Data Science Bootcamps
Coding bootcamps are a new form of career and technical education designed with job placement in mind. These fast-paced, short-term, and intense schools teach students the technical skills they need to land a job in data science. Coding bootcamps have a decade of experience behind them and are now a well-established path into a technology career. If you’re considering a career in data science (but don’t want to go to college for it), consider a tech bootcamp instead. Here’s everything you need to know about data science coding bootcamps.
Overview
Coding bootcamps are a top destination for people who need to learn to code for a data science career. These programs are designed to equip students with the highly-specialized skills necessary to compete in the data science industry.
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These programs originated about a decade ago as a response to the massive labor shortage in the tech industry. Originally, bootcamps covered subjects such as web development and software engineering but branched out into data fields shortly after.
Now, bootcamps graduate thousands of students each year, with some programs touting job placement rates upwards of 90%. And though each program is different, here are a few universal facts about data science bootcamps:
What is a Data Science Bootcamp?
A data science bootcamp is a career training program that focuses on data, algorithms, machine learning, data analytics, and object-oriented programming languages. These programs, in addition to teaching coding, also offer career coaching and job placement advising.
Data Science Coding Bootcamp Benefits
The benefits of data science bootcamps are numerous. The primary draw of these programs is the relative speed that students can land a job after beginning their coding education. For example, if a bootcamp lasts six months and has a six-month job guarantee, students will likely be employed as data scientists just a year after deciding to pursue the career. And given that the average salary for data scientists is $113,309, it’s easy to see why the option is attractive to so many people. Bootcamps also offer innovative financing options such as income share agreements which free students from the perpetual (and non-forgivable) burden of student loan debt.
Why Choose a Data Science Career?
Data science is a high-paying career with multiple specialization options. Also, the high projected growth rate guarantees higher job security and income growth opportunities. Many people believe that data science is a future-proof career as well, which will likely persist well into the future.
Are Data Science Bootcamps Accredited?
In the majority of cases, data science bootcamps aren’t accredited. This is because these programs are designed to help people launch a career in data science, and not to provide a degree. Due to the constantly changing landscape of the field, accreditation wouldn’t make much sense. Instead, data science and data analyst bootcamps provide job placement statistics and completion certificates to prove their efficacy. Students who land a data science job, when counted, serve as sufficient proof of the bootcamp’s usefulness.
Coding Bootcamp Job Placement
Job placement varies widely between bootcamps. Many major bootcamps publish job placement statistics. Some bootcamps report an average placement of 90% or more. Job placement rates are determined (most often) by the number of students who find a job in the field between six months to a year upon graduation.
Coding Bootcamp Admissions
Coding bootcamp admissions teams are free to set their own standards. However, most bootcamps require one or two technical interviews and an application to enter the program. Here are some of the most common bootcamp admission requirements:
Interviews
Coding bootcamp technical interviews test a student’s ability to learn coding-related topics. Bootcamps usually give students an opportunity to engage in unsupervised learning of simple coding topics, then provide a coding challenge to see if the student had learned anything. Also, coding bootcamp interviews help admissions staff determine if the student is a good fit for the program.
Technical Examination
The technical examination is the most challenging part of the interview, but there’s no reason to panic. With the exception of advanced bootcamps, most programs only require students to complete basic coding challenges or answer simple technical questions. These interviews help admissions staff determine if students have what it takes to succeed in the program.
Data Coding Bootcamp Curriculum
Data science bootcamp curriculum varies between schools. Ultimately, bootcamp curriculum is based on whatever skills are in-demand at any given time. As a result, curriculum changes constantly, and students from the highest-quality bootcamps graduate with the latest and greatest skills. Here are the most common skills taught by data science bootcamps:
Coding and Programming
Data science bootcamps don’t cover as much coding and programming as software engineering and web development programs. Nonetheless, data bootcamps cover a significant amount of field-related programming, which is useful for algorithms, deep learning, and other data analytics tasks. The most common coding languages covered by data science bootcamps are Python and R.
Best Practices
Best practices allow data scientists to work efficiently and within the generally-accepted guidelines of the field. Coding bootcamps help students learn real-world skills and adapt to life in the workplace before landing a job in the industry.
Job Preparation
Bootcamps are designed to help students find jobs in the industry. As a result, the programs contain a significant amount of job placement training and career coaching. If the program succeeds, students will be ready for everything—from the job interview to working with management.
What Does Coding Bootcamp Cost?
Coding bootcamps, on average, are less expensive than other data science training programs. Compared to universities, coding bootcamps offer significant financial advantages. The average cost of a data science bootcamp is $13,500 in total. This tuition price often includes everything, and there are rarely any added costs for textbooks and student housing. In fact, some programs offer living stipends to stave off expenses, which allows students to attend bootcamp full-time and devote their attention entirely to the program. Here’s what data science bootcamps cost, and some of the benefits of bootcamp programs:
Income Share Agreements
Income share agreements were pioneered by coding bootcamps over the last decade. Income share agreements, or ISAs, are tuition-deferment programs that put the risk on the school to deliver the relevant curriculum. Students pay nothing throughout the program. After graduation, no payments are due until the student lands a job in the field, usually making above a certain income threshold. Once employed, students pay a small percentage of their income for a short period of time, usually a year or two. After, students are completely debt- and obligation-free.
Scholarships
Coding bootcamps, like colleges, offer scholarship opportunities. Everyone who wants to attend an education program should investigate scholarships, as they’re the easiest way to save a significant amount of money on tuition. There are numerous data science bootcamp scholarships available, especially for women, veterans, and underrepresented groups in tech.
Loans and Financing
Ascent Funding and Climb Credit are the main providers of student loans for coding bootcamps. Loans can help students attend bootcamps who otherwise wouldn’t be able to pay for the program upfront. These loans function similarly to college student loans, though some differences exist. Be sure to check the terms and interest rates before choosing a lender.
Online Data Science Bootcamps
Online bootcamps offer unparalleled career training flexibility. These programs, like in-person data bootcamps, are available full-time and part-time. Additionally, online data science bootcamps are available with self-paced schedules, allowing busy students to complete the course on their own terms. It’s never been easier to hold a job and advance your career prospects, thanks in part to online data science bootcamps. Here are the primary benefits of online bootcamps:
- Flexible schedules
- Cost savings
- High-quality curriculum
- Portfolio-building assignments
Overall, online data science bootcamps are an excellent choice for many people. Also, many well-known data bootcamps offer free online-only courses, which give students an excellent opportunity to give coding a try without any monetary commitment. Online bootcamps typically offer the same curriculum as in-person courses, and with the addition of tutoring and live instructor-led classes, these programs are a great opportunity for busy students to up-skill and start a new career.
