Hi, I’m Brian, a former senior software engineer and now software engineering mentor at Pathrise. I have worked with hundreds of software engineers and web developers to help them land their dream job. Check out my review of Boise CodeWorks.
- What does Boise CodeWorks do?
- Who is Boise CodeWorks for?
- What does Boise CodeWorks cost?
- Ratings and reviews of Boise CodeWorks
- Alternatives to Boise CodeWorks
- How does Boise CodeWorks compare to Pathrise?
What does Boise CodeWorks do?
Boise CodeWorks is a bootcamp for people looking to learn the skills to launch a career as a software developer. Their flagship full stack bootcamp meets on campus in Boise, Idaho. In response to Covid-19, students wear masks, receive free sanitizer, and practice social distancing whenever possible in their 6,000+ square foot learning space.
The 13-week full-time flagship course meets Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Students also participate in two 24 hour hackathons during the program. In addition, the schedule includes optional coding firesides where students can bond over games and other activities.
In the course, students learn both front-end and back-end development through about 500+ hours of instruction. The curriculum covers HTML, CSS, JavaScript, web APIs, JS frameworks, and Node.js. Students also work with C#, SQL, MongoDB, React, databases, and even Unity. The program features the same Agile/Scrum methodologies students may encounter on the job.
Students participate in hands-on assignments, live guided coding projects, coding labs, 1-on-1 tutoring sessions, and hackathons throughout the program. The course is project-based, so students work on teams guided by an instructor who provides feedback. Students graduate with a certificate, letter of recommendation, and polished portfolio to help them impress employers.
The course includes career services. Students participate in resume workshops, portfolio reviews, and interview training. A team of recruiters, hiring managers, and developers also work 1-on-1 with students to help prepare them for interviews and the job search. Top performing students are invited to join Boise CodeWorks’s apprenticeship program, where they can put their new code skills to use while building their resume. Their flagship bootcamp currently boasts an 85% job placement rate.
Who is Boise CodeWorks for?
If you are looking to start a new career in software development with no prior experience, you could benefit from the bootcamp. The program is especially helpful for people seeking in-person instruction with small class sizes and for those based in Boise.
What does Boise CodeWorks cost? How much work is involved?
Tuition is about $7,800 for their flagship full stack bootcamp. Loans are available through Climb Credit and Skills Fund. Rates and repayment plans may depend on the student’s credit history. Boise CodeWorks is also a department of labor registered apprenticeship, meaning students may be eligible for a federal WIOA grant to help offset the costs. The GI bill is also accepted.
While there is no formal admissions process, classes are capped at only 25 students per cohort. Seats are secured when the applicant makes a downpayment. However, if a course is in particularly high demand, applicants may have to wait for a later cohort.
Ratings and reviews
Reviews for Boise CodeWorks are mostly positive. They hold a perfect 5/5 star rating on Course Report, where grads praised the practical curriculum and small supportive classroom setting. The top review appreciated that “the curriculum is centered on building actual full-stack applications” and felt that graduating with a “portfolio of real-world applications that you built each week is invaluable during the job-search.” Another grad felt that the “family atmosphere and career preparation” set the program apart. The grad was impressed by both the personal and professional connections students make, raving about the “tremendous professional connections throughout the Treasure Valley.”
Boise CodeWorks holds another perfect 5 star rating on Google Reviews. Grads were struck by the level of support they received in the small in-person classes, commenting that the “staff is kind, intelligent and working for your success” and that instructors are “with you each step of the way.” The bootcamp is rated 4.4/5 stars on Indeed. One grad valued the “patient instructors” and “hands-on” curriculum style, but felt that tuition “was very expensive.” The grad was also frustrated by the job support, warning “career services left much to be desired.” Overall, most graduates were very satisfied with the course’s supportive small classes and the project-based curriculum. However, there were some grads who would have liked more help finding a job.
Alternatives to Boise CodeWorks
If you decide not to enroll in Boise CodeWorks, there are a number of alternative bootcamps and online resources that can help aspiring software developers.
- Aspiring software developers can also look into CodeX Academy, a self-paced coding bootcamp with mentoring. Learn more about CodeX Academy in our review.
- The popular bootcamp BrainStation offers programs in web development, web design, and many other tech subjects. Like Boise CodeWorks, BrainStation features a project-based curriculum with lots of collaboration with students and staff.
- Another well-known bootcamp, General Assembly, offers full-time, part-time, and 1-day courses on software engineering and many tech subjects. Their program is hands-on and students get access to 19,000+ hiring partners. Like Boise CodeWorks, General Assembly also published their student employment rate: 91.4% after just 180 days. Learn more about General Assembly in our review.
- Students seeking an intense online bootcamp experience can look into Lambda School, Thinkful, Byte Academy, and Holberton School. Students can pay through an income share agreement (ISA), which means they don’t owe anything until they land a job.
- Similarly, University of Arizona Bootcamps has tracks in web dev, data, and design.
- For students seeking a full-time experience, Kenzie Academy offers in-person and online courses in software engineering & UX design and front-end engineering. Learn more about Kenzie Academy in our review.
- If you are looking to break into tech without coding, consider Bubble no-code bootcamps. Learn more about Bubble in our review.
More alternatives
- Students on a budget can look into Udemy, an online program that hosts thousands of affordable self-paced video courses on web dev, software dev, and much more. Classes are only about $10 each.
- In addition, Codecademy is one of the most popular coding programs online. They provide free courses on many different programming languages. They also offer membership options ranging from $20 to $40. Learn more about Codecademy in our review.
- Similarly, Coursera is an online learning platform that hosts thousands of videos on tech topics like web dev and software engineering. Many of their courses come with university-branded certifications that students can use to impress employers.
- Another online project-based learning program, Springboard has tracks in software engineering, UX/UI, and more. If students don’t land a great job within 6 months of graduating, they get a refund. Learn more about Springboard in our review.
- edX is another popular online learning platform with university courses. Their self-paced courses come from top schools like Harvard and MIT, and major tech companies like Microsoft. Students can choose to learn the fundamentals or focus on specific topics, like front-end web development. Learn more about edX in our review.
- Students seeking self-paced learning can also check out Udacity, an online resource with tracks in web dev, Agile software development, and much more. Like Boise CodeWorks, the curriculum is hands-on with projects students can add to their portfolios. Students work with both a technical and career mentor throughout the program. Learn more about Udacity in our review.
How does Boise CodeWorks compare to Pathrise?
Boise CodeWorks is a bootcamp that helps people launch a career in software development. Their course is designed for complete beginners and for students who haven’t coded in a long while and want a refresher. Pathrise fellows should already have some experience in their chosen field to get the most out of the technical workshops.
Pathrise is a career accelerator that helps people land their dream job in tech. Our experienced mentors have helped 700+ people land great tech jobs by assisting with all phases of the job search, including resume & portfolio building, cold emailing & reverse recruiting strategies, behavioral interview preparation, salary negotiation, and more. The curriculum is tailored to fit the needs of each individual fellow in our program.
Pathrise is a flexible program. There are only 4 hours of group sessions per week and fellows can schedule 1-on-1s as needed. All of our sessions are both live and recorded, so fellows can review previous material at their own pace. The Pathrise income share agreement (ISA) means that fellows don’t pay anything until they land a job they love and start working. Fellows in our program triple their application response rate and double their interview scores.
Pathrise is a career accelerator that helps people land their dream job in tech through 1-on-1 mentoring. If you are interested in working with any of our mentors to optimize your job search, join Pathrise.
Apply today.
