The world of data science is booming, but are you prepared with the right tools, education, and experience to get started in this fast-paced, high-paying field? In this guide, we outline the best data science bootcamps, including the format, duration, and cost of each. Plus, we’ll provide tips on how to choose the right one for your data science career.
Top Data Science Bootcamps
The following bootcamps are listed alphabetically and are not ranked in any way.
1. BrainStation
In addition to data science, BrainStation offers coding, web development, UX design, and digital marketing bootcamps. The Data Science Bootcamp includes hands-on experience and access to guest lecturers and panel discussion events. Instructors lead the live, online courses, and students stay connected through BrainStation’s Slack community. BrainStation’s hiring partners include top companies such as Amazon, Adidas, PayPal, Mastercard, Twitter, and IBM.
Format and duration: Full-time or part-time options are available. BrainStation has campuses in Toronto, New York, Miami, Vancouver, and London, but due to COVID-19, some programs and courses are being held online. Consult BrainStation’s website for the most up-to-date information.
Cost: Interested applicants must submit contact information to view the program package, which includes details on tuition, financing, and employer sponsorship. Payment options and scholarship opportunities are also available.
2. Dataquest
Dataquest offers five career paths, including Data Scientist with Python, Data Analyst with R and Data Analyst with Python, Data Engineer and Business Analyst. Each career path includes anywhere from 15-35 courses. You can also choose from specialized skill paths, which feature anywhere from 5-23 courses. Skill paths include SQL Fundamentals, Data Visualization, and Data Cleaning, among others.
Format and duration: All career paths and skill paths are online and self-paced but will differ in length. Career paths typically take anywhere from 5-9 months (averaging 10 hours per week), whereas skill paths average 1-6 months (averaging 10 hours per week), depending on the specialty.
Cost: Some introductory courses are free. The premium tier is $24.50/month (if billed annually) and includes more than 70 courses and community support (you can also pay $49/month.) There is also a team option, and discounts may be available.
With a tagline of “data science for everyone,” Data Science Dojo provides training in data science, data analytics, and machine learning. The company’s programs include Data Science Bootcamp, Python for Data Science, Data Science for Business Leaders and the Data Science Practicum Program, which is an extension of the bootcamp and includes 1-on-1 mentoring and career services. Instructors and mentors come not only from Data Science Dojo, but also top companies such as Microsoft, Instagram, Apple, DoorDash, Facebook, and Nike.
Format and duration: Choose from virtual instructor-led and self-paced options. The Data Science Practicum Program is full-time at 8 hours per day for 6 months. The Data Science Bootcamp is 16 weeks, in addition to a 12-week internship with Data Science Doji’s internal team. Each class is 3 hours once a week for 16 weeks, in addition to 2-3 hours of homework.
Cost: Three options are available — Dojo ($3,700), Guru ($3,999), and Practicum ($9,999). All three levels vary in terms of offerings; you can compare the Data Science Bootcamp Learning plans here.
This institution offers student programs and enterprise programs that cover everything from software engineering and data science to product design and cybersecurity engineering. Flatiron School also offers a variety of in-person or online events.
Format and duration: The full-time option is 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday for 15 weeks. This is best for students who prefer live lectures. The program is available in-person in either Denver or New York and online; the part-time option allows you to set your own hours for a duration of 40 weeks. The lectures are mostly recorded with optional live lectures and office hours. This option is only available online and is ideal for working professionals.
Cost: Bootcamp tuition is $16,900 with a $500 deposit. Payment options include paying upfront, loans, or paying in monthly installations for one year. Financing options are also available.
The company’s full-time Data Science Immersive bootcamp includes five units — Data Science Fundamentals, Exploratory Data Analysis, Classical Statistical Modeling, Machine Learning Models, and Advanced Topics & Trends. Part-time courses are also available. Students will benefit from career coaches and exclusive networking opportunities. General Assembly also offers workshops and events and on-demand learning options.
Format and duration: General Assembly has 30+ campuses around the world and a variety of online communities. Full-time, part-time, and online options are available. The full-time Data Science Immersive program is a 12-week instructor-led program. The Data Science Immersive Remote (Flex) option is part-time for a total of 24 weeks.
Cost: Tuition for the full-time data science program is $15,950; students can save $450 by paying in full or pay three installments of $5,317. Loans and tuition discounts are also available. The cost for the part-time Data Science Course is $3,950 (students will save $250 by paying up front). Students may also be eligible to receive full or partial reimbursement from their employer.
6. Insight
The Insight Data Science Fellows Program offers “an intensive 7-week post-doctoral training fellowship bridging the gap between academia and data science.” This full-time program allows students to learn from top leaders in data science — with no classes or textbooks and an emphasis on project-based learning. The program is ideal for professionals who are looking to transition into data science after earning a Ph.D. Insight’s white paper outlines the program in greater detail.
Format and duration: The full-time program is 7 weeks. Insight has locations across the country, but programs are remote due to COVID-19. Check Insight’s FAQ page for the most up-to-date information.
Cost: Insight’s cost works a bit differently than other bootcamps or programs. Students who obtain a job within 6 months of completing the program (earning a minimum of $90,000) will pay $24,000 or 12% of your gross income for 2 years as a “lifetime membership fee.” This is completed through an Income Share Agreement. If students take longer to find a job, or make less than $90,000, they will receive the benefits of the program but do not have to pay the income share amount. Scholarships and financing options are available.
7. Jedha
Jedha offers bootcamp courses available for Data Essentials, Data Fullstack, and Data Lead. Data Fullstack offers specific data science training with topics such as Python and exploratory data analysis, machine learning, deep learning, big data, and more. To qualify for the Data Fullstack program, it’s recommended that students complete the Data Essential training or have experience in Python and SQL skills. (Students will be required to complete a coding project.)
Format and duration: Choose from full-time, part-time, in-person, remote, or hybrid options. Campuses are located in France and England. The Data Fullstack program is a total of 420 hours.
Cost: The Data Fullstack program costs approximately $8,000. (The price is listed in pounds and euros, which will change based on the conversion rate.)
8. Metis
The online Data Science Bootcamp includes instruction on linear regression, exploratory data analysis, machine learning classification, and more. Other offerings by Metis include the Data Science & Engineering Bootcamp, Data Science and Machine Learning Bootcamp, and the Data Analytics Bootcamp. Short immersive courses are also available. Students will receive career support in the form of one-on-one meetings, workshops, mock interviews, a speaker series, and continued support until they are hired.
Format and duration: The online flex programs are 20 weeks with a time commitment of 15-20 hours per week. The lectures are on demand.
Cost: Tuition is $11,000 if students pay up front. Installment plans and financing options are available. Metis also offers a $3,000 Data Analytics Bootcamp scholarship for women, members of underrepresented groups, the LGBTQ community, or U.S. veterans.
The Data Science Bootcamp covers topics such as data analytics with Python, data analytics with R, business cases in data science, and machine learning. The program culminates in a capstone project in which students can apply what they have learned to a real-world scenario. Data science bundled or individual courses are also available.
Format and duration: Choose from in-person, remote, or “interactive distance learning” (self-paced). The full-time option is 12 weeks with a commitment of 40+ hours per week. The full-time interactive distance learning option is 16 weeks with a part-time option of 24 weeks.
Cost: The cost for the bootcamp is $17,600, but early bird discounts may be available. The cost for individual courses ranges from $1,590 to $2,990.
Billing itself as “Europe’s largest data science training bootcamp,” Science to Data Science offers hands-on projects, industry networking, seminars, and one-on-one support from industry leaders. The bootcamp is designed for professionals who already have some foundational data science skills and knowledge under their belt. Applicants are required to have a master’s degree or Ph.D. in an analytical field (doctoral candidates in their final year will also be accepted).
Format and duration: The full-time, 5-week program takes place online.
Cost: The cost is 800£ — or approximately $970 (depending on the conversion rate).
11. Simplilearn
Simplilearn offers a variety of data science-related courses and bootcamps, including the Caltech Data Science Bootcamp, the Data Science with Python Certification Training Course, and the Business Analytics Bootcamp. Simplilearn partners with universities and companies around the world, including Amazon Web Services, IBM, and Microsoft.
Format and duration: Programs are offered online and will vary in terms of time commitment and availability. For example, the Data Science with Python Certification Training includes 68 hours of blended learning. Choose from a self-paced option, an online bootcamp, or corporate training.
Cost: Prices will vary based on each program and course. For example, the cost of the Data Science with Python Certification Training is $799 for the self-paced option or $999 for the online bootcamp, the latter of which features live, online instruction. Admission for both the Business Analytics Bootcamp and the Caltech Data Science Bootcamp is $8,000.
12. Springboard
Springboard offers a plethora of data science, design, coding, and cybersecurity programs. The Data Science Bootcamp features one-on-one video calls with a mentor and a curriculum that includes topics such as data wrangling, statistical inference, machine learning, and software engineering for data science. Students will also work on projects they can add to their portfolio. If you need refresher training prior to the bootcamp, Springboard offers a Data Science Prep Course. A Machine Learning Bootcamp is also available.
Format and duration: The Data Science Bootcamp is an online, 6-month program that requires a weekly commitment of 15-20 hours.
Cost: Tuition for the Data Science Bootcamp is $9,900 if students pay in full up front (a savings of 13%). Month-to-month payments, deferred tuition plans, and loans are available.
13. Thinkful
Thinkful’s Data Science Bootcamp curriculum covers everything from analytics and experimentation to machine learning. Students are matched with a mentor who works in the data science industry. Thinkful also offers personalized career coaching — which includes individual and group sessions and mock interviews — and a Slack community that allows for peer interaction.
Format and duration: The virtual, self-paced bootcamp takes 6 months with students averaging 15-20 hours per week. Sessions with mentors are live.
Cost: The cost of the Data Science Bootcamp is $9,500 if students pay up front. Other payment options include paying month-to-month, deferred tuition, deferred tuition with living expenses, and discounts.
This bootcamp claims to “take absolute beginners into tech professionals in 800 intensive hours — just 5 months.” The Data Analytics & Machine Learning program is a coding bootcamp that covers topics such as Python, R, statistics, machine learning, data mining, algorithms, and more.
Format and duration: The bootcamp is available both on campus in Barcelona and online. Choose from full-time or part-time options. The program takes approximately 800 hours — or 5 months.
Cost: The program cost is €9500 (or approximately $9,928, depending on the conversion rate of the Euro). Payment plans and financing options are available.
Data Science Career Outlook
Good news — according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected percentage change in employment for computer and information research scientists from 2021 to 2031 is 21%, which is much higher than the average job growth rate of 5%.
Data scientist ranks #3 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Technology Jobs. It ranks #6 on the list of Best STEM Jobs and #6 on the list of 100 Best Jobs. (It’s important to note that these lists are dynamic and may change frequently based on the latest data. The numbers used here were the most recent at the time of this report.)
As explained by U.S. News & World Report, “While data science is still a new career field, employers are increasingly recognizing the value of professionals with this expertise. Today, you’ll find data scientists working at a range of organizations, including tech startups, government agencies, large companies and research institutions.”
A recent search on LinkedIn revealed the following top companies are hiring for data science positions:
- AT&T
- Spotify
- AutoZone
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Marriott International
- Walmart
- Visa
- Amazon
- Starbucks
- Pfizer
- Miami Heat
How to Select the Right Data Science Bootcamp
With so many choices, it can be hard to figure out which bootcamp is the right fit. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:
- Do your research. This blog post is a great first step! Read reviews and see what others have said about different courses and programs.
- Talk to friends and co-workers. If you work in data science, consider asking your colleagues if they have ever taken any courses or bootcamps. Know any family members, friends, or friends of friends who could offer suggestions? It doesn’t hurt to ask.
- Ask your human resources department. If you work in a data-related field, your HR department may have a list of professional development courses and programs. Plus, many employers offer tuition reimbursement for continuing education.
- Reach out on LinkedIn. Look through your data-related connections and ask for recommendations.
- Read job postings. Comb through positions you’re interested in and see if companies require anything you could fulfill by taking a particular bootcamp.
Frequently Asked Questions
This information was brought to you by the University of San Diego’s Master of Science in Applied Data Science. This program is designed to equip graduates with the technical strategies and skills they will need to apply powerful, modern analytical tools to real-world applications. Designed to be completed in only 20 months, this advanced degree is ideally suited to those with a background in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology but is also structured to train those from other backgrounds who are motivated to transition into data science.
