By Kevin Juhasz
The United States has entered another period where events are leading to large changes. Jobs are recovering from the pandemic, but unemployment is still high, and how things will fall back into place remains unknown. Yet people see such times as an opportunity to expand their horizons, or they may be forced to change directions in their careers.
The result is an uptick in the need for education, including college and coding bootcamps. Both of these are valuable tools for expanding your knowledge and increasing your value and worth. However, paying for these options may pose a challenge.
Even though education has evolved rapidly over the last few decades, much of the funding for it remains stubbornly entrenched in the past. Federal funding, with a few exceptions, cannot be used for coding bootcamps because of archaic requirements. There are private lenders who can assist, but the majority are stuck in the past and only loan to students attending two- and four-year programs.
If you’re planning on attending a coding bootcamp, you’re going to take a different approach than you would with grants or subsidized student loans, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Below is a look at how to pay for your coding bootcamp, and you can also explore financing options and tuition assistance on our Cost & Financing page.
Out-of-pocket
This might be tough for some students, but if you have the means to pay for your coding bootcamp in full, this is certainly the best option. No applications, no stress, no interest. Pay, learn, done. Here at Galvanize, we also offer split payment for our Hack Reactor Coding Bootcamps. Students can pay 50% up front and the rest at the halfway mark of the program.
Scholarships
Working with the Galvanize Foundation, we fund full-tuition scholarships that seek to create new paths for members of underrepresented populations. Explore both scholarships, which seek to create new paths into tech for more students, particularly those in underrepresented groups.
Employment benefits
While the public sector is less apt to offer financial assistance, the same cannot be said for the private sector. Many companies are much more flexible when it comes to continuing education for their employees, especially if they know the assistance will provide future benefits. Check with your employer’s HR department to see what benefits might be available for your coding bootcamp. This is another form of aid that is great, but it isn’t very common. When it comes to coding, a company is more likely to hire another company to come to their location and teach several employees at once, much as we do via our corporate training options.
Income-Contingent Financing
This can be a savior for students struggling to pay, but it’s also an area where they should proceed with caution. Income share agreements, for example, can require anywhere from no money to a few thousand dollars down, then take a portion of your income once you achieve a certain salary. However, these agreements can leave students paying a much higher price for tuition than they would have with a loan, so it’s important that you review the details of any agreement.
At Galvanize, we offer Income Share Agreements (ISAs) and Retail Installment Contracts (RICs), both of which require an upfront deposit of $100 — you pay the rest once you’re employed and you’ve landed a job that reaches a certain salary threshold. Explore the details of both options here.
Private loans
This is another option where students will need to proceed with caution, because the cost can be burdensome, depending on the interest rates and restrictions. Check with your coding bootcamp first, as many partner with private lenders to provide assistance. Access to this funding is also dependent on your credit score. We have two trusted lending partners, which you can learn more about here.
Employment guarantee
This is the rarest of all options, and it’s unlikely you’ll find many codoing bootcamps that offer an employment-guarantee option. This option is simple: if you can’t find a job within a certain time frame — six months, for instance — then the coding bootcamp will refund your tuition. This is another option that’s going to have strict conditions, so it’s best to read the fine print. We do not offer this guarantee.
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Whichever option you choose, it’s important not to rush into your funding decisions. While researching which coding bootcamp is best for your goals and situation, make sure you do thorough research on your funding options. Try ones that will mean less money out of your pocket, and study very carefully any options that require additional pay and interest.