How Much Does a Coding Bootcamp Cost in 2026?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $146,869 median salary for software developers (BLS OEWS May 2024), making coding bootcamps one of the fastest paths to a six-figure career. The average coding bootcamp costs $13,584 in 2026, according to Course Report's annual survey of over 600 programs. Prices range from completely free (freeCodeCamp, Per Scholas, The Odin Project) to $21,000 for premium full-time intensives like Hack Reactor.

Bootcamp costs vary dramatically by specialization. Software engineering bootcamps average approximately $15,000, while cybersecurity programs average $10,636 and data science bootcamps average around $14,000. The cost difference reflects program length (12-40 weeks), instruction format (live vs. self-paced), and whether certifications or job guarantees are included in tuition.

Despite the upfront cost, bootcamps deliver strong return on investment. Course Report's 2025 outcomes data shows that bootcamp graduates earn an average first salary of $70,698, with a 79% employment rate within six months. For the typical career changer earning ~$38,000 before their bootcamp, that represents a monthly salary increase of approximately $2,725—meaning the average $13,584 bootcamp pays for itself in roughly 5 months. Compare that to a computer science degree, which costs $40,000-$160,000 and takes 4 years to complete.

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Bootcamp tuition rarely needs to be paid entirely upfront. Most programs offer multiple financing paths, and the right choice depends on your savings, risk tolerance, and employment timeline. Here are the six primary payment models available in 2026:

Upfront payment remains the cheapest option for those who can afford it. Most bootcamps offer a 5-10% discount for paying in full before the cohort starts. On a $15,000 program, that saves $750-$1,500. Programs like General Assembly and Hack Reactor regularly run early enrollment discounts that stack with upfront payment savings.

Monthly installments split tuition over 12-24 months, typically at 0-8% APR through lending partners like Climb Credit, Ascent Funding, and Meritize. A $15,000 bootcamp at 5% APR over 18 months costs roughly $870/month ($15,660 total). Some programs offer 0% APR for shorter terms (6-12 months). Always compare the total cost including interest against the upfront price.

Income Share Agreements (ISAs) let you pay nothing upfront—instead, you pay 10-17% of your gross salary for 2-4 years after landing a job paying $50,000 or more. ISAs are typically capped at 1.5-2.5x the original tuition, so a $15,000 program with a 2x cap would never cost more than $30,000 total. ISAs have declined in popularity since 2023, but programs like Springboard and App Academy still offer them. Read the fine print carefully—some ISAs include minimum payment periods regardless of employment status.

Deferred tuition means you pay nothing until you land a qualifying job. Unlike ISAs, deferred tuition is a fixed amount (the original tuition) rather than a percentage of salary. App Academy pioneered this model, charging $0 upfront and full tuition ($17,000) once graduates secure a software engineering role. This is lower-risk than an ISA but still requires job placement success.

GI Bill benefits cover full tuition at many accredited bootcamps for eligible veterans. Programs approved for VA education benefits include General Assembly, Hack Reactor, Fullstack Academy, Galvanize, and Flatiron School. The GI Bill can also cover living expenses during full-time programs. Check the VA WEAMS database to verify a bootcamp's approval status before enrolling.

Employer sponsorship is an underused option. Many companies offer $5,000-$10,000 per year in tuition reimbursement for job-related education, and some HR departments classify bootcamps as eligible professional development. Tech companies like Google, Amazon, and JPMorgan have formal bootcamp reimbursement programs. Ask your HR department about education benefits before paying out of pocket—even if you plan to switch careers, completing a bootcamp while employed maximizes your financial safety net.

You do not need to spend thousands to learn to code. Several high-quality programs are entirely free, funded by grants, donations, or open-source communities. While free programs generally lack the career services and job guarantees of paid bootcamps, they provide legitimate pathways to tech careers for self-motivated learners.

freeCodeCamp is the largest free coding education platform, offering over 3,000 hours of self-paced curriculum covering responsive web design, JavaScript algorithms, front-end libraries (React), APIs, data visualization, and Python for machine learning. Over 40,000 graduates have landed jobs at companies including Google, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. The platform is 100% free, funded by donations, with no registration fees or hidden costs. The trade-off: no live instruction, no mentorship, and no job placement support. You learn on your own timeline.

The Odin Project is a free, open-source full-stack curriculum teaching either JavaScript or Ruby on Rails. The project-based approach has students building real applications from week one, including a full social media clone and an e-commerce platform. Active Discord community (300,000+ members) provides peer support. Like freeCodeCamp, there is no formal career services, but the portfolio of deployed projects serves as a strong job application asset.

CS50 from Harvard is a free introductory computer science course taught by David Malan, available on edX. It covers C, Python, SQL, HTML/CSS, and JavaScript with problem sets, labs, and a final project. While not a full bootcamp, CS50 provides the computer science fundamentals that many bootcamp graduates lack. Over 4 million students have enrolled. A verified certificate costs $149, but auditing the course is completely free.

Per Scholas is the standout free option with a structured bootcamp format. Funded through grants and employer partnerships, Per Scholas offers 15-week programs in software engineering, cybersecurity, and IT support across 20+ cities and online. Admission is competitive (they prioritize underrepresented communities), and the program includes career coaching, interview preparation, and employer connections—benefits typically reserved for paid bootcamps. Their 80%+ job placement rate rivals many $15,000 programs.

App Academy Open offers a free tier of App Academy's full-stack web development curriculum. The free version includes the complete pre-bootcamp prep material and introductory modules covering HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Ruby. The full immersive program ($17,000) uses a deferred tuition model, but the free tier provides enough content to determine if bootcamp-style learning works for you before committing financially.

The cheapest bootcamp is not always the best value, and the most expensive program does not guarantee the best outcomes. Use this framework to evaluate whether a bootcamp's price tag matches its actual value: