What are the Pros and Cons of Coding Bootcamp?

What are the Pros and Cons of Coding Bootcamp?

July 6, 2021

With more jobs available than qualified applicants, tech companies are constantly looking to fill the talent vacuum. Between the ever-increasing job demand and humanity’s reliance on technology, there are countless benefits of learning how to code, and coding bootcamp is a great way to break into the tech industry.

Why Is Coding Important?

Coding is the language of the future. “Coding can be used in several different areas of life outside of just coding! I believe coding will eventually be a language that everyone will want to speak, and starting now will only put people ahead of the game,” says Morgan Walker, M.S., Eleven Fifty Academy’s Manager of Employer and Industry Engagement. Coding schools aren’t just a fast-track to well-paying tech jobs. Bootcamps like those offered by Eleven Fifty teach valuable skills that can be applied to real-world settings. Our bootcamps are short and immersive, providing hands-on instruction in an accelerated learning environment. Students come away proficient in languages such as Python, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.Our bootcamps require hard work, but the payoff is the opportunity to join a fast-growing industry and earn a competitive salary. But as with everything, there are challenges, which we’ll explore in this article.

The Good Stuff: Pros of Attending Coding Bootcamp

One of the most common questions we get is: Is bootcamp worth it? Short answer, yes. Long answer, read on.

Cheaper and Quicker Than a College Degree

Save money and get it done faster? Sounds like a win-win! One of the major draws for attending coding bootcamp is its cost effectiveness and the amount of time it takes to graduate.According to Course Report, one year’s tuition at a top computer science university is triple or quadruple the price of the entire coding bootcamp. Besides being good for your wallet, bootcamp allows you to get all your coursework done in about 12 weeks for full-time students or 24 weeks for part-time, rather than four years. The average bootcamp cost is $12,000—a fraction of what a four-year college would cost.This means far less student debt. Plus, you’ll be employed in your new career sooner, so you’ll be able to start earning a salary to help pay off any debt you have much more quickly than if you were studying for years at a college or university.

High Job Placement Rates and Even Higher Growth Potential

Finding a job post-graduation is the most common concern for recent grads. If you’re in that boat, coding bootcamps are a great way to fast-track your employment status. A Course Report survey showed that 79% of graduates say they've been employed in a job requiring the technical skills learned at bootcamp. Even entry-level jobs are well-paying for coders. The average salary after coding bootcamp is $69,079 for full-time jobs, with some bootcamp grads making up to $82,000 right out of the gate. Your salary as a programmer will only climb over time, with pay increasing by 25% at each subsequent job you secure.

Practical (Hands-On) Curriculum

Technology is constantly changing—and so must the curriculum. Coding bootcamps offer industry-inspired curriculum that’s constantly updated and applicable to real jobs in the tech world. Eleven Fifty Academy’s Employer Advisory Board regularly adjusts each course to match growing market demands, ensuring that you’re always learning the most current skill set in an interactive and immersive setting. Our bootcamps are designed to get you coding on day one with hands-on lessons and guidance from industry professionals.

The Other Side of the Coin: Cons of Attending Coding Bootcamp

While bootcamp programs will help you enter the tech industry as a web developer or software developer quickly, there are some drawbacks to this style of learning.

Narrow Focus

While you’ll master the skill of coding, you won’t find any of the other fluff or extracurriculars at a coding bootcamp. It’s all about getting down to the nitty-gritty, top-priority material rather than exploring new disciplines or hobbies. Your schedule won’t be filled with electives that you may never use. Instead, your days will be crammed with the most relevant information you need to become a coder. That’s what makes coding school so cost effective. Coding bootcamps, while rigorous, still offer opportunities for socializing. Each bootcamp has group projects built into its curriculum so you can work collaboratively with other students. Plus, conversations with your classmates about new technologies in web development and programming languages are always encouraged!

Sometimes A Degree is Still King

Even though coding bootcamps are on the rise alongside the demand for coders, some employers still tend to place greater value on a four-year degree. Either these employers haven’t caught up to the changing times or they see degree holders as more well-rounded and better prepared. Bootcamps tend to teach you one area of computer science, whereas a computer science degree allows time to explore different areas in the field, as well as gain a wider variety of experience. However, coding schools are working with hiring managers and employers to solve this problem. Schools such as Eleven Fifty have built employer networks to define their employee needs and hire new bootcamp graduates.

Too Fast to Keep Up

While they will save you time, attending a coding bootcamp means you’ll be working in overdrive to cover the curriculum. Coding schools are designed to be quick, so you can launch or enhance your career. You need to be 110% dedicated to learning as much as you can, all day every day. To do that, it will take grit and determination. It will definitely be challenging, but the reward of becoming a coder will be worth the work. Check out these characteristics of a coder to see if you’ve got what it takes!Just like there are pros and cons of coding, there are good and bad aspects of attending a coding bootcamp. At Eleven Fifty Academy, we like to think that the pros far outweigh the cons. Coding is one of the top job skills of the future and can lead to a prosperous career path.

So Are Coding Bootcamps Worth it in 2021?

Yes: Coding bootcamps are worth every penny in 2021. Coding bootcamps will teach you the skills necessary to launch your career quickly and for far less than you’ll spend at a four-year college. You’ll come away with a rock solid knowledge base, a network of mentors and colleagues, and will find your niche in the tech industry with job search guidance from Eleven Fifty advisors.

Are You Ready to Take the First Step?

Get the inside scoop on what Eleven Fifty’s coding bootcamp is really like, including what you’ll study, how we’ll teach you, and how we can help you once you graduate. Request a discovery session to talk with an admissions advisor today. Eleven Fifty now offers online courses for students. So if you’re in Bloomington, Cleveland, Columbus, Fort Wayne, Evansville, or anywhere else in the U.S., you are eligible for online coding bootcamps

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