically essential for complete newbies:

• Is coding bootcamp for beginners? (The percentage of students without any experience)
• Does it have a clear structure? (Programs, their curricula, etc.)
• What’s the number of their alumni?
• What’s their alumni’s median annual base salary?
• Would alumni recommend the bootcamp to others?

We picked schools that performed best during that first stage and then analyzed and scored them thoroughly. Along with the essential criteria, we also reached out to the schools’ alumni who were beginners and asked them to evaluate their school.

And finally, we checked if the school had different financing options; we also considered the advanced statistics by external data providers such as Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR)^[1]Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR) https://cirr.org/data.

And that’s what we’ve got.

---

Coding skills are a must for anyone aspiring to a career in software engineering, but even non-programmers can benefit from learning the basics. Whether you’re a seasoned developer looking to refresh your skills or a beginner willing to learn more about software engineering, the best coding bootcamps for beginners cater to all skill levels.

Immersive coding bootcamps are intensive courses that focus on full-stack web development, software design, mobile app development, IT security, and data science. They often help participants find jobs as programmers, and some even partner with top-rated companies to help place graduates.

Such bootcamps can be less expensive than four-year undergraduate programs. According to the National Center for Education Statistics^[2]National Center for Education Statistics https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d19/tables/dt19_330.10.asp, the average cost of undergraduate tuition at a four-year university was $16,300/year in 2019. A coding bootcamp, with its average fee of $13,500 for the whole course, is an affordable option for those seeking a career in programming.

But which one to choose?

Let us guide you through the top coding bootcamps for beginners and tell beginner coding bootcamp enrollees who is who in this niche.

Most important coding bootcamp criteria for beginners

One question most people willing to join a beginner coding bootcamp often ask is, “Are coding bootcamps for beginners indeed?” No wonder:

When you are a complete newbie in something, all those online and offline courses, training programs, educational webinars, etc., seem super challenging and aimed at teaching someone with at least minimum experience.

The doubts and fear of failure are huge when trying new things that can change your whole life and career! And that’s why it’s critical to choose coding bootcamps based on some definite criteria, essential for beginners.

Here they go:

Bootcamp should be oriented towards beginners

Most coding bootcamps target both career changers and professionals willing to improve their acquired skills. They focus on such niches as data science, web design, software engineering, cybersecurity, and product design. They offer tons of programs, aspiring users to hone their skills online with no need to abstract themselves from regular working schedules.

Too much information for complete newbies, right?

Computer science fundamentals would be handy but coding bootcamps only for newbies are also available. You’ll find them in our list below.

Bootcamp should have a clear structure

Coding bootcamps designed for beginners offer onsite and online programs that are clear and easy for newbies to understand. They’ll introduce a chosen niche and outline all the milestones a newbie will complete during the course.

Coding bootcamp beginners are encouraged to complete an introductory course before diving into immersive course structures. While students are also welcome to learn part-time, sessions in niche fundamentals are critical for beginners to enter and complete the program successfully.

Coding bootcamps for complete beginners structure their programs for students to get fundamentals, learn all the core specifications, and develop a portfolio to show potential employers.

A good course structure also suggests active collaboration with instructors, work in teams, and tons of practical exercises for acquiring real-world skills, not only theoretical knowledge.

Bootcamp should have a high employment rate

A great beginner coding bootcamp is the one bothering about its students’ results. It’s career-focused and offers alumni job placement assistance.

An average employment rate of reviewed bootcamps is 83.3%

Most coding bootcamps only for newbies collaborate with software companies and guarantee internships to their students. Some start working on their students’ careers once they’ve entered, providing career services and supporting every step alumni take in tech. Many bootcamps even tie tuition costs, refunding them if a student fails to get employed within a few months of graduation.

Do your best to check the information about a bootcamp’s employment rate before entering.

Bootcamp alumni should have a high median annual base salary

We know that computer and technology occupations grow, and the median annual wage in tech attracts and motivates people to change a career and give it a try. Thus, the Bureau of Labor Statistics^[3]Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm reported $91,250 as the median annual wage in the niche (May 2020).

When choosing a coding bootcamp for beginners, students pay attention to whether their qualifications will be enough to apply for in-demand jobs after graduation. Checking the courses and programs they offer, one can understand what to expect:

For instance, a median annual base salary in web design is $77,200, while full-stack software engineers earn $110,140; security analysts get around $103,550, and programmers may expect $89,190. 

Does your chosen coding bootcamp provide students with related programs that would help to acquire the skills necessary for joining that high-salary camp?

Beginner alumni should recommend this coding bootcamp

Coding bootcamps that accept beginners are proud of their alumni. They won’t hide their feedback from potential students, sharing alumni’s testimonials at the websites so others would see what to expect from studying.

Reliable online bootcamps won’t share one-two sentence comments from “John Doe.” They’ll publish video testimonials instead or provide backlinks to alumni’s social media or portfolios for others to see these are real people. They’ll share the alumni stories on their blogs, and they won’t hide alumni’s comments on third-party resources reviewing their bootcamp.

Best coding bootcamps for beginners in 2021

Coding bootcamp scores at a glance:

Bootcamp	Beginner-friendly	Curriculum	Employment rate	Alumni’s median annual base salary	Average alumni feedback	Total score
Rithm School	9	10	9	10	10	48
Coding Dojo	10	10	9	9	9	47
Flatiron School	9	9	9	9	9	45
App Academy	10	8	6	10	10	44
Devmountain	8	9	8	10	8	43
Fullstack Academy	9	8	7	9	9	42
Hack Reactor	8	8	8	9	8	41

Rithm School

Rithm School in San Francisco offers a 17-week full-time software engineering program. The founders are highly experienced instructors who believe that the most effective way to learn is in small groups.

The curriculum focuses on JavaScript, Python, Flask, SQL, Node, React, data structures, and algorithms. Students spend three weeks contracting for Bay Area companies and gaining professional experience for their resumes, which significantly helps their job search.

The tuition is $24,000 for all Rithm School courses; however, the price should not be your only consideration. ISA, upfront payments, and loan financing are just a few of the financing options available at this school.

You will find Rithm School graduates working in a variety of tech companies. PlanetScale, Pinterest, and Doc.ai are only a few on this list.

Rithm School has excellent results. Students are likely to find rewarding work: After 180 days and 90 days since graduation, the school reports an impressive 86.8% job placement rate. Their graduates make an average of $115,000, well above the San Francisco average.

Also, through Slow Ventures, this beginner coding bootcamp has access to over 120 hiring partners. Free online courses are also available for newbies to understand if they choose the right niche for their further career growth.

Coding Dojo

Coding Dojo offers full-time and part-time coding programs to help students build a portfolio and gain solid software technology skills. It provides programs that teach web development, software development, data science, and cybersecurity with campuses all over the US.

This coding bootcamp provides extensive career services, including individual career counseling, job-hunting workshops, and portfolio and resume building.

The Coding Dojo team is available to you for six months or six years. Their students have landed jobs at Google, Apple, Tesla, Microsoft, IBM, and other companies. After 14 weeks in school, you’ll be working on your job search while learning the most in-demand STEM skills.

Alumni admit Coding Dojo changed their lives and influenced how they solve problems now. It has helped over 6,000 students advance in their careers and lives. Graduates are placed 89.1% of the time and earn an average of $72,000.

The cost varies by program, ranging from $1,950 to $16,495. Coding Dojo offers an accessible two-to-three-hour introduction to computer programming, and several payment options are available to students to help them manage their tuition.

Flatiron School

Flatiron School offers software engineering, cybersecurity, data science, and UX/UI product design courses. They aim to introduce students into fulfilling careers with the assistance of experienced instructors and career coaches. Newbies can enroll in online, full-time, part-time, and self-paced programs at Flatiron School. New York, Houston, San Francisco, and Denver are among the Flatiron School’s campuses.

Flatiron School was the first bootcamp in the industry to publish independent job reports, establishing a new industry standard for educational transparency.

Many Flatiron School graduates work in tech companies like WeWork, Infosys, and Wayfair. This beginner coding bootcamp also powers the Access Scholarship, which will invest $1.5 million in the future of over 500 students.

Students praise Flatiron School’s overall experience and instructors. Flatiron School graduates earn an average of $70,547 in their first jobs after graduation. After a year, the average salary is $83,000, and they see $91,000 after 24 months.

Flatiron School tuition ranges from $16,900 to $18,900. The price isn’t the only factor to consider. There are several ways to pay: The school accepts upfront payments, monthly installments, and loans.

App Academy

• Beginner-friendly? 10/10
• Structure: 8/10
• Employment rate: N/A
• Alumni’s median annual base salary: $93K
• Alumni-recommended? 10/10

• Available online

App Academy has a great selection of courses for coding bootcamp beginners and immersive courses on software engineering and full-stack development. Their course structure ensures you graduate with the skills to start a rewarding new career. Students gain JavaScript and Ruby On Rails coding skills here. As of 2021, App Academy has over 801 students, and its curriculum is heavily hands-on: Students spend 90% of their time programming and 10% — in lectures.

Averaging $101,000 in San Francisco, $93,000 in NYC, and $77,000 nationwide, App Academy has graduated and placed over 4,500 full-time software engineers. Their alumni work at companies like Google, Apple, Netflix, and Twitter.

App Academy tuition ranges from $0 to $20,000. Those not sure this school is the right fit for them can try it for free. They offer income sharing agreements, deferred tuition, upfront payments, and loan financing. The refunding program is also available: If you don’t succeed after graduation, you don’t pay, and that’s fair.

Devmountain

• Beginner-friendly? 8/10
• Structure: 9/10
• Employment rate: 83%
• Alumni’s median annual base salary: $89K
• Alumni-recommended? 8/10

• Available online and offline

Devmountain has a great selection of courses. Full-time students can study iOS Development, Software QA Testing, Data Analysis, Immersive UX Design, and Web Development.

The Devmountain curriculum prepares you for a rewarding new career no matter which course you choose. As of 2021, Devmountain had over 2,630 students. This number continues to grow because more and more students want to enroll in classes here. New students can choose between full-time and part-time programs at Devmountain campuses in Atlanta, Phoenix, and Lehi.

Devmountain is now a part of Strayer University, with campuses nationwide, though online courses are also available. Their online and in-person coding bootcamp continues from 6 to 26 weeks, providing high-quality education by working with current industry professionals and utilizing cutting-edge technology. Web development, UX design, and mobile programming are all available on Devmountain.

Their tuition ranges from $7,500 to $10,900, and there are several ways to finance Devmountain. This school accepts upfront payments and loan financing. Devmountain alumni work at various tech firms: Podium, Vivint Solar, Magic Leap, and others.

Fullstack Academy

• Beginner-friendly? 9/10
• Structure: 8/10
• Employment rate: 70%
• Alumni’s median annual base salary: $79K
• Alumni-recommended? 9/10

• Available online and offline

Fullstack Academy is among the best coding bootcamps designed for beginners, thanks to its rich selection of prep courses: intros to coding, cyberhacking, bootcamp prep, and more. And sure, they also have immerse programs teaching coding, cybersecurity, and data analytics.

Fullstack’s curriculum gets regular updates, preparing students for top development jobs at tech companies and startups alike. New students can enroll in online, full-time, and part-time programs, gaining proficiency in JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3, Node.js, React, PostgreSQL, and Git.

Fullstack Academy’s cost ranges from $15,980 to $17,910, with upfront payments and loan financing available. Their graduates get developer jobs in top-rated tech companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, and American Express.

Hack Reactor 

• Beginner-friendly? 8/10
• Structure: 8/10
• Employment rate: 80%
• Alumni’s median annual base salary: $85K
• Alumni-recommended? 8/10

• Available online and offline

Hack Reactor offers full-time and part-time software engineering programs in San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Austin, Denver, Boulder, Seattle, San Jose, and online. They have a great selection of remote and part-time software engineering courses, preparing graduates for a rewarding new career no matter which program they choose.

All Hack Reactor courses cost $17,980, accepting ISA, upfront payments, and loan financing. Their online prep courses teach JavaScript skills every programmer will need to get into any engineering bootcamp. Attendees can pay a deposit of $2,000 and provide the rest only when they start making at least $50k/year after graduation.

With 5,600+ graduates and a 79% success rate, this coding bootcamp for beginners lands jobs for about 80% of alumni within 180 days of graduation. Students will graduate with an online presence, resume, and a professionally crafted LinkedIn profile. Hack Reactor graduates work at tech companies like Google, Salesforce, and Microsoft, earning an average of $105K.

Are coding bootcamps for beginners worth it in 2021?

Every day, people ask if bootcamps are worth their time, effort, and money. Is coding bootcamp good for beginners, after all?

Sure, you can have an excellent bootcamp experience while improving your education, career mobility, and earning potential. Coding bootcamps are worthwhile in 2021, especially for a newbie.

And that’s why:

Bootcamps can significantly increase your earnings.

For many bootcamp grads, their first coding job will be a substantial financial boost. According to the latest studies, coding bootcamp graduates may expect a median salary increase of $22,000! Thus, web developers’ median annual base salary is $73,760 a year^[10]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm, which is well above the average American’s wage of $39,810.

Bootcamps save money.

According to the report, the average coding bootcamp tuition is $13,584; that’s far below the price for a four-year college degree at an in-state public college ($25,615^[11]EducationData.org – Average Cost of College & Tuition – https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college for one academic year). Private schools and out-of-state colleges have even higher rates, motivating young people to give preference to coding bootcamps: Newly graduated developers can repay their bootcamp loans once employed quickly.

Bootcamps take weeks, not years, to complete.

A traditional 4-year public university degree program takes an average of 128 weeks to complete. In their turn, it takes from 6 to 32 weeks for coding bootcamp beginners to complete their courses, depending on the agenda.

Your career will advance with coding bootcamps.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 13% job growth^[12]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm for web developers by 2028. Comparatively, all occupations will grow by 5%! And as the job market expands, you’ll likely find opportunities for advancement and leadership roles.

Bootcamps build and support niche communities.

In a classroom setting, students can form networks with classmates, teachers, and administrators. You can also attend tech events on campus and build your community. These connections allow you to learn from peers, not just experts. You’ll be able to share your resume and portfolio when you hear about new job openings, even if they’re not listed online.

Coding bootcamps for beginners vs. college degree

Both options have their pros and cons, depending on what you want to get from your education. 

A key point to remember:

Whether you choose a college diploma or decide to get a coding bootcamp certificate, both provide you with enough qualifications to get a role in software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, or web design. The main differences lie in timelines, admission requirements, and graduates’ career plans.

It will take you 2-6 months to graduate from a beginner coding bootcamp. This option is perfect for those in need of quickly getting a programming-focused curriculum and a secure job without spending four years in college and learning tons of different subjects there.

At the same time, a college degree may be your option if you plan to pursue higher-level management jobs in the future. Plus, college curricula for software engineering, for example, are more informative than those of coding bootcamps: In college, you can learn more programming languages, more details on computer networks, and more info about operating systems.

Also, consider the difference in admission requirements:

It’s often enough to have a high school diploma (or equivalent) for entering an online coding bootcamp for beginners, aside from online applications or some prep courses a school may ask you to finish. At the same time, your application for a college degree may require a particular GPA, SAT or ACT scores, and recommendations.

What to expect from a newbie-friendly coding bootcamp

An average coding bootcamp immersive course structure lasts for 2-6 months, and a typical course load consists of 3-5 parts, aside from a preparation program that some bootcamps ask you to complete before you start. A regular software engineering bootcamp covers the topics such as programming basics, full-stack JavaScript, and front-end and back-end development. Some bootcamps allow part-time study too.

Are coding bootcamps designed for beginners?

Some coding bootcamps require or encourage students, especially beginners, to take an introductory course before enrolling. These pre-courses give students a solid foundation in programming languages, preparing them for success in the program.

During a bootcamp, students build a portfolio of working apps to demonstrate to potential employers when necessary. Students may work in groups, with instructors, or on a significant project that requires real-world skills.

1. Admission

Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent to be considered for a coding bootcamp. Some programs require students to have prior coding experience and complete a skills assessment as part of the admission process. There is no application fee for most coding bootcamps.

Prospective students must also fill out an online application that may include questions about their level, career goals, contact, the program of choice, sponsor, background, and starting time. Applicants to bootcamps may also be required to participate in an interview. Before beginning the program, accepted students will complete some prerequisite studies.

2. Costs

The cost of a coding bootcamp can range from $8,000 to $17,000, with $13,500 on average. For in-person courses, also consider the costs for travel, meals, and lodging. Some accelerated programs for beginner coding bootcamps can make it challenging for you to keep your regular schedule, so get ready for it.

Enrollees can pay a deposit and postpone the rest of the tuition for later, paying after they’ve got a job in the tech industry. Most of the bootcamps practice such payment schemes to become more affordable for newbies. 

As government loans are only available for traditional degrees, many bootcamps also partner with financial institutions to offer specialized loans. Payment plans and program-specific scholarships may also be available to assist students in covering the coding bootcamp costs.

3. Graduation and employment

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts an 11% growth in all computer and technology jobs between 2019 and 2029^[13]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm. The rate is far above the national average for all occupations. As of May 2020, the tech industry’s median annual wage was $91,250.

Coding bootcamp graduates can find jobs in the computer and technology industries. According to the BLS, web developers and designers make $77,200 annually, while software developers make $110,140.

The best coding bootcamps for beginners provide career services and help their alumni get a job in tech after graduation. They partner with tech companies, offer scholarships, assist graduates with resume and portfolio building, provide 1:1 career coaching, polish students’ interviewing skills, and more. Plus, they guarantee that students will get a job, promising to give money back if they don’t get employed within six months after graduation.

Frequently asked questions

How difficult is a coding bootcamp for a beginner?

Attending a bootcamp may be challenging for those facing this practice for the first time. It would help if you determined your career goals beforehand and researched bootcamps to choose the best one for your field. Also, please decide how you will fund your education and whether you are up to the task. The difficulty of a bootcamp depends on the subject taught and the program’s structure.

It’s hard unless a beginner doesn’t take preparation seriously. Top coding bootcamps for beginners keep both advanced and newbie attendees tense. Beginners camp out on the first few steps, while more experienced students work on the more complex assignments to enhance their acquired skills.

Are all coding bootcamps made for beginners?

Both coding bootcamps only for newbies and intermediate coding bootcamps are available on the market. Many offer courses for complete beginners or resources to learn advanced programs. Entering coding bootcamps that accept beginners may ask you to demonstrate your ability to handle the workload.

Good coding bootcamps online for adult beginners prepare you for your first programming job in many ways. During a bootcamp, you’ll learn a variety of topics, including several coding languages. You don’t need prior programming knowledge to start class, but it will help you keep up with the lessons.

Take the time to learn a few programming languages basics before entering a bootcamp to improve your prospects of success.

Can you fail a coding bootcamp?

By assessing students’ abilities ahead of time, the admission process for coding bootcamps helps to ensure their success. Students can, however, fail a coding bootcamp program.

Forget everything you know about failure and how you feel about it. When it comes to learning how to code, your attention and openness to new knowledge will help you graduate and get a good job in tech.

How to prepare for coding bootcamp?

Read everything given to you to prepare for a coding bootcamp. The more you know, the better prepared you will be to understand what to expect from learning and how to organize your time and energy for it. Watch videos and tutorials online to help you learn to code. Some of these tutorials are free, and the rest are reasonably priced. Update your resume, so all you have to do after graduating from a coding bootcamp is add that new experience. It will save time and help you start a job search.

How old do you have to be to go to a coding bootcamp?

Coding bootcamps for beginners have no age limit. Most of them are short-term education programs that help you learn new skills and find a job. Just do your best to research several bootcamps and decide which one would fit your needs best. Consider programs, course structures, and difficulty level depending on your knowledge, not age. If you already know the fundamental computer science concepts, you can outperform your older classmates regardless of your age.

Is iOS or Web better for beginners?

In any case, attending a coding bootcamp can become a challenge. However, we usually advise students who are new to coding to enroll in the web bootcamp. That’s because the frameworks that underpin iOS can be notoriously tricky to navigate, especially for beginners. In recent years, innovations in iOS development such as Parse and Swift have made this process much easier, but most people still start with front-end web development. For beginners, HTML, CSS, and later Ruby and JavaScript are easier to grasp and provide a more natural knowledge base on which to build.

What are the differences between attending a coding bootcamp and a data analytics bootcamp?

The best data analytics bootcamps prepare students for the job market. These programs teach a curriculum based on real-world needs, focusing on job placement and preparing students for tech jobs. They usually teach Python programming and SQL.

Coding bootcamps are shorter, focusing more on programming, not covering a wide range of topics. They will develop your coding skills and get you to a professional level as quickly as possible.

What’s the best mindset to approach beginning the learning process?

You may feel lost, stressed, or overwhelmed during a course in a coding bootcamp. You might feel like you’re not learning fast enough while other students are. You may even doubt your choice. Mental conditioning for a bootcamp will improve your experience and help you feel more comfortable. You should be prepared to spend 40-60 hours per week on learning and practicing.

Just remember: Students attend coding bootcamps to work hard and get new knowledge for their career boost. Completing all the assignments and practicing new skills will help you learn faster. Coding bootcamps for beginners teach by doing rather than listening.

Finally, don’t compare yourself to others. Instead, remember that the goal of every good coding bootcamp is to leave you with more opportunities than you had before entering. With that mindset, you can start your career with a bootcamp.

What disciplines have the lowest barriers of entry?

Front-end web development is considered one of the easiest beginner-friendly paths. After mastering HTML, CSS, and JS, you can expand your knowledge by learning full-stack web development.

In a word

Gone are the days when a coding job required a four-year computer science degree and relocation to a tech hotspot like New York or San Francisco. The coding bootcamp model has made tech jobs more accessible to people who can’t afford expensive degree programs.

Coding bootcamps are worthwhile investments, especially for those seeking a new career path but unsure where to start. Many bootcamp graduates have grown up from complete programming novices to working for some of the world’s most prestigious tech firms.

If you’re still unsure whether a coding bootcamp for beginners is right for you or worth your money, we recommend reaching out to a few of the best coding bootcamps from this list — and check which one fits your needs and goals most. 

The steps outlined above will help you understand what to expect from the best coding bootcamps for beginners so you can choose which one is right for you.