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Coding bootcamps provide practical training in computer programming languages and other basic information technology skills. These short, intensive programs aim to expand access to tech education and help participants launch new tech careers.
Demand for skilled tech professionals continues to outpace the supply, making now an ideal time to complete a coding bootcamp. If you graduate from a coding bootcamp, you may qualify for lucrative jobs like software developer, computer programmer, or web developer.
Discover what to expect from free online coding bootcamps, including typical skills, admission requirements, and potential jobs after graduation. This guide also covers other computer science education options that you can complete in addition to or instead of a free coding bootcamp.
Our roundup of free coding bootcamps can help you find a program that aligns with your professional and personal goals.
What Is a Free Coding Bootcamp?
A free coding bootcamp is a short course that teaches participants to use computer programming languages. Students can gain practical skills to use in entry-level tech jobs immediately after graduation.
Getting into a coding bootcamp is usually easier than receiving admission to a college program. Coding bootcamps have less strict admission requirements and take much less time to complete than a traditional associate or bachelor's degree.
Unlike a broad college program, which usually includes general education requirements, coding bootcamps focus solely on learning relevant skills and preparing participants to succeed in tech.
Affordability is another reason to choose a bootcamp. Not all coding bootcamps are free, but they usually cost much less than four-year college degrees. A free coding bootcamp requires students to take on zero financial risk, and free online coding bootcamps offer greater flexibility and convenience in scheduling and completing assignments.
Skills Learned in Free Coding Bootcamps
The best free coding bootcamps teach fundamental coding and other information technology skills that prepare students for tech careers. Learners develop experience with industry tools and create portfolios of work through hands-on projects. They can also gain soft skills in communication, critical thinking, and leadership.
Explore some of the most popular skills covered in free coding bootcamps cover below.
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Programming Languages: Students gain familiarity with various programming languages, including Python, Java, HTML, and JavaScript. -
Project Management: Bootcamp participants learn project management skills as they research, create, and review individual and group coding projects. -
UX/UI Design: Many bootcamps explore user experience and user interface design as a part of best practices for web and software development. Topics may include wireframing, prototyping, and information architecture. -
Teamwork: Most tech jobs involve collaboration with other people. Many coding bootcamps incorporate group projects to prepare participants to work well with others. -
Problem-Solving: Bootcamp participants can learn to define, analyze, identify, and solve coding problems. Learning to think like a computer programmer or software developer is one of the most important skills to develop in a bootcamp.
What Do I Need for a Free Coding Bootcamp
A free bootcamp in coding may come with a few costs. For example, you may need to pay an application fee or take a prep course. Make sure you have a computer and any other necessary hardware or software required for the bootcamp.
2023's Best Free Bootcamps for Coding
Individuals interested in pursuing tech careers can pursue programming bootcamps. These intensive programs teach students the necessary technical skills to pursue relevant professional roles.
The following page includes a list of free U.S. coding bootcamps. The bootcamps are presented alphabetically rather than as a ranked list of the best free coding bootcamps. Prospective students can check bootcamp curriculums and schedules to discover their ideal programs.
ADA offers a coding bootcamp free for women, people of color, and low-income individuals. The organization also advocates for inclusivity and fair workplace environments.
ADA Developers Academy Bootcamp
ADA asks prospective students to complete seven online courses covering programming foundational knowledge. After, each enrollee completes a six-week pre-course curriculum exploring additional computer science basics.
The official ADA program, a six-month bootcamp, has six hours of courses, five days a week. The program trains students as full-stack web developers, allowing learners to pursue many careers after graduation. Students work on capstone projects to demonstrate their accumulated knowledge at the end of the program.
- Cost: $0
- Format: On campus or online; full time
- Length: 6 months
- CIRR Member: No
Other Courses Offered by ADA Developers Academy
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Python & Computer Science Fundamentals -
SQL & Flask -
JavaScript and React
ADA Developers Academy's Job Placement Assistance
ADA Developers Academy graduates can receive career assistance for up to 180 days after program completion. Student career support includes mock interviews, resume assistance, and continued professional development.
App Academy, founded in 2012, has received numerous awards for its coding bootcamps. Over 5,000 students graduated from App Academy programs and pursued roles with top tech firms.
App Academy Open
App Academy offers a free online coding bootcamp with 24 weeks of material. Students learn full-stack development skills and how to set up a coding environment. Faculty assist enrollees as they advance through the program, and learners can consult progress updates for a sense of their accomplishments throughout.
The App Academy Open program uses the same material as the 24-week course but uses online self-learning. Students enrolled in the free program lack access to additional services such as job support, access to instructors, and assessments.
- Cost: $0
- Format: Online, self paced
- Length: 24 weeks
- CIRR Member: Yes
Other Courses Offered by App Academy Open
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Programming Fundamentals -
Computer Science -
Back-end Engineering -
Front-end Engineering
Careers in Code provides zero-cost coding bootcamps to women and people of color (POC) in the central New York area. Local employers assisted in creating a curriculum with real-world value.
Careers in Code Bootcamp
Careers in Code provides students with benefits like free tuition, loaner laptops, and stipends. Enrollees must be women or POCs to qualify for these benefits. Additionally, students must be at least 18 years old, demonstrate financial need, and reside in specific New York counties.
The bootcamp is 24 weeks and has 13 modules covering visual design, fundamental programming, infrastructure, and more. Each enrollee completes a capstone project in the last week and presents their work during the final module.
- Cost: $0
- Format: Hybrid; part time
- Length: 24 weeks
- CIRR Member: Yes
Other Courses Offered by Careers in Code
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Web Development Fundamentals -
Fundamental Programming and JavaScript -
Intro to Databases, Data Modeling with SQL
Careers in Code's Job Placement Assistance
Careers in Code maintains partnerships with employers seeking trained technical professionals. Graduates of the organization's bootcamp have a 72% placement rate and an average salary increase of 56%.
FreeCodeCamp has helped students since 2014. The organization has over 40,000 graduates, 9,000 tutorials, and multiple certifications.
freeCodeCamp
Students wondering if there are any free coding bootcamps can look to freeCodeCamp for helpful programs. Courses deliver practical experience through projects and an in-browser code editor.
Individuals can learn multiple languages and earn certifications in JavaScript, front-end development, relational databases, and more. The freeCodeCamp website lists available certifications and recommends students earn certificates in order. Individuals must build five projects and pass related tests to earn certifications.
- Cost: $0
- Format: Online; self paced
- Length: Varies
- CIRR Member: No
Other Courses Offered by freeCodeCamp
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Basic JavaScript -
Debugging -
Functional Programming
Per Scholas has provided free coding bootcamps to over 20,000 people. The organization focuses on underrepresented groups in tech, with people of color currently representing 85% of its students.
Per Scholas Bootcamps
Per Scholas offers in-person and remote bootcamps. These programs cover various subjects, technical levels, and certification areas. Availability varies based on location. Most bootcamps occur from 9 am-4 pm and last a few months. Night or weekend programs are currently not available.
The Per Scholas admissions process requires each candidate to submit an application, complete an admissions overview, and receive an assessment. Students can take multiple Per Scholas bootcamps, but the organization requests that individuals wait at least one year between programs.
- Cost: $0
- Format: Online or on campus; full time
- Length: 15 weeks
- CIRR Member: No
Other Courses Offered by Per Scholas
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Cybersecurity -
Mainframe Engineer -
Tech Fundamentals
Per Scholas Job Placement Assistance
Per Scholas programs spend 20% of class time focusing on professional development. Students can join a network with over 850 employer partners.
Resilient Coders is a nonprofit organization founded for people of color (POCs) with limited tech experience. The group aims to help students become full-stack JavaScript developers.
Resilient Coders Bootcamp
Resilient Coders offers a generous 20-week free bootcamp coding program and includes a $1,000 bi-weekly stipend. The organization has a mandate to enroll POCs aged 18-30 who reside in the greater Boston or Philadelphia areas.
Students meet online daily and learn languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Enrolled students receive hands-on experience with multiple weekly projects. The bootcamp culminates with a demo day, where each student builds a full-stack application. Employers may attend the demo day to scout potential candidates.
- Cost: $0
- Format: Online; full time
- Length: 20 Weeks
- CIRR Member: No
Resilient Coders' Job Placement Assistance
Resilient Coders teaches students professional development skills such as public speaking and time management. The organization's website highlights recent grads and encourages businesses to contact them.
Techtonica aims to help low-income women and non-binary adults through free technical training, stipends, and job placement assistance. Techtonica started in San Francisco but became virtual in 2020.
Software Engineering Training Program
Techtonica's bootcamp, a one-year program, includes six months of training followed by six months of job placement assistance. Each applicant must complete a JavaScript prerequisite course, code challenges, and interviews.
Attendees learn JavaScript to become full-stack web developers. Exceptional students may be offered five-month stipends after the first month of courses. Individual Techtonica programs aim for classroom sizes of 12-20 students. The program focuses on creating projects and earning experience.
- Cost: $0
- Format: Online; full time
- Length: 52 weeks
- CIRR Member: No
Other Courses Offered by Techtonica
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Javascript Fundamentals -
Web APIs -
Databases
Techtonica's Job Placement Assistance
Techtonica graduates receive job search support. Partner corporations, vetted by Techtonica, must offer a minimum of $33 per hour.
Codecademy
- Learn JavaScript, How To Transform Tables With SQL, and Introduction To Cybersecurity
- Online
- Self paced
- $0
Codesmith
- Intro to JavaScript, Remote Pair Programming, and JavaScript: The Hard Parts
- Online or New York
- Part time
- $0
DigitalCrafts
- Intro To Web Development, Intro To Cybersecurity, and Intro To Data Analytics
- Online
- Self paced
- $0
Eleven Fifty Academy
- On-demand: Coding
- Online
- Self paced
- $0
Flatiron School
- Software Engineering Prep
- Online
- Self paced
- $0
General Assembly
- HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript
- Online
- Self paced
- $0
Hackbright Academy
- Python Programming
- Online
- Self paced
- $0
Jigsaw Labs
- Python for Data, Introduction to Docker, and Introduction to Machine Learning
- Online
- Self paced
- $0
NYC Data Science Academy
- Introduction to Data Science
- Online
- Self paced
- $0
Operation Spark
- Prep
- Online
- Full time
- $0
Sabio
- Javascript Foundations, Front-End Web Development, and HTML
- Online
- Self paced
- $0
Satellite
- Online
- Self paced
- $0
The Tech Academy
- Online
- Self paced
- $0
Upskill
- Essential Web Developer Course, JavaScript Basics, and Algorithm Exercises in JavaScript
- Online
- Self paced
- $0
What Jobs Can I Get After a Free Coding Bootcamp?
Free coding bootcamps can help prepare you to pursue computer-related jobs in tech. Your qualifications will vary depending on your other education, experience, and specialization. Graduates often find work in industries like computer systems design, software publishing, finance and insurance, and manufacturing.
Many tech jobs offer fairly high salaries that range from $78,300 for a web developer to more than $120,000 for a software developer. Remember: finishing a free coding bootcamp does not guarantee any specific job or salary.
Explore some of the best jobs you can apply for after completing a free coding bootcamp below.
Bootcamps can help you develop the practical coding skills needed to pursue entry-level software developer positions. Software developers create, test, and troubleshoot computer applications and programs. Key software developer skills include teamwork, problem-solving, algorithms, and software security.
- Median Annual Salary: $120,730
- Job Outlook (2021-31): +25%
Web developers need strong coding skills, which you can learn in a free coding bootcamp. People in this role create websites and sometimes maintain them. Typical duties include writing website code and determining layout choices.
- Median Annual Salary: $78,300
- Job Outlook (2021-31): +23%
Although the BLS projects declining employment for programmers, it still expects about 9,600 openings for this occupation each year from 2021-2031. Programmers write, test, and edit code and scripts for applications and software. A free coding bootcamp can help you get the strong coding skills you need for this career.
- Median Annual Salary: $93,000
- Job Outlook (2021-31): -10%
Database administrators create and oversee systems to organize and safeguard information. Major employers include the finance and insurance, computer systems design, and information industries. Typical job duties include creating new databases, backing up data, and researching user needs. Database administrators need analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Median Annual Salary: $101,000
- Job Outlook (2021-31): +9%
Data scientists make predictions using mathematical models and datasets. They create new algorithms, look for patterns and trends in data, and write reports on their findings. Some coding bootcamps focus on data science and can prepare you to apply for this job.
- Average Annual Salary: $98,790
Other Computer Science Education Options
Free coding bootcamps are not the only option for developing the skills you need for the tech field. You can also consider earning a traditional college degree in addition to or instead of completing a free coding bootcamp. Earning a degree can open the door to a larger pool of careers with higher salaries, along with additional opportunities for networking, career development assistance, and a more in-depth education.
A computer science degree may make sense for someone with the time and money to commit to this type of education. It can also make sense if you have a career in mind that requires a specific degree.
Explore what to expect from some other computer science education options in the table below.
| Program type | Program focus | Typical courses | Program length | Potential careers for graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate of computer science | Foundations of information technology | Programming languages, software development lifecycle, operating platforms | 2 years | Computer support specialist, web developer, computer programmer |
| Bachelor of computer science | Fundamentals of computing theory and practice | Software engineering, artificial intelligence, introduction to networks | 4 years | Software developer, web developer, computer programmer, information security analyst |
| Master of computer science | Advanced computing theory and practice and in-depth knowledge in a specialization | Big data, computer security, parallel processing | 2 years | Computer and information research scientist, systems manager, data scientist |
| Ph.D. in computer science | Research-focused, expertise in a specialized area of computing theory and practice | Dissertation research, computational biology, social computing | 4-5 years | Computer science professor, computer and information research scientist, data scientist/td> |
Explore Other Coding Bootcamps
Questions About Coding Bootcamps That Are Free
Are there free online coding bootcamps?
Yes — you can find many free online coding bootcamps to help you learn the fundamentals and provide a foundation in computer science.
Do you really learn coding at a free bootcamp?
It depends on the program and your willingness to put in the time and work, but yes, you can learn coding at a free bootcamp. Success is often influenced by your motivation and drive to learn.
How do free coding bootcamps make money?
In some cases, nonprofit and public organizations offer free coding bootcamps and do not need to make money from this work. In other situations, a free bootcamp exists among a school's paid offerings.
Can free coding bootcamps get you a job?
The best free coding bootcamps can help you gain the skills you need to apply for various tech jobs but typically do not offer a job guarantee or substantial career development resources. In general, coding bootcamps that offer job guarantees or job placement assistance charge tuition.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
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