The 6 Best SQL Bootcamps of 2023
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- SQL is a vital language for working with datasets.
- It is quite quick and easy for most people to learn SQL.
- There are many options for where to learn SQL online.
- There are a few SQL bootcamps, but it is also a part of many data science programs.
Despite being around for nearly half a century, Structures Query Language (SQL) is still an immensely popular and widely used tool. SQL is primarily used by professionals who work with data to communicate with databases, perform updates, and retrieve information. For those working in data roles, SQL is a mandatory skill. If you work in data, SQL can be even more useful than Python or R.
SQL is not just useful for programmers or those working in traditional tech or data roles, though. Data is the currency of the moment, so companies of all sorts and sizes utilize SQL in at least a part of their company. Netflix, Spotify, LinkedIn, and many more rely on SQL or open-source iterations of SQL to perform data analyses.
If you want to learn SQL for your job or just for fun, there are plenty of resources. While there are no SQL-specific bootcamps, there are plenty of courses and programs that feature SQL.
Find the Right SQL Bootcamp For You
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.
Our Methodology
The Bootcamp Team at BestColleges has collected data for over 150 bootcamps to help you find the best bootcamp.
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.
At this time, our recommendation round-ups feature only immersive bootcamps designed to prepare students for job placement upon graduation.
To be included on our lists, bootcamps must meet the following criteria:
- Must offer at least one bootcamp in the United States.
- Must offer at least one bootcamp that is a minimum of 4 weeks long.
- Must require at least 15 hours of work per week if the bootcamp is part time.
- Must encourage at least 10 hours of work per week if the bootcamp is self-paced.
Pricing disclosure: The prices listed were collected from product websites in 2022. However, given the dynamic, fast-paced nature of the tech space, prices are subject to change throughout the year. To get the most up-to-date information about pricing, contact providers directly.
Methodology for Recommending Cheap Bootcamps:
- The bootcamp must meet all of the general criteria listed above.
- The bootcamp must cost less than $8,000 if it is offered full time, and less than $5,000 if it is offered part time. These numbers were chosen based on data collected by BestColleges in 2020 that determined the average cost of a coding bootcamp is $13,580.
Best SQL Bootcamps
BrainStation
- Location: Remote
- Program Cost: $3,250
- Technical Disciplines: Data Science
- Learning Format: Online
- Time Commitment: Full-Time, Part-Time
In this data science specialty, students will learn how to manipulate, analyze, clean, and model data using Python and SQL. Since it is an intermediate-level course, it is recommended that students have a background in Python and at least some knowledge of statistics. If that is still new to you, BrainStation also offers entry-level courses to cover those knowledge gaps. BrainStation claims that 90% of its graduates are able to find a job in the industry within 180 days of graduating. They do this by offering career services from day one to help students with goal-setting and career prep.
Codeup
- Location: San Antonio, Dallas
- Program Cost: $27,000
- Technical Disciplines: Data Science
- Learning Format: In-Person
- Time Commitment: Full-Time, Part-Time
This beginner-friendly course takes students from beginners to data scientists in twenty weeks. The course focuses on languages such as SQL and Python for machine learning, language processing, and how to tell stories through data. This bootcamp is good for anyone living in Texas and looking to enter the fields of data science, data analysis, machine learning engineering, or business analysis.
Coding Dojo
- Location: Remote
- Program Cost: $11,745-$13,995
- Technical Disciplines: Data Science, Web Development
- Learning Format: Online
- Time Commitment: Full-Time, Part-Time
Coding Dojo features two data science bootcamps: one focusing on machine learning (16 weeks) in Python and the other on visualization (20 weeks). Both are beginner friendly and do not require any experience in coding, statistics, or even a college degree. They also offer various payment plans and financing options to help students reach their goals, along with various scholarships for diversity, women, veterans, and more.
Flatiron School
- Location: Remote, Denver, New York City
- Program Cost: $16,900
- Technical Disciplines: Data Science
- Learning Format: Online, In-Person
- Time Commitment: Full-Time, Part-Time
Flatiron School offers one of the most fast-paced programs for students. Students taking classes full-time can expect to graduate and start looking for a job in as little as 15 weeks. Full-time students have live classes and meetings to collaborate and work on projects with fellow students.
Part-time students can expect to graduate in 40 weeks. They can progress through the course at their own pace with pre-recorded lectures and a Slack community to collaborate with other students.
General Assembly
- Location: Remote
- Program Cost: $15,950
- Technical Disciplines: Data Science
- Learning Format: Online
- Time Commitment: Full-Time
This full-time program offers students the classroom experience online, teaching students how to code in Python, statistics, and machine learning models. By the end of the bootcamp, students will have a portfolio to show future employers, along with interview prep and other career services. They also offer loans, financing options, and an income share agreement so students can defer paying their tuition until they land their first job after graduation.
Thinkful
- Location: Remote
- Program Cost: $9,500
- Technical Disciplines: Data Science, Web Development
- Learning Format: Online
- Time Commitment: Part-Time
This six-month data science bootcamp focuses on statistics, calculus, programming, machine learning, and data visualization. It is self-paced, with lessons varying between 15-20 hours a week. There are live video mentoring sessions, technical coaches, and access to a Slack Community.After graduation, Thinkful offers students help with mock interviews and career and thematic-focused workshops to help students get a job.
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.
Other SQL-Focused Bootcamps to Consider
What Is SQL?
"Today, data professionals such as data analysts, data scientists, and data engineers use SQL in many industries to communicate with databases."
Database administrators have used SQL since it became commercially available in 1979. Today, data professionals such as data analysts, data scientists, and data engineers use SQL in many industries to communicate with databases. SQL bootcamps teach students to use this user-oriented language to retrieve data from relational databases. Developers can write commands to pull, edit, add, or delete data from a database.
SQL helps companies store e-commerce data, such as product numbers and customer information, in a back-end database. Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram use SQL or open-source creations of SQL to organize their data. Other industries, such as hospitals, finance, and retail, also use SQL or open-source iterations of SQL to retrieve data from their databases.
Computer science includes both low-level and high-level programming languages. How do they differ?
High-level languages = human-readable languages.
Low-level languages = machine-readable languages.
Developers can easily use high-level languages such as Java, C#, and SQL to write code.
Why Should You Learn SQL?
SQL is that perfect in-between of being incredibly useful but still very accessible. Whether you are a skilled data scientist or new to the technical field, there is likely a use case where SQL can help you find answers through data. Here are some of the top reasons to learn SQL:
- It is useful for various careers, including web developers, business analysts, and product managers.
- If you work with data in any capacity, your employer will likely require at least a basic understanding of SQL.
- It is an easy-to-learn language — most people can figure it out in 2-3 weeks.
- It allows you to work with large or otherwise unruly datasets.
- Nearly every data technology supports SQL.
- While it is mainly used in the financial or data science field, it is also often used by marketing and sales teams.
What Jobs Can You Get With SQL?
Coding bootcamp graduates can pursue entry-level jobs in tech, an industry that is highly in demand. A couple of the roles include computer & information research scientists and software developers.
COMPUTER & INFORMATION RESEARCH SCIENTISTS
Projected employment growth
+21% | 2021-2031
Median salary
$131,490 | 2021
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS
Projected employment growth
+25% | 2021-2031
Median salary
$109,020 | 2021
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Should You Learn SQL Through a Bootcamp or Teach Yourself?
Everyone has a different learning style, so what might work for one person might be horrible for another. Ultimately, it depends on how much independence versus structure you want. Each option has its own set of pros and cons.
Learning SQL on Your Own
Pros
-
Cheaper -
Only focus on what you want to learn -
Plenty of resources online
Cons
-
Can be frustrating if you don’t understand something -
Free material can sometimes be outdated or incorrect -
Lack of community
Learning SQL Through a Bootcamp
Pros
-
Structured and planned out learning process -
Teachers and other students to help figure things out -
You can go back through old material if you need a refresher
Cons
-
Could be less flexible for people with responsibilities such as work or family -
Often expensive -
Might have to go through a lot of material to find what you need
Are SQL Bootcamps Worth It?
With most companies operating online, SQL remains an important tool to help handle sales and customer data. Companies need people with knowledge of SQL to work with their relational databases, a tabular database with tables made of rows and columns.
Learning SQL through a bootcamp allows graduates to train quickly and relatively inexpensively with the help of career services not always available at colleges.
Frequently Asked Questions About SQL Bootcamps
Is SQL easy to learn?
SQL uses variations of syntax that mirror English. For example, data professionals can use commands such as "select, update, delete, and insert" to retrieve and manipulate data. This makes SQL one of the easiest programming languages to learn. However, SQL also remains one of the most complex programming languages since programmers can manipulate data using SQL in many structures.
How long does it take to learn SQL?
Coding bootcamps can teach students SQL in as few as 10-12 weeks. How long it takes to learn SQL depends on whether you attend full time, part time, or follow a self-paced schedule.
Will a coding bootcamp get me a job?
Most coding bootcamps offer comprehensive career support services that complement bootcamp training. Students can craft their resumes and curate their online profiles and professional portfolios to increase their chances of getting hired. While bootcamps may offer networking opportunities with tech employers, each student remains responsible for their own job search.
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 Web site at https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/index.asp.
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