The Best Coding Bootcamps in Detroit
Detroit is fast becoming a budding tech hub. While it is not yet comparable to the likes of Los Angeles, this city is an awesome place to start your career in tech. With plenty of amazing coding bootcamps, there is quite a bit of untapped potential waiting for you in Detroit.
Whether you plan to work as a software developer or in digital marketing, there is a Detroit bootcamp available to help you advance your career. In this guide, we cover everything from what the tech scene is like in Detroit to a list of the best Detroit coding bootcamps.
The Detroit Tech Scene and Job Market
While Detroit might not be ready to compete with other major American tech hubs such as Los Angeles and New York City, it is commonly considered the underdog in the tech industry. It might not be the go-to city for larger companies yet, but many are starting to describe Detroit as an awesome, welcoming place for tech startups.
Some bigger companies are starting to see the potential though. One of the biggest companies with its headquarters in Detroit is Quicken Loans.
Throughout the past year, the tech scene in Detroit has been booming. In April, according to ZipRecruiter, there were some weeks where almost 200 tech positions were available in the city. ZipRecruiter also reported the tech industry as the second largest hiring industry in the city, making it a fantastic place to launch your tech career.
Tech Salaries in Detroit
Since Detroit is a city of tech startups rather than big companies, the average salaries can be lower than those of other tech hubs. GlassDoor and PayScale report the average base salary for tech positions in Detroit ranges from $50,000 to $70,000 per year.
However, it is possible to earn much more than this. For example, according to PayScale, the average salary for a software engineer with more than 10 years of experience, goes up to over $117,000 per year.
With a relatively low cost of living and reasonably high salaries, Detroit is a great place to establish your tech career.
The Top 8 Detroit Coding Bootcamps in 2021
If you enroll in one of the best Detroit coding bootcamps listed below, you will vastly increase your chances of starting your career in tech.
Courses Offered | Software Development, Data Science |
Program Types | Full-Time Immersive Onsite, Full-Time Online, Part-Time Immersive Onsite, Part-Time Online |
Cost | $15,995 for Full-Time, $4,995 to $7,995 for Part-Time |
Financing Options | Upfront Payment, Monthly Installments, Income Share Agreement (ISA), Private Loans |
Scholarships Available | Career Reinvention Scholarship, Military Retraining Scholarship, Women in Tech Scholarship, Diversity Scholarship |
Coding Dojo offers both a software development course and a data science course. The software development course is offered in a full-time and part-time program, onsite or online. While the data science course is only offered part-time, but can be taken onsite or online as well.
Depending on which program you enroll in, your tuition will be between $4,995 and $15,995. You can pay the tuition via an upfront payment, monthly installments, an ISA, or private loans. There are also scholarships available for experienced professionals, military veterans, women, and underrepresented groups in tech.
Courses Offered | Data Science, Software Engineering, User Experience Design, Visual Design, Product Management, Data Analytics, Front End Web Development, Digital Marketing, React Developing, JavaScript Development, Python Programming |
Program Types | Full-Time Immersive Onsite, Part-Time Immersive Onsite, Part-Time Online, On-Demand |
Cost | $15,950 for Full-Time Immersive, $14,950 for Part-Time Immersive, $2800 to $3950 for Part-Time, $950 for On-Demand |
Financing Options | Upfront Payment, Income Share Agreement (ISA), Private Loans, Payment Installments, G.I. Bill |
Scholarships | See Her Excel, Social Impact Programs |
General Assembly has a wide variety of locations and a wide variety of courses. With everything from data science to Python programming, you are sure to find a course fit for your career goals. You can enroll in full-time and part-time onsite programs, as well as part-time online and even on-demand programs.
Depending on the course you enroll in, your tuition will cost between $950 and $15,490. This can be paid via an upfront payment, an ISA, private loans, monthly payment installments, or, if applicable, the GI Bill. You can also apply for the See Her Excel scholarship if you are a woman, or for financial assistance from a wide variety of social impact programs.
Courses Offered | Full Stack JavaScript, Full Stack C# .NET |
Program Types | Full-Time Live Remote, Part-Time Live Remote |
Cost | $11,750 |
Financing Options | Upfront Payment, Private Loans |
Scholarships | Diversity Scholarship, Literacy Center of West Michigan Scholarship, NCWIT’s Aspirations in Computing, Michigan Digital Skills Pilot Program, Michigan National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program |
Grand Circus is a Detroit-based bootcamp offering courses in full stack development with a focus on either JavaScript, .NET, or C#. These courses are offered in both a full-time and part-time live remote program, and allow you to learn to code in three to six months, all from the comfort of your own home.
The tuition for these courses is $11,750, which can be paid either upfront or by taking out private loans. There are also several scholarships available including a diversity Scholarship, which can cover $1,750 of your tuition.
With other varying scholarships including the Literacy Center of West Michigan’s scholarship, NCWIT’s Digital Skills program, and if you are a member of the National Guard, a state tuition assistance program.
Michigan State University Coding Bootcamp
Courses Offered | Coding, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing |
Program Types | Flexible Part-Time Onsite |
Cost | N/A |
Financing Options | N/A |
Scholarships | N/A |
Though there is not a lot of public information about Michigan State University’s coding bootcamps, we can assure you, these are some of the best programs you can enroll in. Offering courses in coding, data analytics, and digital marketing, these flexible onsite programs are awesome for those who want a college-style education.
To find out more information about the current tuition costs, financing options, and scholarships available for these programs, you will have to email an advisor from the school. This is a particularly good choice for students who already attend or plan to attend Michigan State University.
Courses Offered | Web Development Fundamentals, Front End Web and Mobile Development, Full Stack Web and Mobile Development |
Program Types | Full-Time Onsite, Full-Time Online, Part-Time Onsite, Part-Time Online |
Cost | $349 for the Web Development Fundamentals, $1,480 for the Front End Course, $1,504 for the Full-Stack Course |
Financing Options | Upfront Payment, Fair Student Agreement (FSA) |
Scholarships | Warrior Rising Scholarship, ReSkill America Scholarship, High School Graduates Scholarship Fund, “Nu You” Scholarship |
Nucamp is a bootcamp with locations all around the United States. Nucamp offers three courses, one beginner course and two advanced courses. The beginner course, web development fundamentals, costs $349. While the advanced courses, front end web and mobile development and full stack web and mobile development, cost $1,480 and $1,504 respectively.
The courses are offered either on a full-time or part-time schedule, and either onsite or online. Each course can be paid for via an upfront payment or through Nucamp’s Fair Student Agreement (FSA), which is a monthly payment arrangement. There is an additional interest component if you choose to use an FSA. There are also scholarships available if you are a veteran, someone affected by COVID-19, a high school graduate, or someone who cannot receive a loan due to a low credit score.
Per Scholas
Courses Offered | End-User Desktop Support, Full-Stack Java Developer, IT Support |
Program Types | Full-Time Remote |
Cost | Free |
Financing Options | N/A |
Scholarships | N/A |
Ending our list with an awesome totally free coding bootcamp, Per Scholas is perhaps one of the best coding bootcamps in the Midwest. This bootcamp offers an end-user desktop support course, a full stack Java developer course powered by TEKSystems, as well as a course in IT support.
The best thing about Per Scholas is that the full-time remote courses are all totally free. This means you don’t have to worry about tuition, financing, or even applying for scholarships. Since the courses are completely remote, you won’t even need to worry about paying to live somewhere during the bootcamp.
Courses Offered | Full Stack |
Program Types | Full-Time Live Remote |
Cost | $15,500 |
Financing Options | Upfront Payment, Private Loans, G.I. Bill |
Scholarships | Represent Tech |
Enrolling in Tech Elevator’s full stack coding bootcamp is an awesome way to kickstart your tech career. This course is offered in a full-time live remote program, so you can learn from the comfort of your own home, but with all the benefits of an in-person course.
The course costs $15,500, and this can be paid upfront, through private loans, or by using the GI Bill. You can also apply for the Represent Tech scholarship if you are part of a community typically underrepresented in the tech industry. This scholarship covers up to $13,175 of the tuition, leaving you with only $2,325 to pay.
Courses Offered | Software Engineering, Data Science, UX/UI Design, Product Management, Technical Project Management, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing |
Program Types | Full-Time Online, Part-Time Online |
Cost | $4,500 to $16,000 |
Financing Options | Upfront Payment, Private Loans, Income Share Agreement (ISA), Deferred Tuition |
Scholarships | $600 to $1,200 for women or self-identifying women in web development programs |
If you enroll in a Thinkful bootcamp, you can choose from seven different courses. If you are pursuing a career in a management position, you will likely want to take the product management or technical project management course, but if you are interested in web design, you may opt for UX and UI design course instead.
The courses cost between $4,500 and $16,000, depending on the course you choose and which program type you decide to go with. There are a few different financing options available, including an upfront payment, private loans, deferred tuition, and an ISA option. You can also apply for a scholarship if you are a woman or you self-identify as a woman. The scholarship covers between $600 to $1,200 of your tuition costs.
What Is a Coding Bootcamp?
So, what’s the difference between a coding bootcamp and a college degree? A coding bootcamp focuses solely on learning to code and often has job placement post-graduation. College degrees, on the other hand, require you to take coding classes on top of other electives and general education requirements.
Essentially, if you want a lower-cost education with job placement assistance, a career coach, and no filler classes, you’ll likely prefer the setting of a coding bootcamp. But, if you would rather learn about various subjects and spend more time on your education, a college degree is the better path.
Is a Detroit Coding Bootcamp Right for You?
Even though Detroit is not considered one of America’s tech hubs yet, it is well on its way to becoming one. This is a fantastic city to study in if you want to work for a startup and experience the growing tech scene.
Coding bootcamps are not for everyone, but if you are ready to advance your career quickly and for a lower cost than a college degree, a coding bootcamp might be the right fit for you. Still unsure? Try reaching out to the academic advisors at a few different bootcamps to help you decide if it is the right move for you.