Unpopular opinion: most coding bootcamps are overpriced for what you actually get

I looked up the stats last week and found out the average bootcamp costs around $13,000 but only about 50% of grads land a dev job within 6 months. That blew my mind. You could take 20 Udemy courses for that money and still have cash left over. Plus I see people on Reddit all the time saying they learned more from free YouTube tutorials than their $15k bootcamp. Am I wrong here or are these places just preying on people who dont know better?

3 comments

3 Comments

margaret_taylor4217d ago

But honestly, I kinda see it differently. I did a bootcamp a couple years back and yeah, the price tag stung but the structure and deadlines were exactly what I needed. I'd tried self-studying with Udemy and Youtube for months and just kept getting distracted or stuck on stuff. The bootcamp forced me to actually finish projects and helped me build a portfolio that got me interviews. For some people the accountability alone is worth something, even if the content is technically out there for free.

paigem4517d ago

@margaret_taylor42, that's fair for some people, but bootcamps are a gamble that doesn't pay off for most. The cost can put you in debt for years, and a lot of employers still prefer a degree or self-taught portfolio that shows real initiative. You got lucky, but calling it a reliable path is stretching it.

the_fiona13d ago

Gamble is a strong word, but not wrong. Most of these places take your money and barely help with job placement, if they even have the connections. The real winners are the ones who already had some background and just needed a kickstart. Is it really worth $15k for a few months of project deadlines? People act like you can't set your own deadlines with a free curriculum and a study buddy.