For many people, one of the biggest obstacles to advancing their education can be tuition. And even though enrolling in a skills-based program such as a data science bootcamp can often provide a career-building education at a comparatively low price tag, making that initial investment can still be daunting. So, how much does a data science bootcamp cost, and what are some options for how to pay for it? Below, we have a breakdown of paying for your training.
Data science bootcamp cost
The cost of attending a data science bootcamp can vary widely, with tuition ranging from $500–30,000 and with an average cost of roughly $12,000. Factors that can affect this are location, program length, and whether it’s self-paced more guided. No matter the program type, though, you’ll also want to consider additional costs that may be required, such as registration fees or any necessary course materials.
The format of the program you attend will also affect how much time you’ll ultimately invest. The majority of data science bootcamps take between three and nine months to complete — though accelerated, self-paced, or part-time programs can create outliers in this range. Additionally, some bootcamps may require enrollees to complete one or two weeks of prep work before classes begin.
Bootcamps can cost as little as $500 ,
and as much as $30,000 to enroll.
How can I pay for data science training?
Upfront, in full
If you have enough money saved up to cover your program’s tuition, any necessary supplies, and living expenses such as rent and groceries, paying upfront could be your best option. While this method does require the highest initial cost, you won’t owe any money in interest, there’s no credit check, and you won’t have to worry about remembering to make monthly payments. Since data science programs can cost thousands of dollars, look around to see if there are any scholarships or grants available that can help ease the tuition amount!
Interest-free recurring payments
For those who are unable to pay the full tuition cost upfront and aren’t using a scholarship or grant, some schools also may offer payment plan, or tuition-free recurring payment, options. This allows students to make several smaller payments over the duration of the program, in order to lessen the upfront cost. It includes no credit check and no interest — so you’ll ultimately pay less than you would with a loan. However, payments are spread over a much shorter period of time than other financing options such as loans. So although you’ll pay less overall, your monthly payments will be higher.
Student loans
A student loan can be a good choice for students who need to make the smallest monthly payments, rather than larger payments or all upfront. While not all data science schools offer federal student loans, private student loans might still be available. Depending on the loan terms available for your program, you may have the option of full deferral, interest-only deferral, or immediate full repayment.
Climb partners with several data science bootcamps for financing, and we only perform a hard credit pull once a loan is funded. So, you can submit an application to check out our options with no impact to your credit score!*
There are some things you’ll want to keep in mind, though. Most loans come with an interest rate, which means you’ll ultimately end up paying more than the original tuition amount. And since your credit report will be pulled, your credit score may be impacted. At the end of the day, you’ll need to consider what works best for your situation — smaller monthly payments while paying more overall, or higher monthly payments while paying less overall.
A data science bootcamp typically takes as little as 3 months
or as much as 9 months to complete!
Want to know more about paying for your data science bootcamp cost through Climb?
*Climb performs a “soft” credit pull to evaluate eligibility, but this soft credit check will not affect your credit score. A hard credit pull is only performed once the loan is accepted and funded.