The Best Coding Bootcamps in Chicago

In the Windy City, finding the right coding bootcamp can seem like a challenge. So, we’ve put together this guide to help you. With everything from an overview of the Chicago tech scene to a list of the best Chicago coding bootcamps, we have everything you need to find the right bootcamp for you.

Whether you want to attend a data science bootcamp or take a software development course, there is an option in Chicago for you. Read on to find out what the tech scene is like in Chicago, what the best coding bootcamps are, and what a coding bootcamp is, exactly.

The Chicago Tech Scene and Job Market

Chicago is considered to be one of the growing tech hubs of the United States. As one of the only tech hubs in the Midwest, this city is quickly gaining traction in the tech industry as Midwesterners flock to the city for career opportunities. As of November 2020, Glassdoor reported a little over 40,000 open tech jobs in the city of Chicago.

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Since there are a surprising number of open tech positions in Chicago, it only makes sense that the city would be full of tech startups. There is a high demand for tech workers in the city right now, which means this is the perfect time to make your move and start your tech career.

Tech Salaries in Chicago

According to Glassdoor, a tech worker in Chicago can expect to earn a base salary of around $58,000 to $62,000 per year. However, this is only the base pay. With the right experience and education, you are very likely to earn more than this in your new position.

The top jobs in tech in Chicago include positions such as a data analyst, solutions architect, web designer, UX/UI design, and software engineer. Working one of these jobs will easily earn you anywhere between $67,000 and $123,000 per year.

The 8 Best Chicago Coding Bootcamps in 2021

Actualize

If you want to know how to become a software engineer, Actualize is a well-established bootcamp in Chicago, and offers a fantastic software engineering course. You can enroll in either a full-time onsite program or an onsite program held over weekends and in the evening. Both programs are considered full-time, although the nights and weekends option allows you to work a full-time job as well.

To enroll in this program, you will need to pay Actualize $13,900 in tuition. This can be paid via an upfront payment, a payment plan with 3 monthly installments, or by taking out private loans. Currently, there is no information available about scholarships for this bootcamp, but there is a program called TuitionFlex that you can apply to for tuition assistance.

Code Platoon

Code Platoon is a bootcamp located in downtown Chicago that caters to military members and veterans, and offers both an Intro to Coding course and a Full Stack course. The Full Stack course is offered in a wide variety of program formats, with everything from full-time onsite or live remote to a part-time online version.

The Intro to Coding course is completely free, while the Full Stack program costs $15,500. This can be paid upfront, or with assistance from VET TEC or GI Bill. You can also apply for one or more of the many scholarships offered, each of which is tailored to a specific diverse group of people.

Coding Dojo

Coding Dojo is a well-known coding bootcamp with many locations, including one in Chicago. Through Coding Dojo, you can take a software development or a data science course. The software development course is offered full-time and part-time and in either an onsite and online program. The data science course is only offered part-time and can be completed onsite.

For the full-time courses, if you pay upfront, you will save $750 and pay $15,245, while the part-time courses range from $4,995 to $7,995 depending on which program you choose.

This can be paid upfront, through monthly payments, via private loans, or through an ISA, in which you would give a percentage of your future salary to Coding Dojo until your tuition is paid.

You can also apply for one of the many available scholarships. This includes a COVID Relief scholarship which offers a saving of up to $2,000 for those making less than $40,000 a year. You can also take advantage of career and job placement services.

Coding Temple

Coding Temple offers a great full stack coding course in both a full-time and part-time program. To enroll in one of these onsite programs, you will need to pay the tuition fees via an upfront payment, signing up for an ISA, or setting up a monthly payment plan. The part-time program costs $10,000, while the full-time program costs $13,495 or $12,995 if you sign up early.

There are also a few different scholarships you can apply to for financial assistance. If you are a woman, you can apply for the Women in Tech scholarship. As a veteran, you could apply to the Veteran’s Scholarship, or if this is a continuation of your education, you could try for the Continuing Education Scholarship.

Flatiron School

Flatiron School is a bootcamp with many locations around the United States, making it a great candidate for those in Chicago looking for a prestigious start to their tech career. You can enroll in one of the four programs offered as a full-time or part-time onsite program or as a part-time online program.

In each course, you will be taught coding and programming basics, such as how to use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The online programs cost $15,500 each, while the onsite programs are $18,000. You can pay the tuition for these either upfront or through private loans. Other financial assistance includes the Access Scholarship and NCWIT’s Alabama and Michigan Digital Skills Initiative if you are a woman living in Alabama or Michigan.

Fullstack Academy

Fullstack Academy boasts a high success rate for post-grad students, with the average salary post-grad being $72,000 per year. This bootcamp offers two courses in coding and cybersecurity, both of which are offered as a full-time online or onsite program.

All programs cost the same, at $17,910. This tuition can be paid via an upfront payment, private loans, an ISA, or by using VET TEC. You can also apply for a few scholarships. The Ada Lovelace Scholarship and the Edie Windsor Scholarship are available for women and gender non-conforming students, the Veteran’s Scholarship is available for military veterans, and the Opportunity Fund is available for members of the Black and African American community.

General Assembly

Finally, we have the General Assembly. This coding bootcamp offers 10+ different courses, and options for full-time and part-time onsite or online programs, as well as a few on-demand online programs. Depending on which course you choose, you will end up paying between $950 and $14,950 in tuition. This can be paid via an upfront payment, an ISA, private loans, a payment installment plan, or, if applicable, the GI Bill.

There are a few different scholarships and programs you can apply for to help cover the cost of tuition. The See Her Excel Scholarship is meant for women in tech and can take up to $1,500 off of your tuition price. The General Assembly has partnered with various social impact programs to further help with financial assistance.

Tech Elevator

Tech Elevator is another coding bootcamp with multiple locations. This bootcamp offers one course described as full stack, that is designed to teach you everything you need to know to break into coding careers. The course is not tailored toward any specific career, allowing for some flexibility in your future employment.

To enroll in this program, you will need to pay the $15,500 tuition cost via an upfront payment, taking out private loans, or by using the GI Bill. There is also the Represent Tech Scholarship you can apply for. In order to qualify for this scholarship, you need to satisfy the scholarship’s terms as a member of an underrepresented group in tech.

What Is a Coding Bootcamp?

If you are debating coding bootcamps vs degrees, we get it. A coding bootcamp is basically a coding school, while a degree requires a basic education in various areas and limited lessons in actual coding.

Most coding bootcamps offer real-world-based curriculums, with none of the filler courses required for college degrees. These schools allow students to focus solely on their area of studying, with no interruptions.

People enroll in coding bootcamps for various reasons, but one of the most common reasons is to get a quick start to your career in tech. Coding bootcamps are typically much faster to complete than a college degree and teach all the right information to get your tech career up and running.

Is a Chicago Coding Bootcamp Right for You?

If you live in Chicago, a nearby city, or the Midwest, a coding bootcamp in Chicago is the way to go. Not only is Chicago closer to home than many tech cities, but it’s a rapidly developing tech hub full of startups.

So, if you would rather work for a smaller startup than a big company like Amazon, Chicago has plenty of opportunities. Enrolling in one of the best Chicago bootcamps may be an intimidating decision, but the outcome would be completely worth it.