Galvanize Bootcamp Review

Updated September 13, 2022

Galvanize bootcamps can kickstart your career in software engineering. Explore Galvanize coding school's courses, costs, and features.

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Galvanize offers immersive software engineering bootcamps online and at eight campuses across the country. The school acquired Hack Reactor in 2018, absorbing its software engineering programs.

Galvanize's bootcamps, professional development courses, and corporate training programs include over 10,000 graduates. Graduates have gone on to work for companies like Tesla, Amazon, IBM, and Google. Our review takes a detailed look into this popular coding school's offerings and student outcomes.

What Does Galvanize Offer?

Galvanize bootcamps focus on software engineering. Most courses emphasize mid-level web development. Students can also take professional development courses in specific software development subjects.

Prospective students can enter the program with little prior coding knowledge by completing the software engineering immersion prep program. This module teaches software engineering basics. Enrollees can choose a free independent study program or a $250 guided course.

According to the company's 2020 report, 75% of graduates secured employment within 180 days of graduation.

Galvanize alumni have found work at big tech companies such as Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Salesforce. According to the company's 2020 report, 75% of graduates secured employment within 180 days of graduation.

Galvanize students can take advantage of several payment options. They can pay the full program cost upfront, split their payments, or defer tuition until they gain employment. Galvanize also connects learners to financial aid opportunities, including some scholarships.

Course Preparation

Galvanize offers a robust pre-immersion preparation course. According to Galvanize, the course prepares students for entrance into any software engineering bootcamp, including its own. Students can choose whether to complete the prep course independently or with an instructor.

Application Development Focus

Galvanize bootcamps prepare enrollees to pursue careers in application development. The software engineering immersive program begins with a solid foundation in computer science. Students then dive into algorithms, browser animation, and frameworks for JavaScript, API, and CSS.

Galvanize Snapshot

  • Cost: Galvanize's immersive bootcamps cost $17,980. Professional development courses range from $1,400-$1,800.
  • Payment Options: Galvanize offers an income share agreement, where students pay a $2,000 deposit upon enrollment. Once graduates find work with a salary above $60,000, they begin paying for tuition. Galvanize also offers upfront and split payment options.
  • Learning Options: Galvanize's full-time immersive bootcamp programs take 12 weeks to complete, whether online or in-person. The part-time immersive bootcamp takes 36 weeks. Professional development courses run for 4-6 weeks.
  • Locations: Galvanize offers most courses at its San Francisco, California location and online. Additional campuses run bootcamps in Austin, Texas; Boulder and Denver, Colorado; New York, New York; Los Angeles and San Jose, California; and Phoenix, Arizona.
  • Employment Rate: Galvanize reports a 75% employment rate for graduates across its software engineering immersive programs as of 2020.
  • U.S. Average Starting Salary: $80,000 as of 2020.

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Galvanize Courses

Galvanize offers a free basic prep program for learners wanting to strengthen their software engineering foundations before entering a full immersion. The self-guided course takes students through a series of javascript exercises.

Learners can also elect to take the four-week course with an instructor for $250. That payment can apply to an immersion bootcamp tuition later, if the student decides to continue.

Galvanize bootcamps specialize in software engineering. The school also offers professional development courses.

Software Engineering

Galvanize coding school offers its Hack Reactor Software Engineering Immersive on campus and live online. Start dates vary by location, with in-person options offered in San Francisco, Austin, New York, and Denver. Students can choose between a 12-week full-time program or a 36-week part-time program.

The bootcamp prepares learners to pursue careers in software engineering and app development. The curriculum features classes in computer science foundations, full stack JavaScript, and application design. Students showcase both user-facing and back-end system design skills through capstone projects.

  • Cost: $17,980
  • Student Outcomes: Galvanize reports a 75.4% graduation rate across all software engineering bootcamp locations as of 2020. After completing the program, 75% of graduates secured a job within 180 days of graduation, with a median pay increase of $22,000. Galvanize reports an overall median annual salary of $80,000 among graduates.
  • Admission Requirements: Online application, including a coding challenge, plus a technical assessment.

Professional Development for Software Engineers

Galvanize bootcamp options include 4-6 week professional development immersions. These courses help professionals advance their skills in computer science theory, programming practices, and leadership. The courses include live 90-minute sessions twice a week.

Professional development options at Galvanize include networking and reactive programming, computer architecture and IoT, and algorithms and data structures. Students in each course complete two hands-on projects that combine theory and practice.

  • Cost: $1,400-$1,800
  • Admission Requirements: Online application, which includes questions about the applicant's coding experience and education.

Is Galvanize Worth It?

Galvanize bootcamps provide an intensive software engineering program with flexible payment options. The rigorous curriculum combines theory with practical, hands-on experience. Coursework features major projects that learners can showcase as part of their portfolio.

The program emphasizes career readiness. Galvanize bootcamps incorporate job search preparation such as practice interviews and resume presentation.

Because bootcamp programs carry a high price tag, potential enrollees should consider their financial situation before applying. Split payment and income share options can help ease the financial strain of professional education.

Prospective bootcamp students should research the qualifications they need to enter or advance in their chosen field. Bootcamps can offer curriculum options in many different topics. In some cases, students might want to consider a traditional computer science degree rather than a coding bootcamp.

Additional Bootcamp Resources

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How Much Do Bootcamps Cost?

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Types of Coding Bootcamps

Types of Coding Bootcamps

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Getting Into Coding Bootcamps

Getting Into Coding Bootcamps

This article covers the typical admission requirements and processes for getting into a coding bootcamp. Information includes bootcamp research tips and qualifications.

How to Pay for Coding Bootcamps

How to Pay for Coding Bootcamps

On this page, readers can explore how to fund a bootcamp program. Topics include payment plans, deferred tuition, income shares, and financial aid.

Frequently Asked Questions About Galvanize Bootcamp

Is Galvanize bootcamp worth it?

Galvanize provides a robust software engineering curriculum for students who want to enter or advance in the field. The program boasts a 75% employment rate within 180 days of graduation. Galvanize also offers flexible payment options to help with the cost.

Is Galvanize accredited?

Galvanize is not a regionally or nationally accredited degree program. However, the program verifies its reported outcomes through an external auditing company.

Is a coding bootcamp an educational institution?

Coding bootcamps are not always affiliated with traditional colleges or universities. However, Galvanize is regulated by state boards in the areas where its courses are located.

Is it better to go to a coding bootcamp or college?

The choice between bootcamp or college depends on each student's goals and background. For example, career-changers might already have a degree in an unrelated area, in which case a bootcamp may serve their needs.

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