Alternative and independent: The universe of technology-related “bootcamps”

Abstract

In recent years, nontraditional workforce training programs have proliferated inside and outside of traditional postsecondary institutions. A subset of these programs, bootcamps, advertise high job placement rates and have been hailed by policymakers as key to training skilled workers. However, few formal data exist on the number, types, prices, location, or other descriptive details of program offerings. We fill this void by studying the universe of bootcamp programs offered as of June 30, 2017. In this report, we discuss the attributes of the 1,010 technology-related programs offered in the United States, Canada, and online. We find more diversity among bootcamp providers and programs than would be expected from public discourse. This primarily relates to the mode of delivery (online vs. in person), intensity (part time/full time), cost, and program types. Based on the data we collected, we present a classification structure for bootcamps focused on five distinct program types.