2023 Best Data Science Bootcamps
Data science bootcamps aim to teach how to understand and process large amounts of digital information. Completing a bootcamp may help you break into the well-paid, fast-growing career field of data science.
Since 2014, SwitchUp has been a trusted source for people who want to find their best bootcamp options. The ranked list below only includes data science bootcamps that earned a minimum of four out of five stars after being reviewed by at least 10 graduates. Read our full rankings methodology for more details.
More Rankings: Best Online Data Science | Best Data Analytics | Best Coding | Best Data Science by Location
Location: Online
Courses: Data Science Career Track +2 More
"Springboard is very accommodating [...] They have a 1 on 1 mentor throughout the course, as well as on-call mentors you can talk with for 30 minutes when you get stuck on a question with linear regression, t-test, p-value, etc."
Location: Online, NYC
Courses: 12-Week Data Science Bootcamp +4 More
"Well run and informative data science course, teaching about R language. How to use it, the main packages (dplyr, tidyr) and how to visualize the data using functions like ggplot and shiny. Overall I found this class to be very informative."
"A good introduction in to the word of data science. [...] The possibility to ask questions on the fly and having the knowledge segmented in to nicely packed modules is making the learning experience much more enjoyable."
Why Trust Our Rankings?
Ratings Based on over 25k Student Reviews
Annual Rankings Since 2014
What Is a Data Science Bootcamp?
There's never been a better time to learn data science, and a bootcamp can be a relatively quick way to do so. Technology and coding bootcamps are intensive training programs that focus exclusively on teaching technical skills and knowledge in a period of 3-12 full-time months. Programs last longer for part-time data science bootcamp students.
Unlike college degrees, these programs have no general education requirements beyond what it takes to learn a given subject. As a data science bootcamp student, you may spend up to 10 hours a day, five days a week working on projects for instructors who are professionals in the field. You'll learn advanced methods for using statistics, mathematics, databases, machine learning, and programming languages such as Python.
You can find fully online data science bootcamps and many programs at locations throughout the country. Most data science bootcamps are suitable for students at all levels of educational and technical experience. But some programs are more advanced and require prior data science knowledge or even a bachelor's degree in a STEM field.
See our guide to choosing a bootcamp for ideas about applying to data science programs.
FAQs About Online Data Science Bootcamps
What's the Difference Between Data Science and Data Analytics?
Data science emphasizes identifying important data and creating methods and tools for finding it. Data analysis focuses on interpreting the data and reporting insights to decision makers. But there's a lot of crossover between the two in the job market. For example, data scientists may have a hybrid role that includes analysis, and data analysts might need to determine users' data needs and collect that information.
You can read our rankings list of the best data analytics bootcamps if this subject intrigues you more than data science.
What Jobs Can You Get After a Data Science Bootcamp?
You might secure work as a data scientist or other data professional with a similar title. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has good news about the data scientist profession. The field is growing at a blazing-fast 36% rate in the 2021-2031 period.
Keep in mind that some data science positions call for a bachelor's or master's degree. You may want to choose a bootcamp with a job guarantee program that issues a refund if you don't find a data science job within a set time period.
How Much Can I Make After a Data Science Bootcamp?
Data scientists make median annual wages of $100,910. This is more than twice the median salary in the U.S. Related fields also pay well. For example, business intelligence analysts earn median yearly salaries of $100,910, and database administrators and architects make median pay of $101,000 per year.
Are Data Science Bootcamps Worth It?
Data science bootcamps are probably worth it because they can provide a way to enter a rapidly growing field at a relatively low cost in money and time. Many employers accept skilled workers with diverse educational backgrounds, whether they've completed a bootcamp or college. Most bootcamps offer mentorship and tutoring opportunities alongside hands-on training to try to give students a positive experience.
One potential downside is the intensive nature of bootcamps. They require a lot of demanding work over a short period, which can make it difficult to balance your obligations. They also leave less time to forge meaningful professional contacts with classmates. But this might be offset by the career services that many bootcamps offer, such as job interview preparation, hiring sessions, and post-graduation career coaching.
Financing a data science bootcamp can present another obstacle. The cost may strain your budget if you have to pay tuition up front. Check each school before applying to see if it offers payment plan options. You can also check out our bootcamp scholarship list and review a selection of data science bootcamps that accept the GI Bill® if this applies.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
