Coding Bootcamp vs. College, How to Compare

We live in an era when the tech industry is booming – which means no shortage of coding-related jobs to choose from, assuming you have the right kind of training. But if you’re an aspiring web developer, how can you choose between coding bootcamps and college?

As we’ll outline below, there are some key differences between coding bootcamps and traditional computer science degrees at the university level. It’s important to note that the content and overall approach differ greatly between these two options, so you’ll want to ensure you’ve got a solid understanding of both before deciding which program is right for you and your coding goals.

Having difficulty deciding where to start? Here are a few key factors to consider as you begin your coding journey.

1. Cost and Time Commitment

As you might already suspect, most coding bootcamps are far more cost-effective than traditional CS degrees at universities. For example, a CS degree at Carnegie Mellon University, one of the top CS programs in the US, was $55,816 for the 2018-2019 school year. This amount is typical of other well-known CS programs at US universities.

Many coding bootcamps cost a fraction of that amount – in fact, bootcamps such as Nucamp offer more affordable coding courses covering everything from web development to full stack coding  by blending online and offline instruction.

In addition to tuition and program costs, also consider living expenses. Rather than paying for the cost of moving on-campus at a university, coding bootcamps offer remote and localized course options to make learning code accessible from your current living situation. As a traditional full-time student at a university, having a part-time job on-campus to support your living expenses can be quite difficult from a time management perspective. With coding bootcamps, many courses are offered at night and on weekends so that it is possible to work while you are completing your coursework.

2. Course Content

When comparing coding bootcamps to college, it’s worth considering how the course content between the two differs. Coding bootcamps typically focus on application rather than theory, whereas CS programs are typically rooted in theory and foundational concepts. Theory can be incredibly effective for obtaining a deeper understanding of big-picture concepts, and as a result, takes longer because of the amount of time required to understand those concepts.

Coding bootcamps, on the other hand, focus more on giving coders the skills they need to begin coding quickly. One study found that bootcamp instructors focus on teaching skills that mimic real-life teams and projects, making it easier to ensure their teaching curriculum is up-to-date with the latest industry needs and technologies. Some CS university professors, in contrast, said this can be a challenge since this requires updating large-scale department curricula.

3. Return on Investment

While coding bootcamps are far more cost-effective than many university programs, you might be thinking – what is that actual ROI? Due to the time savings involved with a coding bootcamp versus a CS program, bootcamps typically have a very high return on investment. Data from Switch Up shows that on average, coding bootcamp alumni see a $19,486 salary increase between their pre- and post-coding bootcamp jobs. But higher salaries are not the only advantage – coding bootcamp alumni also see success with post-program employment as well. Within eight weeks of completing a bootcamp, the same study found that 80.9 percent of alumni are employed, 71 percent of which are working in full-time roles.

An employer’s preference for a bootcamp coder versus a university graduate, in part, depends on the role. Although some companies may prefer university graduates for deeper development roles, an Indeed survey found that some smaller to midsize companies actually prefer coding bootcamp graduates due to their experience problem-solving on teams as well as their up-to-date knowledge. Other data also found that 30 percent of coding bootcamp graduates did not already have four-year degrees, and yet 71 percent of them still found employment in tech-related jobs following completion of their bootcamp.

Next Steps

Although there are many factors to consider when choosing between a coding bootcamp and college, bootcamps offer a variety of options to help your decision-making process easier. Differentiated pricing, remote/localized coursework, as well as post-graduation networking options allow students to customize their coding journey to their own needs. In addition to the networking benefits that local coding meetups provide, Nucamp also offers complimentary LinkedIn Premium access to bootcamp graduates in order to jumpstart their job search.

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