Rutgers Bootcamp Review
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, offers three coding bootcamps that provide an alternative educational experience for individuals who want to get started in a tech career without getting a full tech degree. These bootcamps do not provide college credit, but students receive a certificate of completion when they finish their course.
Rutgers' Division of Continuing Studies offers bootcamps in coding and fintech, and the Rutgers Center for Innovative Education offers a bootcamp in data science. These bootcamps are offered in partnership with Trilogy Education Services — a brand owned by 2U, Inc. that develops and delivers tech bootcamps through partnerships with dozens of colleges and universities.
The program provides a variety of curricular and career support services to bootcamp students. These services include portfolio reviews, live office hours, resume reviews, social media profile support, technical interview training, soft skills training, and more. Students also have access to class recordings, which they can review at their convenience.
Rutgers Bootcamp Courses
Rutgers offers bootcamps in web development, data science, and fintech. Though the bootcamps were available in person prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are now delivered online using a synchronous format. Rutgers coding bootcamps cost $11,495-$12,495 and take 12-24 weeks to complete, depending on whether the program follows a part-time or full-time schedule.
Coding
- Cost: $11,495 (Part Time); $12,495 (Full Time)
- Learning Format: Online
- Time Commitment: Full Time, Part Time
- Length: 12 weeks (Full Time), 24 weeks (Part Time)
Rutgers' coding bootcamp trains students to become full-stack web developers. The program teaches participants to build websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Students also learn to use Node.js, React.js, Express.js, jQuery, and more. Additionally, learners gain experience working with databases, APIs, and quality assurance processes.
Data Science
- Cost: $12,245
- Learning Format: Online
- Time Commitment: Part Time
- Length: 24 weeks
Rutgers' data science bootcamp teaches students data science skills that can help them solve real-world business problems involving large sets of data. The curriculum covers intermediate Excel, fundamental statistics, databases, Python programming, and front-end web visualization. The program prepares students to pursue jobs as data engineers, data scientists, data analysts, and database administrators.
FinTech
- Cost: $11,495
- Learning Format: Online
- Time Commitment: Part Time
- Length: 24 weeks
This bootcamp prepares students for jobs involving financial technology. Students learn finance fundamentals, such as financial analysis, financial ratios, financial modeling, and time-series analysis. The curriculum covers blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies like Truffle Suite, Ethereum, and Solidity. It also covers machine learning and programming in Python.
Rutgers Bootcamp Admissions Process
Prospective students must go through an enrollment process to get into the bootcamp program. This starts with a call to the admissions office or by filling out an application form online.
Applicants also complete a phone interview. Prospective students speak to an advisor who determines whether they are a good fit for the program. If the applicant does well in the phone interview, they will be asked to take a test that assesses their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Rutgers does not require applicants to have programming experience; instead, the program seeks prospective students who are committed to completing the bootcamp and excited about learning. However, the bootcamp does recommend that applicants to the fintech and data science bootcamps possess a bachelor's degree and/or two years of professional experience in business, finance, statistics, or a similar line of work.
Rutgers Bootcamp Payment Options
For students who can't afford to pay the full tuition of $11,495-$12,495 upfront, Rutgers offers scholarships and payment plans. In addition, students who register early receive a discount.
Rutgers currently offers a $500 scholarship to Rutgers University alumni who enroll in a bootcamp program. Students can call the admissions department for detailed information about payment plans and to find out if any loans are available.
Rutgers Bootcamp Student Outcomes
Bootcamps frequently report on student outcomes, such as the graduation rate, post-bootcamp employment rate, and average starting salaries reported by graduates. Check the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting's website for outcome information for select bootcamps that has been audited by an independent source.
Rutgers does not provide student outcomes for its bootcamps, but it does provide written testimonials from former students. Rutgers also shares videos from alumni describing their experience in the bootcamp.
Trilogy Education also does not publish student outcome data on its website.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rutgers Coding Bootcamps
What is the Rutgers Bootcamp?
Rutgers' bootcamps are 12-24-week intensive training programs that prepare students for careers in web development, data science, or financial technology. The bootcamps are offered by Rutgers University in partnership with Trilogy Education Services. Students receive a certificate of completion when they finish the program, but they do not receive college credit.
Is it hard to get into the Rutgers Bootcamp?
Students must go through an application process to get into a Rutgers bootcamp, and some students may find the process challenging. Applicants must demonstrate strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills to gain admission, although the bootcamps do not require students to possess previous coding experience.
Is the Rutgers Bootcamp worth it?
Rutgers' bootcamps cost $11,495-$12,495, which is slightly less expensive than the average cost of a coding bootcamp ($13,580 in 2021). However, students must consider more than the cost of tuition when determining whether a bootcamp is worthwhile. Other factors to consider include student outcomes, student reviews, and the bootcamp's curriculum and support services.