12 of the Best Data Science Bootcamps in 2024

The big data market is growing exponentially—as is the demand for data scientists. If you’re thinking about becoming a data scientist, a good bootcamp can help you to learn the necessary skills and gain hands-on experience. But what are the best data science bootcamps made of? And can a bootcamp really equip you for such a technical field?

In this post, we’ll compare twelve of the best data science bootcamps on the market right now. We’ll then explore the role of the data scientist and provide an overview of the data job market. We’ll also weigh up whether or not a data science bootcamp is worth your time.

If you’re completely new to the field of data, you might want to give this free data short course a go first.

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What is data science?
What are the best data science bootcamps?
Is a data science bootcamp worth it?
Data science bootcamp vs. data science degree—which is better?
How much does a data science bootcamp cost?
How to pay for your data science bootcamp
Best data science bootcamps FAQs
Next steps

Are you ready? Then let’s begin with a big question.

1. What is data science?

In very broad terms, data science is the art (or science!) of making sense of big data. With huge volumes of data being generated all the time, it’s essential that businesses and organizations are able to leverage it—and this requires expertise in specific domains.

Perhaps the best way to define data science as a discipline is to consider what a data scientist actually does, as well as the skills and tools they utilize. Data scientists draw upon their computer science, mathematics, and business expertise to run complex, custom data analyses, to build predictive models and algorithms, and to design new processes for data modeling—to name just a few.

In a nutshell, they use a variety of tools, programming languages, and machine learning principles to optimize the way companies harness and learn from their data, enabling them to make smarter business decisions.

Learn more: What Is Data Science? A Comprehensive Introduction

Want to know the difference between data analytics and data science? Check out the following video:

The data science job market

It’s estimated that the big data market will be worth a whopping $229.4 billion USD in 2025—that’s a compound annual growth rate of 10.6%.

With such rapid growth, the need for data experts is continuously on the up. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the data science job outlook to be 35% between 2022–32, way above the average for all jobs of 2%. If you’re thinking about becoming a data scientist, now is a great time to join the field.

2. What are the best data science bootcamps on the market right now?

So without further ado, here’s our selection of the best data science bootcamps.

1. CareerFoundry Data Analytics Program

Mode of study: Online
Duration: 5 months full-time or 8 months part-time
Price: $7,505–7,900 USD
Ideal for: Career-changers with no prior experience

While this isn’t a data science bootcamp, the CareerFoundry Data Analytics Program does teach many of the fundamental concepts crucial to data science—making it a great starting point if you’re completely new to the industry.

In fact, many professionals in the field start out as data analysts before transitioning to data science. You’ll start from the very beginning, learning how to prepare and analyze data, before moving on to SQL, Python, and interactive dashboards. In addition to a project-based curriculum with a strong focus on portfolio building, students benefit from a unique dual mentorship model.

CareerFoundry’s offering comes in at $7,505 for the entire program, but the cost of the tuition is dependent on your location and is competitively priced. A range of flexible payment options include paying upfront to get a small course discount. Contact one of our Program Advisors to find out your local pricing and if there are any partial scholarships available.

You’ll work with both a mentor and a tutor, as well as an expert career coach—and, if you don’t find a job within six months of graduating, you’ll get your money back. You can try a free introductory short course.

2. Flatiron School Online Data Science Bootcamp

Mode of study: Online
Duration: 5 months full-time, 10 months part-time or self-paced
Price: $16,900 USD for the full-time and part-time options
Ideal for: Career-changers on a higher budget

Throughout this bootcamp, you’ll cover core data science topics such as Python and SQL, machine learning, big data, and natural language processing, culminating in a data science advanced project.

You don’t need any prior experience to apply, but you will need to demonstrate some data science knowledge in order to be accepted onto the course. Prospective students are also required to complete a pre-work course before the bootcamp begins.

In addition to a robust curriculum, Flatiron School offers extensive career support, including individual career coaching and access to a vast network of employers. This is a pricey but strong contender, good if you’re looking to build a career in data science and have a bigger budget to spare.

3. General Assembly Data Science Immersive Online

Mode of study: Online, in real-time
Duration: Around 3 months full-time
Price: $16,450 USD
Ideal for: Career-changers with some existing data science knowledge

If you’re looking for an intensive, immersive learning experience, you’ll want to consider the General Assembly online data science bootcamp.

You’ll connect with instructors and fellow students in real-time via the interactive classroom, delving into topics such as Python, statistical modeling, decision trees, random forests, and more. Over the course of three months you’ll tackle five projects,building a professional data portfolio in the process. And, to help you with your career-change, you’ll work one-on-one with a career coach.

It’s important to bear in mind that this is an intermediate-level course with some prerequisites; it’s recommended that you already have a strong mathematical background, as well as familiarity with Python.

4. Thinkful Data Science Flexible

Mode of study: Online
Duration: 6 months part-time
Price: $9,500 USD
Ideal for: Career-changers looking for flexible study

One of the more affordable options on our list, the Thinkful data science bootcamp offers a flexible pathway into the industry.

You’ll learn at your own pace on a part-time basis, building up your knowledge over the course of six months. You’ll receive one-on-one mentorship throughout, graduating with a professional data science portfolio.

And, if you can’t find a job within six months of graduating, you’ll get your money back. With a range of payment options available, this is a good option if you’re keen to kick-start your career change without investing upfront—although the price rose sharply in 2023.

5. BrainStation Online Data Science Bootcamp

Mode of study: Online
Duration: 12 weeks full-time
Price: $16,500 USD
Ideal for: Career-changers looking for a collaborative learning experience

The BrainStation online bootcamp covers (almost) everything you need to start your career as a data scientist: a project-based curriculum, extensive career coaching and interview prep, as well as the opportunity to network with industry experts.

You’ll attend live classes and lectures through the virtual classroom, exploring data fundamentals, machine learning techniques, and big data. This is an especially good option if you’re looking for an online bootcamp that still offers a collaborative element; as part of the course, you’ll have the opportunity to split out into breakout rooms and work together with your classmates.

However, bear in mind that, despite being one of the pricier options on the market, this bootcamp doesn’t come with a job guarantee.

6. Springboard Data Science Career Track

Mode of study: Online
Duration: 6 months part-time
Price: $13,900 USD
Ideal for: Career-changers with experience in statistics and programming

The Springboard Data Science Career Track spans six months on a part-time basis, promising a project-based curriculum, unlimited one-to-one mentorship, and a job guarantee (or your money back). The curriculum is split into 18 units, covering topics such as data wrangling, storytelling with data, statistics, and machine learning.

Admission to the Springboard bootcamp does come with some prerequisites: you’ll need six months of coding experience under your belt, and you’ll need to be comfortable with basic probability and descriptive statistics. Although pricey, this is a good option for software developers and analysts looking to move into data science.

7. Dataquest Data Science Learning Path

Mode of study: Online
Duration: Flexible, self-paced
Price: $29 – $49 USD per month
Ideal for: Beginners on a budget

Unlike many of the bootcamps on our list, Dataquest works on a subscription basis, allowing you to learn affordably and flexibly at your own pace. The “Data Scientist in Python” learning path contains a variety of different courses, each teaching a crucial data science skill.

Course topics include Python fundamentals, data cleaning with Python, SQL, statistics, and machine learning—to name just a few. If you’re keen to get hands-on and are happy to learn independently without the guidance of a mentor, this is a worthwhile route to consider. And, with no prior knowledge or experience necessary, you can jump straight in.

8. INE Data Science Courses

Mode of study: Online
Duration: Self-paced
Price: $39 USD per month, or $299 per year
Ideal for: Flexible hands-on learning

INE is best described as a content library, offering an extensive database of data science courses. Through video lessons, projects, exercises, and quizzes, you’ll get a solid introduction to data science with a heavy focus on Python.

Learning is entirely self-paced, but the courses lay out a logical path for you to follow—starting with an introduction to programming with Python before moving on to topics like functional programming, scientific computing with NumPy, and data cleaning with Pandas.

This is a flexible, affordable option if you want to try your hand at data science before committing to a complete career change.

9. NYC Data Science Academy Data Science Bootcamp

Mode of study: Online and in-person
Duration: 12 weeks full time, 4-6 months full/part-time with the online-only program
Price: $17,600 USD
Ideal for: Career-changers with a large budget

The NYC Data Science Academy offers two flexible routes of study. The first is a 12-week intensive, with daily classes that are taken either in-person on campus, or remotely through live Zoom classes. The second option is distance-learning-only, which is completed either full or part-time over 4-6 months.

Both types of the data science bootcamp involve the student completing four big projects, with the final project often being sponsored by companies located within New York City. This provider also boasts lifelong career support, which includes one-on-one resume reviews, interview preparation, and more.

This is a good option for those who are changing careers and are keen to work on the east coast of the U.S., as many of the networking and job opportunities provided through the program will be located there.

10. Udemy Complete Data Science Bootcamp

Mode of study: Online
Duration: 29 hours self-paced
Price: $130 USD (approx)
Ideal for: Complete beginners looking for a self-paced course

The Complete Data Science Bootcamp is part of the Udemy for Business collection. The course promises to provide “the entire toolbox you need to become a data scientist”—including on-demand video lessons, articles, and downloadable resources. You can work through the curriculum at your own pace, starting with a broader overview of the data science field before honing in on the specifics such as statistics, Python, and deep learning.

The course has been designed for complete beginners, making it an excellent starting point if you’re looking for a flexible and affordable introduction.

11. Practicum Data Science Bootcamp

Mode of study: Online
Duration: 9 months part-time
Price: $16,200
Ideal for: Those balancing career-change with a full-time-job or family commitments

Though it’s one of the longer data science bootcamps on this list, that is a good thing. Over the course of nine months you’ll work on 16 portfolio projects, meaning you’ll leave with an impressive portfolio for perspective employers.

On top of that, Practicum promise that all of their students do “externships”, which are essentially internships at companies, although it doesn’t look like these are paid ones. Add career support to this, and it’s an impressive package, albeit at a high price.

12. Data Science Dojo Data Science Bootcamp

Mode of study: Online and in-person
Duration: 16 weeks online at 5–6 hours per week, in-person bootcamps one week
Price: $4500
Ideal for: Those wanting to either learn the ropes intensively, or to pay for access to a data science mentor

Despite this Western school’s use of problematic language, naming itself and its course levels borrowed from Eastern culture (“dojo”, “guru”, and “sensei”), it’s a solid online data science bootcamp.

The highest level of payment plan crucially comes with 5 hours of mentoring as well as a mentored project. Access to a professional data scientist is a valuable opportunity if you’re trying to break into the industry. It’ll give you industry insights and practical advice to plan your career. The course itself takes you across topics such as data vizualisation, predictive modeling, Random Forest, and big data engineering.

3. Is a data science bootcamp worth it?

The short answer is yes—a data science bootcamp can set you up for a career in the field.

However, not all bootcamps are created equal, so it’s essential to find one that suits your individual needs and objectives. If you’re a complete beginner, you’ll benefit from a comprehensive, mentored bootcamp with a strong focus on career change. If you’ve already got some experience and are looking to upskill, you’ll likely be looking for a bootcamp with a slightly different approach.

Regardless of your skill level or career goals, data science bootcamps offer many advantages. They are generally more flexible and affordable than traditional university or higher education programs, and they tend to take a more hands-on approach to learning—a major benefit for aspiring data scientists.

Gone are the days when traditional bricks-and-mortar institutions were viewed as superior to online programs or intensive bootcamps. As remote work increasingly becomes normalized, attitudes towards education are also changing.

So, if a data science bootcamp is more feasible or simply more appealing to you than a university degree, go for it! With a solid portfolio and a reputable certification, you can confidently enter the data science job market.

So now to the crux of why we’re here: which data science bootcamps are actually worth your time and money?

4. Data science bootcamp vs. data science degree—which is better?

So, you’re weighing up the options between data science bootcamps and degrees. While neither are “better” than the other, you may find that some of the pros outweigh the cons for either option. We’ll look at some of these pros and cons now, starting with a traditional data science degree:

Pros of a data science degree

You’ll receive expert instruction from lecturers with extensive academic experience.
Some prefer the formal approach to learning, as courses are structured with lectures, seminars, exams, and graded feedback.
You’ll have options to specialize for your interests through elective study, which can benefit future job prospects.
You’ll be able to hone those all-important soft skills through collaboration with other students.
Opportunities to make invaluable connections.
Some data degrees incorporate internship placements as part of the curriculum, allowing you to apply your skills in the workplace.

Cons of a data science degree

The application can be difficult and lengthy.
Degrees are expensive. They often include tuition fees as well as course texts and other hidden costs, meaning you’re likely to graduate in debt.
You may have to relocate to study your preferred data science course if the university isn’t in your home city.
The rigid nature of larger academic institutions means it can take time for industry changes to trickle into degree programs, so materials may be outdated. This is especially problematic in a field like data science, which is fast evolving.
Working your way through a degree is a big time investment—usually three or four years.

Pros of a data bootcamp

You’ll learn from industry professionals with relevant, current experience in the field of data science.
Data science bootcamps are much more flexible than degrees. Learning is usually online, meaning there’s no commute, and you’re more likely to be able to fit it around other arrangements.
Data science bootcamps are generally much cheaper than the cost of a degree.
The curriculum will be focused on practical skills you’ll actually use on the job, including data science tools like Excel, Python, and SQL.
Many data science bootcamps are career-focused, encouraging you to use capstone projects as part of your portfolio.

Cons of a data science bootcamp

The learning atmosphere of a bootcamp is intense—you’re learning a lot in a short amount of time, especially compared to a data degree!
You may feel isolated working on projects alone.
Some employers may insist on a formal qualification rather than a bootcamp certificate. However, with an accredited certificate from an established bootcamp provider, this is less of an issue.
There are fewer opportunities to specialize with a data science bootcamp—but not impossible! Ask your program advisor about opportunities to specialize before committing to a bootcamp.

Want to learn more about the difference between a data science bootcamp and a degree? Check out our full list of pros and cons for each option.

5. How much does a data science bootcamp cost?

Many of the bootcamps we’ve listed here have considerable tuition fees, costing thousands—if not tens of thousands—of dollars. In paying these costs, students have access to world-class education, as well as usually benefiting from:

Qualified teachers and mentors with industry experience
Networking opportunities
Interview coaching and job-search assistance

Of course, there are also programs we’ve listed that are much lighter on the pocket, being a self-paced or subscription-based model. These are great options for total beginners, those low on time, and those who are simply looking to upskill in a few areas (as opposed to learning about the field of data science as a whole).

However, with the lower price tag comes a more scaled-back education—that is, without the additional benefits we’ve already mentioned.

For data science bootcamps that are hosted in-person, you may need to consider the costs of travel, accommodation, and living expenses, if the education provider is located in another area that isn’t local to you.

Some of the data science bootcamps we’ve listed will have specific hardware requirements in order to take the course. This is to ensure that your computer is capable of processing the complex applications that are included in the course. For example, Thinkful requires that you have a personal computer with “at least 4GB RAM, at least 1.8 GHz processor (above 2 GHz recommended), and at least 100 GB HD.” If you don’t already have this equipment to hand, it could be costly to acquire, on top of tuition costs.

6. How to pay for your data science bootcamp

While the listed price for a data science bootcamp may look intimidating at first, you’ll find that many bootcamp providers on the market give different options for payment. We’ll list a few of those options here, but do be sure to get in contact with your desired data science bootcamp providers to see if they have other options available.

Paying upfront

If you’ve got the money to hand, it can be useful to pay for your data science bootcamp upfront, as many providers will give discounts for doing so. You can also save money when paying upfront—as opposed to taking out a loan—as this will avoid interest accruing and other potential fees.

Paying in instalments

Some providers give an option for partial payment, or paying in instalments, which is great for students who may have sporadic sources of income. It also avoids having a big chunk of money coming out of your account at one time, which can be stressful to some! The main downside to this method of payment is that data science bootcamp providers will often tack on extra costs.

Deferred payment

This option will delay tuition payments until you find a job after graduating. Some providers may even have a salary threshold that you must meet before the payment cycle activates, which takes some of the pressure off, especially if you’re new to the field. It should be noted, however, that once you meet this threshold, your salary does not impact the monthly payment amount.

Income share agreements (ISAs)

Similar to the deferred payment model, income share agreements delay tuition payments until you find a job after graduating. However, with income share agreements, your loan repayments are made up of a percentage of your salary, set to a fixed term.

Loans

Some of the data science bootcamp providers we’ve listed work together with loan providers, to give another payment option to their students. These work just like any other loan you might take out for education or any other purpose that are subject to bank approval, and may accrue interest.

Money-back guarantee

Some of the providers we’ve mentioned are so confident in your ability to find work after the bootcamp that they’re able to provide a money-back guarantee if you don’t land a job in the data science field within a specified time frame after graduating.

Many of the courses that offer a money-back guarantee will also offer interview coaching and networking opportunities, to help you land the job you want.

7. Best data science bootcamps FAQs

How helpful are data science bootcamps in finding a job if you have no experience in the field?

When it comes to entering the job market, the helpfulness of a data science bootcamp will depend primarily on the level of support included, coupled with your own job search efforts. For example, some bootcamps will offer one-to-one career coaching, while others will simply help you expand your network. Luckily, many of the providers we’ve listed have a career services team who will work directly with you to provide assistance with your portfolio, interview skills, and networking opportunities.

What skills do you learn on a data science bootcamp?

Each data science bootcamp will have its own unique curriculum. But, in general, you will cover some or all of the following topics:

How to use databases and SQL
How to write in programming languages, such as Python
How to prepare and analyze data
How to create different types of visualizations, as well as what they’re used for
Visual design principles for creating visualizations
How to create interactive dashboards, using tools such as Tableau
Understanding data mining, big data analysis, machine learning, and ethics

If there’s something specific you would like to learn on a data science bootcamp, get in touch with the course advisors for your desired program to see whether they teach it or not.

Are data science bootcamps worth it?

If you’re looking to change careers into data science or simply looking to upskill, data science bootcamps offer an efficient and thorough option for people seeking to understand the fundamental skills and tools of the field. Many of the data science bootcamps we’ve listed provide collaborative, practical training, as well as career services that will be useful once you’ve graduated.

8. Next steps

In this post, we’ve highlighted some of the best data science bootcamps on the market right now. So, what next?

Hopefully you’ve found a few options that resonate with your needs and objectives. Now it’s time to conduct further research. Find out more about what each bootcamp has to offer, read through student testimonials, and get in touch with your chosen providers to ask any questions you might have.

If you still just want to try out working with data, then try out CareerFoundry’s free data short course to see if it’s for you.

And, if you’d like to learn more about the data industry, check out the following: