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Breaking into the tech world can seem like an uphill battle in todays fast-paced world.

With the ever-increasing demand for skilled software and web developers, coding bootcamps have popped up around the country as an alternative to degree programs for those seeking a shortcut to a career in coding and a potential salary increase.

With bootcamps, students can pay less money and spend less time skill-building compared to traditional education pathways and still be able to snag a job at a top company.

Many coding bootcamps also boast that more than 90% of job-eligible graduates land a job within a year of graduating. And some programs are so confident that grads will secure a job within a few months that they provide a money-back guarantee.

But are these intensive, short-term programs genuinely worth the investment? The short answer could be yesif youre willing to skip the college degree, have discipline for online coursework, and take advantage of career coaching opportunities.

An emphasis on practical skills and project-based learning

One of the key selling points of coding bootcamps is their emphasis on practical, job-ready skills with a prioritization on hands-on experience and project-based learning.

By focusing on real-world applications and industry-relevant technologies, bootcamp graduates can quickly acquire the necessary skills to enter the workforce and make an immediate impactwhile earning a respectable salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for computer and IT occupations exceeds $95,000.

Bootcamps also empower students with the hard and soft skills required to land a jobsomething universities have not historically emphasized, says Seth Greenberg, vice president of program operations at Springboard, an online bootcamp with data science, software engineering, and cybersecurity courses.

Were equipping you with the skills not just to get the first job out of coming out of our programs, but also to navigate future job searches, which you are likely to do many, many times in your career, Greenberg tells Fortune.

Price-wise, an entire bootcamp can cost you less than a semester at a private university and help you avoid general education requirements that may slow your career aspirations. Many bootcamps have total costs between $10,000 and $20,000, which your post-grad salary increase may more than cover.

So, whats the real impact for bootcamp students? According to Course Report, bootcamp alums receive an average salary increase of 51%, with subsequent jobs potentially providing even more significant earnings boosts. At Springboard, in particular, software engineers see an average $28,000 increase in salary.

Coding bootcamp benefits also extend beyond graduate salary bumps. Employers often love that bootcamp candidates have a portfolio of work resulting from skills-based learning while building projects and working in groups, says Lupe Colangelo, manager of outcomes partnerships at General Assemblya firm offering web development, software engineering, and data science training.

With all these perks, learning to code via a bootcamp is gradually becoming a norm. In fact, one in 10 developers reported they learned to code from a coding bootcamp, according to Stack Overflows Developer Survey. Moreover, these camps boost the entire marketplace by training the next generation of developers in the most in-demand languages like Python, SQL and JavaScript.

Access networking and career services

With many bootcamps maintaining strong relationships with startups and large companies alike, students have immediate access to internships and direct employment opportunities after graduation. According to Colangelo, corporations, nonprofits, and even government agencies of all sizes and industries hire bootcamp graduates. Amazon and JPMorgan Chase are two of the largest employers of bootcamp grads, but John Deere and Madison Reed are also examples of landing spots.

Many bootcamps highlight their commitment to helping students search for jobs, network, and negotiate through mentorship and career coaching services.

We just believe that its not just providing access to curriculum, but also a lot of the human support, thats critical to land a job and continue to thrive in your career, Greenberg says.

Some bootcamps, including Springboard, offer a job guarantee. If eligible students cant find employment within six months of graduation, they could be eligible for a full refund. This guarantee can help ensure that time and money dedicated to a bootcamp will net real career results.

With many bootcamps having thousands of graduates, its also possible to use their alum networks to pave your path toward a position at your dream company.

Greater flexibility, accessibility compared to degree programs

Traditional college computer science programs can pose multi-year-long challenges for some students with work or family obligations. Coding bootcamps, on the other hand, stand out with their shorter learning formats. This difference is meaningful for someone eager to swiftly accelerate their tech career and those hoping to save money.

Its much, much more cost-effective. Were doing it in a much shorter amount of time and teaching you what is essential, Greenberg says.

Programs can last anywhere from just a few weeks to a few months, depending on the level of intensity. Bootcamps offer full-time immersive programs, sometimes even in-person (like these New York bootcamps), and part-time options.

A new day for students and recruiters

With ever-increasing hiring needs, employers are challenged when using traditional recruiting methods when searching for skilled tech talent. According to Colangelo, nearly nine out of 10 hiring managers are not confident that their approaches to recruiting and hiring are working. Bootcamp grads could find that theyre in the right place at the right time and ready with the necessary skills to ease employer pain pointsmaking today an intriguing time for potential bootcamp students to consider this path.

So if youre curious whether a coding bootcamp could boost your skill set and salary, the answer is a definite maybe. Bootcamps may provide a shorter, more flexible, and cheaper way to gain skills and access to career and networking services. Still, the key to finding the best bootcamp for your need will be to determine what skills your career interests require and see what educational pathway can best help you achieve that dream. Then, you can change that maybe to a yes.

Excerpt from:

Is a coding bootcamp worth it? - Fortune