national consumers league coding bootcamps guide

Coding Bootcamps:How to Spot a Fraud Before You Enroll

A Guide by the National Consumers League

Maybe you've seen them online, read their success stories, and you're ready to change your career.

But not all bootcamps are

out to help.

Read on to learn how to weed out the false claims from the real opportunities.

What are coding bootcamps?01

Coding bootcamps are high- intensity technical programs designed to teach you the skills to become a junior programmer…

...in just a few weeks.

18,000 STUDENTS GRADUATE EACH YEAR

THERE ARE OVER 90 CODING BOOTCAMPS NATIONALLY

THE INDUSTRY GREW 74% LAST YEAR ALONE

AVERAGE TUITION FEESRANGE FROM $5,000 TO $21,00

Quick Facts

Why are coding bootcamps so popular?02

Between 2010 and 2012, the U.S. added 136,620 computing jobs each year. 

During that time, only 40,000 computer science majors graduated per year...   ...Leaving 100,000 jobs up for grabs!

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

As demand for software engineers grows, the coding bootcamp industry is playing an important role filling the growing tech-skills gap.

0

35,000

70,000

105,000

140,000

Computing Jobs Comp Sci Grads

Code.org projects that by 2020 there will be 1.4 million computing jobs in the U.S.

With only 400,000computer science

graduates, one millioncomputing jobs will be

left unfilled.

In the future...

Can a coding bootcamp get you a job?03

"90%"SOUND SUSPICIOUS?

OF GRADUATES ARE PLACED IN CODING JOBS

UPON GRADUATION

Maybe.

checklistBeware of too-good-to-be-true job placement claims.

Placement rates over 90% may rely on cherry-picked data.

Make sure that the school is licensed in your state.

Don’t rely on ads.  Investigate the school yourself.

Check alumni reviews and instructor qualifications

Do your research.

What should I do if I see false advertising?04

licensed in your state.

If you suspect a coding bootcamp is operating illegally,

contact your state attorney general’s office. 

If you’ve been defrauded by a coding bootcamp, you

can also file a complaint at our sister site, Fraud.org.

Coding bootcamps must be

Bottom Line05

So be mindful... And RESEARCH before you enroll!

Tech skills are highly

marketable

And could land you your dream

job. But record demand for coders has led to record competition

amongst coding bootcamps.

Good luck!Read our full bootcamps guide at NCLnet.org