Choosing the Right Bootcamp: The Ultimate List of Leading Coding Schools

Coding bootcamps have increasingly become viable options for training software engineers and web developers. A computer science degree was once the only entree into the technology sector, but today’s employers recognize the value of bootcamps.

Our list of best coding bootcamps includes options for various experience levels, from first-time coders to seasoned professionals interested in expanding their skills.

Bootcamps offer a faster path into the job market, but they’re not easy. Be prepared to immerse yourself in coding for 11-48 weeks. This guide can help you find the right option, whether online, in-person, self-paced, or more structured.

The below coding bootcamps are presented alphabetically.

1. App Academy Best for beginning coders

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Cost: $17,000-$31,000; pay upfront, deferred, and installment payment plans available
Location: Online or in New York City or San Francisco
Enrollment: Full-time, part-time, or self-paced
Time to Completion: 16 or 24 weeks
Curriculum: JavaScript, Python, SQL, HTML, CSS, ReactJS, Express, Flask, and SQL Alchemy

App Academy focuses on training brand new coders to become high-earning software engineers. Cohort-based instruction combines with student support teams that include teaching assistants who recently graduated from App Academy and career coaches.

Courses cover topics including algorithms, object-oriented programs, full-stack apps, and front-end applications. Enrollees build portfolios with individual, group, and partner projects. The admission process may include a 25-minute technical assessment, a 60-minute coding challenge, a technical interview, and a non-technical interview.

App Academy also offers bootcamp prep courses with a money-back guarantee designed to increase the chances of acceptance into a program. Refunds apply to admission denials from App Academy and other bootcamps.

Pros

Free tuition until making $50,000
Potential bootcamp prep course refunds

Cons

Rigorous admission process
Challenging pace with high expectations

View now at App Academy

2. Bloom Institute of Technology Best for student support

Cost: $5,500-$21,950 ($23,000+ if deferred); pay upfront or deferred
Location: Online
Enrollment: Self-paced
Time to Completion: Variable
Curriculum: JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Node, React, Python, Redux, SQL

Bloom (formerly Lambda School) offers a 110% tuition refund guarantee for graduates that receive no job offers, along with one-to-one career advising and a three-week, risk-free course trial. Students learn online at their own pace and most complete the program in 4-18 months.

The curriculum emphasizes job skills with full-stack or back-end development tracks. Courses may cover Java designing, web foundations, and working with databases. Labs allow students to work in teams building real-world projects.

Applicants complete a 50-question assessment with a 15-minute time limit. Bloom reports that most candidates don’t complete all of the questions. Find a study guide on their website.

Pros

Flexible learning options
Can repeat units for greater understanding
Career advising

Cons

No in-person course options
Rigorous admission test

View now at Site

3. Codesmith Best for career support

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Cost: $19,950; scholarships and payment plans available
Location: Online or in Los Angeles or New York City
Enrollment: Full-time orpart-time
Time to Completion: 12 or 38 weeks
Curriculum: JavaScript, React, and Node.js

Codesmith’s curriculum focuses on collaboration and a strong foundation in JavaScript programming. Students learn to build and implement callbacks and higher order functions and understand JavaScript closure.

Codesmith boasts employment rates within 180 days of graduation above 85% and a median salary of $120,000. Comprehensive career services include interview practice sessions, salary negotiation advice, and post-graduation check-ins.

Admission requires a high school diploma or GED certificate, a nontechnical interview that includes a personalized plan to pass the technical interview, and a technical interview working on a JavaScript coding challenge with a software engineer. Applicants who don’t pass receive feedback and can re-interview.

Pros

Effective and supportive instructors
Community focus
Robust job-hunting support

Cons

Challenging advanced curriculum
High admission standards

View now at Codesmith

4. Coding Dojo Best for comprehensive full-stack curriculum

Cost: $14,995-$16,495 (full-time), $7,495-$8,995 (part-time); pay upfront, installment payment plans, income share agreements, loans, and scholarships available
Location: Online or in Bellevue, Los Angeles, or Silicon Valley
Enrollment: Full-time, part-time, or self-paced
Time to Completion: 14-32 weeks
Curriculum: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Jquery, Flask, and React

Tailoring each in-person program to the job market in the campus’ city, Coding Dojo covers programming basics, web fundamentals, and Python, JavaScript, and C# full stacks. Distance learners follow the same curriculum but can choose between C# and Java as their third stack.

Part-time, accelerated tracks allow students to design their own program to fit their goals, and flex tracks offer structured self-paced study.

Coding Dojo offers lifelong career services for its alumni. The bootcamp reports that nearly 84% of graduates found a relevant job within 180 days.

Admission requires an application and an interview with an admission advisor. Applicants receive notification of their acceptance in two to three days. Explore our Coding Dojo review for more details.

Pros

Teaches three stacks
Long-term career support

Cons

Fast pace and challenging curriculum
Beginners may fall behind

View now at Coding Dojo

SEE: Front-end vs. back-end development: What’s the difference?

5. Flatiron School Best for reputation in the tech industry

Flatiron School

Cost: $16,900; pay upfront or installment payment plans available
Location: Online or in Denver or New York City
Enrollment: Full-time or part-time
Time to Completion: 15 or 40 weeks

Curriculum: Front-end development, JavaScript, ReactJS, front-end web applications, back-end development, SQL, and back-end web APIs

Flatiron focuses on career-ready, software engineering skill-building. The curriculum includes programming fundamentals, front-end development, front-end web application, back-end development, and back-end web API. Enrollees work on group projects that simulate a software engineering team environment.

Each student builds a “Get Hired Game Plan.” Career coaches continue one-to-one advising 180 days after graduation. Flatiron partners with the city of New York to increase access to technology among underserved communities.

The admission process consists of a non-technical interview and a 15-minute critical thinking and problem-solving assessment. Admitted students complete 40 hours of preparatory lessons and labs prior to the first day of class.

For more info, see our Flatiron School review .

Pros

Beginner friendly
Industry and university partnerships

Cons

Highly selective admissions
Rigorous curriculum

View now at Flatiron School

6. Fullstack Academy Best for women and non-binary coders

Cost: $18,910 (full-time), $17,480 (part-time); pay upfront, employer assistance, government assistance, scholarships, and loans available
Location: Online or in New York City
Enrollment: Full-time or part-time
Time to Completion: 17-28 weeks
Curriculum: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git, Github, Bash, Sublime, and Chrome development tools

Fullstack’s programs include a Women+ Coding bootcamp, a live online option for female and non-binary software developers. Named for Grace Hopper, a programming trailblazer, the program follows the same three-phase format as Fullstack’s other coding bootcamps.

Phase one covers the basics of CSS, HTML, and JavaScript . Phase two emphasizes programming and web development concepts. Phase three involves working with a career coach. Students develop apps for their portfolios and complete pair programming projects.

The admission process includes a 30-minute coding assessment and a 60-minute behavioral and technical interview. Applicants can only make two attempts at acceptance.

Pros

Collaborative culture
Emphasis on portfolio building

Cons

Not beginner friendly
Stringent admission procedure

View now at Fullstack Academy

7. General Assembly Best for variety of campus locations

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Cost: $15,950; pay upfront, income share agreements, installment payment plans, loans, and tuition discounts available
Location: Online or in-person in Asia, Australia, Europe, or North America
Enrollment: Full-time immersive, “flex” immersive, part-time, or self-paced
Time to Completion: 10, 12, or 24 weeks
Curriculum: JavaScript, React,Python, Django, Git, and Github

General Assembly offers software engineering programs in cities around the world and online. Enrollees complete pre-work in software engineering fundamentals, then move into the four-unit curriculum.

Unit one covers front-end development; unit two, full-stack development; unit three, front-end frameworks; and unit four, APIs and full-stack development.

Capstone projects simulate a team-client interaction. The final projects integrate functionality from a third-party API. GA boasts a network of 19,000+ hiring partners.

Applicants work with GA’s admission team and complete admissions assessments to determine their qualifications and readiness for the immersive bootcamps.

Pros

Numerous on-site locations
Beginner friendly
Graduates receive a certificate of completion

Cons

Rigorous, fast-paced curriculum
Refund policies vary by location regulations

View now at General Assembly

8. Hack Reactor Best for all skill levels

Hack Reactor

Cost: $17,980; pay upfront, income share, split-payments, loans, scholarships, and veterans benefits available
Location: Online
Enrollment: Full-time or part-time
Time to Completion: 12-36 weeks
Curriculum: React, ES6, and full-stack JavaScript

Hack Reactor focuses on preparing job-ready full-stack software engineers. Its fast-paced 12-week immersive and part-time 36-week immersive are geared for intermediate coders.

Admission requires a non-technical assessment consisting of a 15-minute Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) and a typing test. Applicants also complete two technical assessments: A coding challenge and a technical admission assessment. Hack Reactor offers a free study guide online.

The 19-week coding immersive is designed for applicants with little or no coding experience. It emphasizes JavaScript and Python. Its admissions process requires the CCAT and typing non-technical assessments, attendance at an information session, and an admissions interview.

Pros

Separate program for beginners
Telegraph Track supports coding students from underrepresented groups

Cons

Lots of admission tests for intermediate-level bootcamps
No in-person learning options

View now at Hack Reactor

9. ISDI Coders Best for Spanish-speakers

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Cost: $4,300-$6,000; partner payment plans and scholarships available
Location: Online or in Barcelona or Madrid, Spain
Enrollment: Full-time or part-time
Time to Completion: 11 or 13 weeks
Curriculum: JavaScript, HTML, and CSS

ISDI Coders (formerly Skylab Coder’s Academy) offers bootcamps in web development and mobile applications at its campuses in Spain or online.

ISDI claims that 96% of its students work as developers by the end of the program. Full-time, on-campus programs focus on full-stack development, while front-end development is offered part-time online.

In-person and online classes are taught in Spanish with documentation in English. Students complete preparatory courses that include videos and exercises remotely. The curriculum offers opportunities to complete projects in each instructional phase.

Applicants should contact ISDI Coders for admissions information. The program welcomes candidates with experience and those new to coding.

Pros

Good for motivated beginners
Professional mentoring

Cons

Must travel to Spain for in-person instruction

View now at ISDI Coders

10. Tech Elevator Best for novices

Cost: $15,950; deferred and monthly payment plans, financing, scholarships, workforce grants, and veteran benefits available
Location: Online or in Cincinnati, Cleveland, or Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Philadelphia or Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; or Wilmington, Delaware
Enrollment: Full-time or part-time
Time to Completion: 14 or 30 weeks
Curriculum: JavaScript, C+, SQL, CSS, HTML, and APIs

Tech Elevator teaches Java programming and how to create database-backed web applications.

The curriculum is divided into four areas: Programming foundations, back-end development, web programming, and full-stack development projects. Students who fall behind can schedule tutoring sessions as often as needed.

Applicants start by taking a 15-minute aptitude test online, receive their scores immediately, and then proceed with the admission process. Candidates do not need experience to test and apply. Career prep and personal branding are included and feature coaching, mock interviews, and networking events.

Pros

Beginner friendly
90% job placement rate

Cons

Competitive admissions

View now at Tech Elevator

How do these coding bootcamps compare?

Bootcamp	Price	Length	Available formats
App Academy	$17,000-$31,000	16-48 weeks	Online, on-campus
Bloom Institute of Technology	$5,500-$21,950	Self-paced	Online
Codesmith	$19,950	12-38 weeks	Online, on-campus
Coding Dojo	$7,495-$16,495	14-32 weeks	Online, on-campus
Flatiron School	$16,900	15-40 weeks	Online, on-campus
Fullstack Academy	$17,480-$18,910	17-28 weeks	Online, on-campus
General Assembly	$15,950	10-24 weeks	Online, on-campus
Hack Reactor	$17,980	12-36 weeks	Online
ISDI Coders	$4,300-$6,000	11-13 weeks	Online, on-campus
Tech Elevator	$15,950	14-30 weeks	Online, on-campus

Explore

Your complete guide to coding bootcamps Launch or switch your career with an accelerated online coding bootcamp. Learn the latest coding and development skills to land your dream job. Read now

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Which coding bootcamp is right for you?

If you are new to coding, consider Tech Elevator. The admission process involves an aptitude test, behavioral interview, and logic-based assessment, which shows you and the program whether you are likely to succeed in coding.

Other good choices include App Academy, which emphasizes turning new coders into software engineers, and Hack Reactor, which offers a separate program for beginners.

Students interested in flexibility might look at Bloom Institute of Technology. Bloom offers supportive self-paced learning and opportunities to complete units if needed for greater understanding. Bloom also offers a 110% tuition refund guarantee for graduates who don’t receive any job offers.

Choose this coding bootcamp…	If you want…
App Academy	To go from brand new coder to software engineer
Bloom Institute of Technology	Flexible, supportive online learning
Codesmith	A lot of support with finding a job
Coding Dojo	To learn three stacks
Flatiron School	A bootcamp with industry connections
Fullstack Academy	A program geared for women+
General Assembly	Worldwide campus options
Hack Reactor	Separate bootcamps for intermediates and beginners
ISDI Coders	To travel to Spain or learn online in Spanish
Tech Elevator	To go from zero to hired

How did we choose these coding bootcamps?

ZDNet wants to help you find the best bootcamp for you. We weighed the cost, program length, program reputation, and variety of formats offered when selecting these bootcamps. Programs cannot pay for inclusion on our lists.

You can look at the reputation of the school or organization offering the training or check their graduate success rates with the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting .

How expensive are coding bootcamps?

Costs vary, depending on whether you attend in-person or online, whether you pay upfront or opt to defer or finance with a payment plan, and whether you enroll full- or part-time.

On average, tuition for a full-time coding bootcamp falls into the $15,000-$20,000 range.

Are coding bootcamps worth it?

According to recent research, coding bootcamps are worth it . Bootcamp graduates may increase their salaries by more than $20,000 and find employment. Even the Big Five companies — Apple, Microsoft, Facebook (Meta), Google (Alphabet), and Amazon — hire a comparable percentage of bootcamp graduates and computer science degree-holders.

Why attend a coding bootcamp?

The best coding bootcamps provide intensive skill-building sessions and peer reviews in software engineering, cybersecurity, or web design.

These programs offer an immersive experience over a short time period. Most bootcamps take three to six months to complete and are available in both online and in-person formats. Part-time options are often available.

To learn more about what coding bootcamps are and how they can help your career, check out our guide to coding bootcamps .