Best Online Coding Bootcamps

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Updated October 18, 2023

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Online coding bootcamps provide an intensive path to proficiency in computer programming, web development, and software design.

These programs allow students to accelerate their learning while taking classes from a distance. The job landscape for professionals in tech fields continues to grow exponentially, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projecting employment in web development to increase 13% from 2018-2028.

Both newcomers and seasoned professionals can use online coding bootcamps to capitalize on the popularity of tech jobs. A recent Business Wire study projects a 15% increase in coding bootcamp market growth from 2020-2024, citing increases in enrollment and affordability.

This guide lists some of the best online coding bootcamps and explains what to expect from them. It also answers a few common questions and discusses popular career paths for coding bootcamp graduates, making it a good place to start your research if you're considering attending a bootcamp for coding online.

Top 5 Online Bootcamps
Rank Provider Find Bootcamps
1 App Academy Visit Bootcamp
2 Nucamp Visit Bootcamp
3 Devmountain Visit Bootcamp
4 Code Fellows Visit Bootcamp
5 Coding Temple Visit Bootcamp

What Is an Online Coding Bootcamp Program?

Online coding bootcamps introduce new professionals to coding and programming basics in an accelerated, interactive, and flexible learning environment. They offer short-term training experiences that develop the core skills needed to support software development projects.

Enrollees develop skills in data mining and information security, quantitative reasoning, and complex problem-solving. Bootcamps also build fluency in the main coding languages and programming frameworks required to design mobile or web-based applications, like Javascript or CSS.

Most online bootcamps for coding attract learners looking to make career changes. Working professionals in computer science or information technology may also enroll to keep their knowledge up to date or learn a specific new language. Others may pursue online coding bootcamps to build additional data skills desired by potential employers.

Choosing an Online Program

Selecting the right online coding bootcamp for your professional needs depends on several factors. These include total cost, time to completion, program focus, and related employment requirements. Follow the link below to learn more about choosing a coding bootcamp that suits your unique goals and needs.

What Else Can I Expect From a Coding Bootcamp Program?

Most coding bootcamps follow similar curricula designed to achieve the same learning outcomes, with most of the variation coming in what specific languages are offered. The courses and specializations listed below provide a sense of what to expect, but prospective learners should bear in mind that specific offerings vary.

Specializations allow students to develop niche skills that expand job prospects. We have included several popular example specializations below, but there are plenty of other options as well.

Coding Bootcamp Curriculum

  • Debugging, Errors, Functions: Software platforms and web applications often develop bugs or errors that prohibit smooth functioning. This course teaches students how to resolve those issues using common testing and debugging strategies. Degree-seekers practice backtracking and learn how to detect logical errors embedded in coding matrices.
  • Information Architecture: This class focuses on implementing information systems to support business strategies and operational efficiency. Attendees learn to configure existing systems and develop new ones to pursue key performance indicators. They also practice techniques for information acquisition, organization, security, and storage.
  • Programming Fundamentals: This course introduces the main tools and techniques used by coders and programmers. It develops fluency in languages like C++, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Coursework also explores markup frameworks such as XML and develops skills in analyzing existing code structures for errors and redundancies.

Coding Specializations

Full-Stack Development

This specialization develops comprehensive skills in coding and development. Full-stack developers can create complete websites and applications, working on both the user side of projects (front end) and the server side (back end). This specialization prepares learners for both responsibilities.

Data Science

A specialization in data science explores the main methods and tools used to extract data from software and web-based applications. It also develops knowledge in mathematics, information science, and algorithmic analysis and introduces learners to platforms like Python, Apache, and Julia.

Web Development

This concentration builds on coding basics to develop expertise in more complex applications. It deepens core skills in markup programming and common content management systems. Additional topics include information security, software testing, and scripting languages, like PHP.

Software Engineering

Learners focusing on software engineering develop expertise in testing, debugging, and maintenance. They learn how to design new software platforms and update existing ones in response to user demands and organizational needs. Most programs with this specialization cover software architecture, database management, interface design, and system life cycling.

UX/UI Design

UX/UI refers to user engineering or user interface design. Coders with this expertise specialize in understanding how the average user interacts with websites and applications. They configure aesthetically pleasing interfaces and keep them updated for optimal performance. This concentration also develops skills in data science, debugging, and software maintenance.

Best Online Coding Bootcamps

  1. App Academy
    Location

    Vancouver, BC

    App Academy's online bootcamps for coding prepare students for careers as software engineers and web developers. Due to COVID-19, all App Academy classes normally held on campus now occur online. App Academy's online bootcamps use live instruction in real time. Enrollees learn to build web applications using JavaScript, Ruby on Rails, and React/Redux.

    App Academy develops its curriculum with input from industry experts and top technology companies. Students receive career coaching and training opportunities that lead to quick hiring. Full-time bootcamps take 4-24 weeks to complete, with the four-week bootcamp costing around $3,000.

    App Academy was the first coding program to use an income-sharing agreement, which bases tuition on graduates' first-year salaries and allows students to defer payment of any tuition until they receive their first coding jobs. The school takes 28% of the graduate's first-year salary as tuition.

    App Academy's coding bootcamps do not require previous programming knowledge. The online admission process includes a non-technical assessment, interview, and technical learning challenges. App Academy accepts applications year-round, pending cohort availability.

  2. Nucamp Coding Bootcamp
    Location

    San Francisco, CA

    Nucamp offers both beginner and advanced online coding bootcamps. The part-time, instructor-led programs cap classes at 12 students and offer a self-paced, online, weekday curriculum, plus remote video conference sessions on Saturdays. Students watch video lectures, complete coding exercises and quizzes, and create project portfolios. The program requires 1-3 hours per day on Sunday through Friday and a four-hour, real-time, project-based class on Saturdays. Students can typically complete the Saturday class either remotely or in-person.

    Designed by former Microsoft Digital Learning experts, the program uses online forums and private chats with instructors. The bootcamp also includes a complimentary one-month subscription to LinkedIn Premium to help students begin their web development careers. On average, 70% of Nucamp coding bootcamp students complete the program.

    Nucamp's coding bootcamps last 4-22 weeks and cost $350-$1,760. The beginner bootcamp covers web development fundamentals, while the two advanced coding bootcamps focus on front-end web and mobile development and full-stack web and mobile development. New bootcamps begin every five weeks.

    Students who pay tuition at least two weeks ahead of time receive early-bird pricing. Instructors include industry professionals with extensive coding experience. Nucamp also offers job placement assistance for coding bootcamp graduates.

  3. Devmountain
    Location

    Vancouver, BC

    The online coding bootcamps from Devmountain last 6-16 weeks and cost $3,900-$6,900. In response to COVID-19, Devmountain canceled all of its in-person classes for 2020 to offer reduced-tuition remote courses. The school also accepts applications for in-person courses scheduled to take place in 2021 in Lehi, Utah; Dallas, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona. Devmountain provides job placement assistance, full-ride scholarships, and other financing options for its coding students.

    Devmountain's immersive coding bootcamps use a career-focused curriculum built on input from industry experts, alumni, and established developers. The program includes lifetime access to Devmountain's hiring and networking events, plus remote help from the career support team. Online courses take place in real time, from 9-5, Monday through Friday. Students work with mentors and instructors using teleconferencing or chat software.

    Available online coding bootcamps include web development, IOS development, user experience design, or software quality assurance. The user experience design program is part-time, but the other concentrations require full-time attendance.

    Students in the web development program learn back-end and front-end web development, gaining familiarity with programming languages like HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS3. The application process includes a phone consultation and application challenge.

  4. Code Fellows
    Location

    Los Angeles, CA

    Code Fellows boasts a 93% in-field job placement rate for graduates of its coding bootcamp, and students receive job placement and other career transition services. The school offers stackable courses that build upon each other and progress from beginner to advanced.

    Code Fellows also offers continuing education courses for working professionals. Enrollees can choose from a four-week daytime track or an eight-week weekend and night track. Code Fellows typically offers in-person classes only, but now provides online courses due to COVID-19.

    Code Fellows offers scholarships and other financing options, and eligible students can use GI Bill® benefits to complete coding courses. Coding bootcamps last four weeks for full-time learners and eight weeks for part-time, evening, and weekend students. Both options cost $5,000.

    Available specializations include software development and cybersecurity. The bootcamps cover HTML, JavaScript, network design and troubleshooting, and scripting and automation, preparing students to pursue industry certifications.

    The application process for Code Fellows includes a phone interview, a pre-work and entrance test, and a final interview. Students can complete preliminary workshops that provide a foundation in topics like introduction to software development and intermediate software development before enrolling.

  5. Coding Temple
    Location

    Lehi, UT

    Prospective web developers can complete a coding bootcamp online in ten weeks for $9,000 with Coding Temple. The school does not require payment of tuition until after graduates find a job. The bootcamp focuses on Python and web development, while also exploring front-end development, back-end development, and data science. Students gain experience with JavaScript, CSS, Web API, and SQL.

    Coding bootcamp attendees benefit from small class sizes and individualized attention from instructors. They study full time, Monday through Friday, 9-5, and regularly touch base with student relations managers, who make sure they do not fall behind.

    The curriculum includes projects where students create practical applications. The program also offers job support for students and alumni, including the opportunity to work one-on-one with career coaches — even after graduation. At the end of the bootcamp, each enrollee completes a coding capstone project that incorporates knowledge gained during the program and results in an application that addresses a real-world problem.

    In addition to full-time bootcamps, Coding Temple frequently offers shorter workshops that cover new technologies, like Android development and Angular 2. Coding Temple does not require applicants to have a coding background to qualify for admission to its coding bootcamp. The school also offers several scholarships through its partner, Course Report.

  6. Jax Code Academy
    Location

    Baton Rouge, LA

    Distance learners can complete a 12-week, online coding bootcamp at Jax Code Academy. New coding bootcamps start every month and feature instruction from web development experts. Available formats include in-person, online via Webex teleconferencing, hybrid, or online night classes.

    Graduates qualify for roles as front-end developers, Javascript developers, web developers, and visual designers. Students also receive access to job placement assistance through two local recruitment firms.

    The curriculum focuses on full-stack web design and development, including a 12-week internship or externship. Enrollees develop skills in Javascript, MySQL, Node/React, and object-oriented programming. Instructors incorporate web development training, guest lectures, resume building, and projects that involve working with real-world websites.

    The program does not require applicants to complete any prerequisites or demonstrate relevant experience to qualify for admission. Those who pay tuition in full before the start of class pay $3,500, or students can pay $5,000 in ten monthly installments.

    Students need a Windows or Apple laptop to complete the program, with all other materials and software supplied by Jax. Other program benefits include access to three months of co-working space, free parking, and the ability to retake the course at no charge within one year.

  7. LearningFuze
    Location

    Jacksonville, FL

    As one of the best coding bootcamps and code schools, LearningFuze offers full-time, part-time, online, and in-person options. The school's online coding bootcamp builds a foundation in web development and teaches students how to build applications using software engineering skills. Students take the program in three modules over an extended period. Each module costs $3,995, but those who pay early receive a discount.

    Senior instructors deliver the modular curriculum synchronously in real-time, allowing enrollees to interact with classmates and teachers. The flexible online option allows learners to tailor the bootcamp to fit their schedules. Modules cover the fundamentals of web development, advanced JavaScript and introduction to full-stack development, and full-stack development and project portfolios.

    Bootcamp attendees complete full-scale projects using tools like MySQL, Git/GitHub, JavaScript, and Node.js. Students learn to think like programmers, solve problems quickly, and succeed in tech environments. LearningFuze offers a two-week preparatory course that prepares distance learners to enroll in the part-time, online coding bootcamp.

    The program offers in-depth employment coaching from industry experts and does not require previous programming experience to enroll. Each applicant must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma, a laptop, and an aptitude for learning and teamwork.

  8. Hackbright Academy
    Location

    Seattle, WA

    Hackbright Academy was founded in 2012 to help diverse groups of women gain the skills for successful careers in the tech industry. Today, it offers coding bootcamps in software engineering and Python. Due to COVID-19, Hackbright shifted its offerings online until at least 2021, allowing students to complete remote courses at a reduced tuition rate.

    The full-time software engineering program takes 12 weeks to complete and costs $12,900. An enrollee can complete a five-week, $250 prep course before committing to the software engineering program. Hackbright Academy also offers an online, self-paced Python 101 course, which lasts five weeks and costs $500.

    In the software engineering bootcamp, students attend live lectures in real time and can interact with mentors, instructors, and career services using teleconferencing or chat software. Students must attend class Monday through Friday, 10-6.

    Hackbright Academy offers financing options for students in the full-time, remote software engineering bootcamp, including a deferred tuition program that allows learners to wait to pay anything until they find employment. The school also partners with Skills Fund to offer financing for tuition and living expenses, with no payments due until two months after graduation.

  9. Lighthouse Labs
    Location

    San Francisco, CA

    Created in 2013 by Canadian software developers, Lighthouse Labs seeks to transform tech education and empower students to pursue careers as professional developers. COVID-19 spurred Lighthouse Labs to shift from in-person, intensive courses to online coding bootcamps and to offer $500,000 in emergency scholarships. Lighthouse Labs' 12-week, immersive bootcamps utilize lectures, lab work, and coding exercises. The curriculum includes databases and data modeling, software architecture, and automated testing.

    Lighthouse Labs does not require previous coding experience. Each candidate fills out a short application, completes an interview, and spends 70 hours finishing prep modules. The prep modules cover basic technologies that students will use in the bootcamp, including HTML, JavaScript, Ruby, and CSS. Enrollees have 24/7 access to course materials and can talk to mentors from 6-9 every evening.

    Career services include interview and resume preparation, introductions and networking opportunities, and employer outreach. The career services team helps learners identify their career goals and create plans to achieve them. Ninety-three percent of Lighthouse Labs coding bootcamp attendees receive jobs in the field within 120 days of graduation. Graduates work for companies like Highline Beta, Nike, NorthOne, and MEC.

  10. Launch School
    Location

    Dallas, TX

    Launch School's coding bootcamp emphasizes the deliberate mastery of fundamental programming and development skills. The program prepares students who have beginner knowledge to pursue careers in software development after graduation. Unlike the short but intensive programs common at other bootcamps, Launch School students complete classes over a longer period. The program's results-oriented pedagogy includes a heavily researched curriculum.

    Tuition is $199 per month, with most students spending 8-16 months to work through the program. The first part of the program includes a core curriculum that requires learners to pass assessments. Enrollees progress from one course to the next only after passing their assessments.

    The second part of this online coding program includes a capstone that emphasizes engineering and excellence. Enrollees receive access to teaching assistants, who monitor course forums and help analyze assignments. Students also receive feedback on assessment projects.

    Capstone graduates from Launch School's 2019 class made an average starting salary of more than $115,000 within 12 weeks of completing the program. Students receive job placement assistance, and Launch School graduates work for companies like ETrade, Deloitte, Hewlett Packard, and Peloton.

Coding Bootcamps

Online Coding Bootcamps Ranking Guidelines

We ranked these programs based on cost, length, career assistance programs, and specialties.

Coding Careers

Online coding bootcamp graduates have an encouraging job outlook, with coding skills projected to remain in high demand. The skills and knowledge developed in a coding bootcamp qualify graduates for the following positions, as well as many other career opportunities.

Web Developers

Web developers design websites and create web-based applications. They typically monitor technical aspects of existing sites, like performance, capacity, and application traffic. In some cases, they may also create site content. They generally work as part of a larger team and often meet with clients to determine design and development needs.

Professionals in this area must be proficient in coding languages like XML or HTML and usually need computer science or graphic design credentials. Further qualifications vary by employer, but may involve professional certifications in multimedia publishing or user experience.

Median Annual Salary

$73,760

Projected Growth Rate

13%

Software Developers

Software developers conduct work similar to web developers. Rather than creating internet-based tools, they focus on applications that run on computers and standalone devices, creating new and innovative software platforms that help people perform specific tasks. They analyze user needs and generate tests to determine how to meet them.

Most software developers have degrees in computer science or a closely related field. They need the strong programming skills developed in online coding bootcamps, along with an interest in creative problem-solving. Software developers usually work full time with other programmers and IT professionals in office settings.

Median Annual Salary

$105,590

Projected Growth Rate

21%

Computer Programmers

These professionals write and maintain the code that keeps software and computer applications running properly. They update and expand existing programs and test them for errors or inefficiencies. Computer programmers typically work with software developers and other coders to translate programs into intelligible instructions for computers. They also generate models and flowcharts for proposed projects.

A computer programmer typically needs an undergraduate degree in computer science. It is common for programmers to specialize in specific programming languages, sometimes obtaining additional certifications desired by their employers. Some work alone, while others collaborate with a team to work on a large project.

Median Annual Salary

$86,550

Projected Growth Rate

-7%

Coding Professional Organizations

Professional organizations are a great way to remain up-to-date on new developments in coding and programming. The organizations below support recent graduates and working professionals by providing networking opportunities, hosting local events, and offering continuing education programs. Most of these organizations also offer career services and job boards.

The DSA supports data scientists by enhancing diversity, eliminating bias, and advancing professional ethics in the industry. It hosts regular events for its members and maintains a library of information security resources. It also aggregates recent data science news and offers professional development opportunities. Established in 1946, IEEE advances computer and information technology theory by providing professionals with cutting-edge tools, hosting international conferences, and publishing peer-reviewed articles. It also maintains an extensive digital repository and promotes global standards of excellence. Many working professionals turn to this organization for continuing education opportunities. CompTIA administers industry-standard certifications in coding and information technology and offers additional training sessions, test preparation resources, and continuing education programs. CompTIA uses a tier-based membership structure to support coding bootcamp learners and seasoned professionals alike. Current members can enjoy local events sponsored by the organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does It Take to Complete an Online Coding Bootcamp Program?

Time to completion varies, depending on type of bootcamp and level of immersion. Most bootcamps last several months, but some may take longer.

Is a Coding Bootcamp Worth It?

Many experts believe that online bootcamps for coding can increase earning power and develop versatile programming and design skills, making them worth the investment for people pursuing coding careers. However, the value of these programs for you can depend on your career goals.

Can I Be a Programmer if I'm Bad at Math?

Most programmers need competent math skills, but they're not crucial for every role, so it depends on your specialty. Coders also rely on skills in logic, data analysis, and information management.

Do Companies Hire Coding Bootcamp Graduates?

High-profile companies like Google and Microsoft will hire coding bootcamp graduates, although it is sometimes easier to find work in startups than at more established companies, which may have their own internal, employee-only coding bootcamps.

Is Coding Bootcamp for Beginners?

Learners at every level of proficiency, including beginners, can benefit from online coding bootcamps. Specific experiences differ by program, with some catering to more novice students while others are designed for working programming professionals.

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