Are Data Science Bootcamps Worth It?

You’re interested in becoming a data scientist and debating your next move: a master’s degree or PhD in computer science, perhaps, or a short introduction online course.

Maybe you’ve heard of bootcamps and are wondering if they’re worth the time and money. Data science bootcamps come in many shapes and sizes, and they’re particularly worth it if you’re making a career change and/or don’t have a ton of free time to pick up some new skills. 

To help you make your decision, we outline if a data science bootcamp is worth it by covering the pros and cons, costs and formats, and what to do if you’ve decided data science is the career for you.

What is a data science bootcamp?

A data science bootcamp, like many other tech bootcamps, equips students, typically beginners, with the knowledge and hard skills required to become a data engineer. It might require a full-time commitment, where you attend a classroom either in person or online during a typical workday. Or, more commonly, it’s structured as part-time or self-paced, allowing students to complete coursework, lectures, and tests after work hours, on weekends, or whenever they’re available.

How a bootcamp is structured decides how much time it will take to graduate: A full-time bootcamp might take six to 10 weeks, while a part-time bootcamp could last as long as six months to a year.

The most reputable data science bootcamps — in other words, the programs that actually teach you the valuable skills you need to land a job in data science post-graduation — cost money. However, many bootcamps offer payment plans, scholarships, and financial aid to students who may not be able to afford the entire tuition upfront.

Some bootcamps tout that students earn a certificate upon graduation, although oftentimes you won’t need one to prove to employers you’ve attended a bootcamp. Rather, hiring managers will likely ask for a portfolio of work or for candidates to tackle a skills assessment to vet what they’ve learned.

What are the benefits of joining a data science bootcamp?

Data science bootcamps aren’t for everyone, but they can be a valuable route for people who:

• Want to change careers into data science, either from a completely different industry or within the tech sector
• Want to just develop a basic knowledge of data science fast
• Want to move up or around in their field by specializing
• Don’t have the time or money to go back to school full-time

Below, we touch on the specific pros and cons of bootcamps.

The pros of data science bootcamps 

Becoming a data scientist requires a specialized skill set — you can’t just wing the job without some background knowledge.

Other benefits include:

• Flexible, self-paced, and/or part-time schedules that work around your professional and personal life
• Direct or indirect access to experts in data science, including engineers, professors, career coaches, and tech leaders
• Practical and immersive experiences coding, developing software, and working with data
• A portfolio of work and/or a certificate to showcase to employers
• Career support, such as job placement services, resume and cover letter review, personalized career coaching or tutoring, and/or networking opportunities with tech recruiters and hiring managers

The cons of data science bootcamps

Of course, no program is perfect, and every bootcamp is worth vetting before you sign up by reading student testimonials and review platforms_{Review Platforms And Rankings Worth Your Attention When Choosing a Bootcamp}. Be wary of programs where the costs don’t line up with the curriculum or job placement results, or bootcamps that offer very little information about format, teachers, or support post-graduation.

Beyond that, some cons of signing up for a data science bootcamp might be:

• Time commitment, especially if you’re a working parent or guardian, small business owner, or generally work long hours
• Upfront financial investment, particularly if there are no alternative payment options
• Lack of face time, in the case of bootcamps that are solely or mostly remote
• Lack of standardization across tech — each privately owned bootcamp is structured based on what its parent organization feels is most relevant to the field of data science, which may not suit the needs of specific jobs or companies you want to work for

Data science bootcamp success stories

Before signing up for a data science bootcamp, it helps to have perspective from people from all walks of life who’ve attended them — and came out the other side better for it. Here are two of the many inspiring bootcamp success stories out there:

Rachelle Perez went from tourism saleswoman to data scientist at Spotify

Rachelle Perez worked in a completely different industry before coming across TripleTen’s Data Science Bootcamp: For 10 years, she sold sightseeing tours along the New York City harbor. 

But even then, data was always in the back of her mind. “I was most excited about the operation side of the business: how to make bookings more efficient and how to reduce customer friction,” she told TripleTen. “I was interested in data, and I would unknowingly incorporate it.”

After being laid off, she decided to take the leap. The program was rigorous — even having completed another bootcamp before TripleTen’s, she said there was a learning curve. But it prepared her well for the technical portion of her interview with Spotify, and by July 2021, she was working a full-time, stable job as an associate data analyst.

Read more about Rachelle’s experience here_{From Tourism Sales to Data Science at Spotify: TripleTen Grad Rachelle Perez Lands a Career in Tech}.

Gor Mikayelyan moved to the job he wanted at Amazon

Working for Amazon was a dream for Gor Mikayelyan. However, the job of logistics analyst — his first role at the company — wasn’t.

So he started teaching himself Python in the hopes of tackling more complex data problems. “After learning Python for a few months, I realized I wasn’t going fast enough and I wasn’t learning as much as I wanted,” he told TripleTen. “That’s when I decided to join a bootcamp.”

Motivated by the structure and sprint schedule while balancing a full-time job, Mikayelyan was able to graduate in no time with a portfolio of work under his belt. Shortly after, he pivoted to a job in data without having to leave his company. “I'm actually applying the skills that I’ve learned and actually enjoy doing what I do,” he added.

Read more about Gor’s experience here_{Changing His Career, Not His Company: Gor Mikayelyan’s TripleTen Story}.

Common questions about data science bootcamps, answered

How much will I earn after a data science bootcamp?

Your salary upon completing a data science bootcamp depends on the level you came in at and the job you land afterward. 

According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, data scientists earn a median income of $103,500 per year. Salary provider Payscale lists data scientists at making anywhere from $71,000 to $139,000 a year.

How much do data science bootcamps cost?

Data science bootcamps by top organizations can cost anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000.

TripleTen’s Data Science Bootcamp, for example, costs $9,700 upfront and runs for 12 weeks, which means you’re paying about $800 a week. But naturally, there are numerous other ways of covering your bootcamp — a good program will be able to suggest diverse financing options as well as scholarships.

How do bootcamps compare to other data science programs, and how do I calculate ROI?

A master’s degree in data science might cost you $38,000 or more and take twice a long while teaching you a lot of the same skills as a bootcamp. That said, it might also be a more comfortable and immersive learning setting. 

Alternatively, paying for a private tutor, career coach, or shorter online course might net out to around $800 a week — the same cost as a typical bootcamp — without giving you enough training to do the job well.

But ROI is about more than just financial payoff — it’s about what you’re looking to gain from the experience. An $18,000 bootcamp might be worth the steep price over a cheaper option if it guarantees you a job at a major tech company within six months, or promises to increase your net income significantly. On the other hand, going for a more affordable program may make sense if your goal isn’t a new job but to just better understand the field of data science.

Will a data science bootcamp get me a job?

No matter how well you do in the program, it’s up to the employer to decide if your skill set, work ethic, passion, and personality fit their needs and culture. 

However, many bootcamps partner directly with tech companies and other organizations to place graduates in roles, or they offer some form of career services to help candidates apply to jobs and optimize their applications. You can learn more about a bootcamp’s success rate in job placement by looking at testimonials or its website for company logos, or by reaching out to customer service for more information. At TripleTen, for example, 87% of grads land a tech job within six months. And if they don’t land a job within six months of finishing the program, they get their money back — guaranteed.

How are data science bootcamps perceived by employers?

Each employer will value a data science bootcamp differently. If they’re a direct partner of the bootcamp, they have a clear understanding of what its students learn and likely want to hire those individuals.

But employers won’t just take your word for it on paper: Expect to have to answer questions about your bootcamp experience in interviews, show examples of your skills in action, or complete a case study or coding assessment as part of your candidacy.

How do I choose the right bootcamp for me?

Ask yourself these questions to start your search for the ideal bootcamp:

• How much time can I commit per week?
• What’s my budget?
• Am I willing to quit my job to sign up for a bootcamp?
• Do I prefer more or less structure?
• Do I learn better in person or online?
• Do I want to collaborate with classmates or work alone?
• What do I want to get out of this bootcamp?
• What will I do after this bootcamp?
• Do I have any data science experience? If so, what skills don’t I have or feel confident in?

From there, you’ll be able to narrow down your options. For example, if you like structure, you might want to sign up for a program that’s hybrid (in person and online) or full-time. Or maybe you already know Python but feel iffy about SQL, which means a bootcamp specializing in the latter might be better for you.

How can I make sure I get the results I want?

This means showing up for class on time (or making up assignments or lectures if you’re sick or away), taking notes, asking questions when you’re feeling lost, doing your homework, and getting to know your teacher and other students outside the classroom. In addition, take advantage of whatever other resources the bootcamp provides, whether it’s an online chatroom or forum, events or conferences, or office hours with experts. 

Bootcamps are by and large made for adults — in other words, you’re the one who’s accountable for what you do and don’t learn.

So is a data science or data analytics bootcamp worth it?

If you’ve read all this and are thinking, “Yes, this is what I’ve been looking for!” a data science bootcamp might just be worth it for you.

TripleTen’s Data Science Bootcamp is just one of many great options out there for exploring this industry. The eight-month, part-time program is perfect for all levels and relevant to careers beyond data science, and was ranked one of the best data science bootcamps by Career Karma, Course Report, Fortune, and others.