Top 10 Seattle coding bootcamps and colleges to learn to code

Computer science is one of the best paying fields—no question.

The median salary for software engineers in Seattle is between $111,800 – 143,700.

Not bad.

One of the driving factors for this demand is the fact that Amazon, Microsoft, and other tech companies are headquartered in the area which makes it a tech hub.

If you're going to become a software engineer, your success will depend on a number of things, but the most notable will be the skills and expertise you develop.

With that said, there is a wide range of technical roles and positions, so there's bound to be one to your liking, even if it’s hard to know which skills you should learn or where to learn them.

A good education program should offer quality technical training because you want to be competitive in the job market.

There are a couple of options.

First, there's always a 4-year degree program you can attend at a college or university.

You can also attend a coding bootcamp where each specific program only teaches the narrow, specific skills you need for a specific technical role.

There's also the self-taught route, which some can do. However, more than half never finish.

What's most important is that you choose the path that's right for you.

Some things to consider when making that decision are cost, time commitment, learning style, and the skills you want to acquire.

Also, not all technical jobs require a degree, and in fact, many companies are dropping their degree requirements.

The below information can help you narrow down what career might interest you, then you can research the best path to gain the skills required for that career.

For reference, see our other blogs in the Seattle series on the most popular Seattle tech jobs, and the tech companies located there.

Top 5 Seattle Universities and Colleges Teaching Computer Science

Attending a university to earn a computer science degree offers students a chance to study full-time and on-campus. The following school are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology ABET.

1. Seattle University: Provides a bachelor's degree in computer programming and software engineering. The program runs for four years at $947 per credit.

2. The University of Washington Bothell: Offers a bachelor's degree in computer science and software engineering with people-centered software and computer programming. The program runs for four years with a tuition of $25,980 per year.

3. The University of Puget Sound: Offers a bachelor’s degree in computer science. The program runs for four years for $57,330 per year.

4. Seattle Pacific University: Offers a bachelor's degree in computer science. The program lasts four years for $36,504 per year.

5. Bellevue College: Provides a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. The program runs for four years for $37,095.

Top 5 Bootcamps Offering Coding and Computer Science Courses

Coding bootcamps have either online, in-person, or hybrid options for students.

Here is a list of some of the top coding bootcamps for Seattle residents:

1. Nucamp: Its headquarters is in Bellevue WA. It provides online part-time web development skills at affordable prices. The 6 Nucamp bootcamps include: Web Fundamentals bootcamp that spans four weeks for $458, Job Hunting bootcamp that spans 4 weeks for $458, Backend, SQL, and DevOps with Python bootcamp that spans 16 weeks for $2,124, Front End Web & Mobile Development bootcamp that spans 17 weeks for $2,124, Full Stack Web & Mobile Developmentbootcamp that spans 22 for $2,289, and the Complete Software Engineer Path bootcamp that spans 11 months for $5,644.

2. UW Coding Bootcamp – The University of Washington teaches full-time, online full-stack web development bootcamps. It spans 12 weeks and costs $12,995.

3. Coding Dojo: Has a campus in Seattle, where it provides both onsite and online coding and programming courses with a duration of 14 weeks. The program focuses on Java, Python, Mean Stack, and Ruby for $12,995.

4. Code Fellow: The Bootcamp, located at Belltown, provides an in-person coding course focusing on CSS, JavaScript, Python, HTML, and ASP.NET. Its course runs for 20 weeks for $20,099.

5. ADA Developers Academy (Women-only coding bootcamp): Has a campus in Seattle. It teaches a free 25-week full-time full-stack web development bootcamp.

Tips for Selecting the Right Program in Seattle

1. Length of the Program

Software Development programs vary in time commitment and length depending on the type and level of certification. If you work full-time, then a part-time online coding bootcamp will likely be the best choice. If the career you want requires a degree, then consider attending a university. Keep in mind that employers will often consider applicants who don't meet their stated degree requirements as long as they can demonstrate equivalent experience.

2. Cost

Research the tuitions of different institutions to find the program that is most affordable for you. If the program you want is expensive, consider financing options or find a more cost-effective alternative.

3. The Reputation of the Program

Read LinkedIn and other online reviews for people who graduated from the university or bootcamp and see what they say about the program.

4. Career Services

Look into what career services the program offers after graduation. The key benefits you will want are help with your resume, practice interviews, and guidance on how to efficiently conduct your job hunt.

Key Takeaways

Software engineering and computer programming can lead to some of the most lucrative careers in the technology industry.

In Seattle, the high demand for software engineers makes finding a job in tech feasible.

Whichever path you take, tell your friends and family your plans and find the support you need to accomplish your goal.

One last thing, taking a course in computer programming will help you improve your resume, gain in-demand technical skills, and get a tech job in Seattle.

Register in Seattle