A Guide to the Best Data Science Bootcamps

Data science, a combination of math, computer science, and business, revolves around the study of data to extract useful insights.

Corporations in multiple industries have become increasingly reliant on big data to optimize ads, improve online experiences, and forecast sales. According to Techjury, Netflix saves $1 billion annually by using big data.

Interested in data science? You can attend bootcamps to learn valuable skills and pursue related careers. These programs consist of intensive courses aiming to quickly teach foundational data science knowledge.

Data enthusiasts considering a bootcamp can discover popular data science bootcamps, what these programs entail, and potential career paths.

What Is a Data Science Bootcamp?

Data science can be broken down into data collection, data processing, data warehousing, data visualization, and data analysis. Data collection, as the name entails, revolves around first gathering necessary data.

Data in its raw form must be transformed to gain actionable insights — which is called data processing, or stored in a central location (data warehousing). Data analysis can be used to learn from transformed data, and findings can be communicated via data visualization.

Data science bootcamps help students learn the necessary technical, mathematical, and fundamental business skills required for the data science field. As the data science field is vast, programs offer different focuses and time commitments. While you can finish some bootcamps in a few weeks, others take nine months or longer.

Applicants to data science bootcamps may quickly notice that bootcamps offer various prices and financing plans. Bootcamp costs can range from $1000 to over $10,000.

Bootcamp enrollees will spend their time learning data analysis, coding languages, and statistics. Students can learn through a mixture of courses, coding tasks, and capstone projects.

Best Data Science Bootcamps

Methodology

Bootcamp Ranking Guidelines

At BestColleges, we believe the best bootcamp is the one that fits your schedule, your learning needs, and your career aspirations. That's why we often present our recommendations in alphabetical order -- because the real best bootcamp is the bootcamp that's best for you.

Get the Qualities You Want in a Bootcamp

We use icons to make browsing bootcamps easy for you. Use this breakdown to quickly identify program qualities you are looking for.

Accepts GI Bill®

Accepts the GI Bill® as funding for tuition.

Also Available In Person

This online bootcamp also offers in-person options.

Career Services

Offers career services to help you land your dream job after graduation.

CIRR Member

This bootcamp is a current member of the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting. Learn more at cirr.org.

Evening & Weekend Options

Bootcamps are offered during convenient evening and weekend hours.

Job Guarantee

Employment is guaranteed as soon as you finish your bootcamp.

Money-Back Guarantee

Tuition is refunded if you don't land a job within a given time frame after graduation. Visit the bootcamp website for terms and conditions.

Start for Free

No deposit is required to get started. Begin your bootcamp for $0.

Find Data Science Bootcamps in Your City

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Boston
• Chicago
• Dallas
• Los Angeles
• New York City
• San Francisco
• Seattle

Career Paths for Data Science Bootcamp Grads

After studying data science, you can pursue various careers including data scientist, data analyst, data engineer, and machine learning engineer.

Many of these jobs have higher average salaries and growth rates compared to the national average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), data scientists roles may grow 35% between 2022-2032, well above the growth rate of many jobs.

How Do I Choose a Data Science Bootcamp?

Data science bootcamps offer various features and costs. Prospective data science bootcamp attendees should consider important details, including cost and reputation, and take a holistic view of the program.

In Person vs. Online

You can choose between online and in-person programs. Online courses allow students from around the country to participate in synchronous or asynchronous learning. Working professionals can take advantage of asynchronous classes to study in their free time. In-person programs have less flexibility, but may offer additional networking opportunities and hands-on experiences.

Length and Time Commitment

Bootcamps come in multiple length and time formats. Programs can be part-time, full-time, self-paced, and last anywhere between a few weeks to nearly a year. For example, the NYC Data Science Academy program takes 3-4 months to complete while TripleTen's program takes nine months. Consider your weekly time commitment and timeline when choosing programs.

Curriculum and Instructor Expertise

Instructors in data science bootcamps can be anything from novices to experts in the field. Prospective attendees can research instructor credentials and the curriculum before joining. Some bootcamps, including General Assembly, offer curriculums created with help from data science professionals in top corporations.

Career Support

Most bootcamps offer at least basic career support. However, the extent of help varies throughout programs. Students can expect to receive a mixture of mock interviews, resume assistance, career guidance, and meetups with local data scientists. Some providers, such as LearningFuze, allow graduates to utilize their career services throughout their lifetime.

Provider Reputation

Popular programs often have reviews from alumni that describe the courses and career support. Additionally, some bootcamps publish data on graduate job placement and median salary. Look for outcomes data that has been verified by a third-party rather than data that was self-reported by the bootcamp.

Financing Options

Before enrolling in a bootcamp, you should always consider how you will pay for tuition and any applicable living expenses. In 2021, BestColleges found that the average data science bootcamp costs $15,078.

Luckily, students can fund their education with a variety of means, including scholarships, loans, the GI Bill®, and income share agreements. Some programs, including Thinkful, will offer a full refund for qualifying graduates who do not find a job within six months.

Frequently Asked Questions About Data Science Bootcamps

Are data science bootcamps worth it?

Yes. Bootcamps offer real-world projects and an opportunity to hone your skills and build your portfolio. The best data science bootcamps are worth it because their providers typically develop them with job placement in mind. However, data science bootcamps are intensive and often challenging for beginners.

Can you get a job after a data science bootcamp?

Yes, many data science bootcamps report an 80% or higher job placement rate within six months for their graduates. Select bootcamps also offer money-back guarantees if students cannot find a job within this time. Although bootcamp graduates may not qualify for all data science roles, they can pursue careers as a junior data scientist, data analyst, or web developer.

Is data science hard?

Data science may be considered difficult as it incorporates topics from computer science, math, and business. However, those interested in data and extracting insights may find the subject fascinating, which encourages studying. With self-paced bootcamps, students can adjust the curriculum to their learning speed and master data science on their own schedule.

Is there a demand for data scientists?

Data scientist roles are in-demand and expected to grow 56% between 2022 and 2032. Companies increasingly need data scientists to gain insights from data. Professionals that can take the ever-increasing amount of data in the world and present findings to shareholders offer a unique combination of skills that may be valued by corporations.

Can I learn data science for free?

Yes. freeCodeCamp offers a database of over 10,000 tutorials where students can choose from multiple technological topics to study and obtain free certifications such as Data Analysis with Python Certification and Machine Learning with Python Certification. Students that prefer visual learning can participate in Intellipaat's free 13 hour YouTube tutorial on data science.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/index.asp.

Page Last Reviewed August 25, 2023.