Bootcamps have cemented themselves as a cost-effective way to get the real-world skills and training you need for a successful career in tech.
In a fraction of the time and price of a college degree, a UX bootcamp molds UX design hopefuls into confident designers, ready to take the job market by storm.
In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the most common questions about bootcamps. Then we’ll take you through the most popular UX design bootcamps currently on the scene. Finally, we’ll provide a comprehensive roadmap of how to choose the right UX bootcamp for you.
By the end of this blog post, you’ll be well on your way to kickstarting your career as a UX designer.
(Of course, if you’d like to dive right into the world of UX, take our free UX design short course.)
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Are UX design bootcamps worth it?
- Is a UX bootcamp enough to get a job?
- Which UX bootcamp is the best?
- The best UX bootcamps
- How do I choose the right UX bootcamp for me?
- Key takeaways
- FAQ
Are UX design bootcamps worth it?
UX bootcamps can be worth it for individuals who want to jumpstart their careers in UX design or expand their skillset. Bootcamps provide an immersive and intensive learning experience that can help you gain practical knowledge and build a portfolio.
It’s important to do your research and choose a reputable bootcamp that aligns with your career goals, lifestyle, and learning preferences.
Is a UX bootcamp enough to get a job?
While a UX bootcamp can provide you with valuable skills and a portfolio, it is not a guarantee of employment. It’s important to network, continue learning, and gain real-world experience through internships or freelance work to increase your chances of landing a job in UX design.
Which UX bootcamp is the best?
There is no one “best” UX bootcamp, as the effectiveness of a bootcamp can vary depending on your individual needs and goals. It’s important to research and compare different programs, read reviews from former students, and consider factors such as curriculum, duration, cost, and job placement rates before making a decision.
1. The best UX bootcamps
CareerFoundry
Format: Online
Duration: 6–10 months
Cost: $7,505
There are few UX design bootcamps on the market that combine a comprehensive curriculum, personalized mentorship, and student-focused learning quite like CareerFoundry. Our online certified UX Designer program takes you through three journeys—Intro to UX, UX Immersion, and your choice of specialization (UI design, voice user interface design, or frontend development).
As of 2024, our curriculum has been updated to include a new focus on artificial intelligence (AI): you’ll learn to use AI critically, ethically, and in a way that is reflective of how real-world tasks are approached in the industry, while still building the core skills of your new profession.
With 96% of our eligible alumni getting a tech job within 180 days of graduation at top companies including Google, Apple, and Amazon, CareerFoundry offers some of the highest-quality course content on the scene (and a job guarantee).
For an independent review of the CareerFoundry UX Design Program, check out this video where student Cynthia talks about her experience with the course so far:
Want to learn more about how CareerFoundry can take you from a total novice to a motivated, confident UX designer? Learn more about our Full UX Design Program in this guide!
Thinkful
Format: Online
Duration: 4–8 months
Cost: $9,500 to $12,150
As the first tech school to offer self-paced online tech bootcamps, Thinkful has developed an apprenticeship approach to teaching UX design that is tailored to each student’s learning needs.
Offering 1-on-1 mentorship throughout the course, students can work full-time or part-time, finishing the course in an average of 4–8 months.
FlatIron
Format: Online and in-person
Duration: 15–40 weeks
Cost: $16,900
Flatiron School offers both immersive on-campus and online programs in UX design across the United States. Their courses aim to launch students into fulfilling careers as UX designers through rigorous, market-aligned curricula, and the support of seasoned instructors and personal career coaches.
Courses also include a real-life professional project, giving students client-facing experience and an industry-vetted portfolio.
Ironhack
Format: Online and in-person
Duration: 9—24 weeks
Cost: $12,500–13,000
Ironhack offers a nine-week full-time UX design course or a 24-week part-time UX design course. Career services include portfolio and resume building, job interview preparation, networking, and hiring fairs.
Ironhack has set itself apart by offering scholarships available for women and military vets who are interested in a tech career.
Springboard
Format: Online
Duration: 2–4 months
Cost: $7,900–14,500
Springboard offers self-paced UX design courses that can be completed in 2 to 4 months. Springboard also provides a part-time UX Career Track, which boasts one-on-one weekly mentor support.
As the course is billed monthly, students who finish early have the option of paying less for their tuition.
General Assembly
Format: Online and in-person
Duration: 12–24 weeks
Cost: $15,950
Focusing on the most relevant and in-demand skills in design, General Assembly offers a range of full-time, part-time, and self-paced courses, online and in-person, across 15 campuses on 4 continents. You’re guaranteed a high-quality education, with clients and hiring partners such as Google, Microsoft, and Visa.
They also offer employer sponsorship and payment plans to help you finance the course. Students are also given a career coach and the opportunity to attend various networking events.
DesignLab
Format: Online
Duration: 4–6 weeks
Cost:$7,249–9,677
Offering both full-time and part-time online courses, DesignLab teaches in-demand UX/UI design skills through self-paced learning. DesignLab provides each student with a career coach who guides the student on the job search for up to six months after graduation.
Courses consist primarily of hands-on projects and 1-on-1 mentorship from expert designers and top industry professionals.
Memorisely
Format: Online
Duration: 15 weeks
Cost: $3,950
In Memorisely’s UX/UI Design Bootcamp, you’ll be part of a small class of 15 aspiring designers in a 15-week intensive course that involves live, online meetings.
As you progress, you’ll create case studies for websites and mobile apps for real companies and develop your design portfolio.
Brainstation
Format: Online
Duration: 4–9 months
Cost: $16,500
Offered in part-time or full-time formats, Brainstation’s UX design bootcamp online includes guided, project-based learning and features guest experts throughout the program. The expansive curriculum takes the participant through all the most important facets of the user experience design world.
2. How do I choose the right UX bootcamp for me?
Don’t be suckered in by a five-star review—it’s essential to do your own research and take the time to consider which UX bootcamp best suits your needs.
There are two types of UX bootcamps: online bootcamps and in-person bootcamps. Some online bootcamps are flexible and self-paced, meaning you can choose your own study hours that fit around your schedule. Other online bootcamps offer set class times with virtual classrooms, taking place using video call or chat.
On the other hand, in-person bootcamps are bootcamps that take place locally in a fixed location, with fixed start dates and class times.
When choosing a UX bootcamp, here are the factors that need to be considered:
Scheduling
When looking at UX bootcamps, reflect on how many hours of study you can realistically commit to per month. If you plan to study UX design while maintaining a full-time job, you’ll likely be better suited to an online, flexibly-paced bootcamp which allows you to choose your own hours.
If you’re looking to make the switch into UX design as quickly as possible, you might be more drawn to an intensive course that will enable you to become a fully-fledged UX designer within a matter of a few months.
Curriculum quality
No two UX bootcamps are created equal: the quality of the course content makes a huge difference to how qualified you’ll be in the field of UX design. Is the curriculum curated from outside materials, or is it produced in-house by subject matter experts?
How regularly is it updated? How does the program break down what you learn within the world of UX? Is the curriculum up to speed with the latest methods, tools, trends, and software? Dive deep into each school’s curriculum to ensure it meets your standards. Above all, make sure the course content excites you!
Job practicality
Consider the current job market. In what ways will your chosen bootcamp prepare you for the job market? Does the school offer in-house career specialists who can support you throughout your job searching process? Does the bootcamp regularly update their course content to reflect current industry trends?
Does the bootcamp hold regular networking events, offering opportunities to broaden your horizons and seek out job opportunities? Is there a strong focus on ensuring you graduate with a robust portfolio that you can show to future employers and clients?
Alumni reviews
The best way to gauge whether a UX bootcamp is right for you? Connect with alumni. Find out what kind of roles and careers the students went on to do, and attend events which will allow you to connect with current students and alumni.
Hearing the stories of the people who studied with the UX bootcamp in question will help you to gauge whether it’s right for you. Try to connect with an alumnus who comes from a similar background as the field you’re currently in. Through them, you’ll get more of an insight into how your career path might look.
Add-ons
Many UX bootcamps offer additional ‘specialization courses’ to further bolster your qualifications and broaden your skillset. For example, in addition to UX design, you could do a specialization course in UI design, frontend development, and voice user interface design (VUI). These additional skills will give you a competitive edge when it comes to the job market.
Costs
Of course, it’s essential to compare the prices of different UX design bootcamps. UX bootcamps are a sizeable investment, and while the evidence shows that they are more than worth the money, it’s still worth making sure you’re getting the maximum amount of bang for your buck.
Consider looking into taking out student loans, pulling from your savings, or seeing if programs offer ways to pay the tuition fee after you land a job.
What payment options do they offer? Is there a way for you to stagger the cost of tuition? Consider your living expenses if you can’t work while doing the program.
3. Key takeaways
Changing your career is not easy. It involves significant risk-taking, a willingness to start from square one again, and an ability to embrace change in radical ways.
Bootcamps provide the ideal environment where ideas can flourish without boundaries, and UX hopefuls can learn, make mistakes, and discover a whole new world—free of judgment or pressure. In 3 months to a year, through intensive coursework paired with strong career support, UX hopefuls can learn user experience design inside out and front to back.
Want to learn more? Speak directly with a program advisor or read our guide on everything you need to know about becoming a certified UX designer.
Otherwise, check out these articles:
- The fascinating history of UX design
- 9 Non-design related skills you’ll need as a UX designer
- The 5 biggest differences between UX and UI design
FAQ
1. Are UX bootcamps worth it?
UX bootcamps can be worth it for individuals who want to jumpstart their careers in UX design or for those who are looking to expand their skillset. Bootcamps provide an immersive and intensive learning experience that can help you gain practical knowledge and build a portfolio. However, it’s important to do your research and choose a reputable bootcamp that aligns with your career goals.
2. Is a UX bootcamp enough to get a job?
While a UX bootcamp can provide you with valuable skills and a portfolio, it is not a guarantee of employment. It’s important to network, continue learning, and gain real-world experience through internships or freelance work to increase your chances of landing a job in UX design.
3. Which UX bootcamp is the best?
There is no one “best” UX bootcamp, as the effectiveness of a bootcamp can vary depending on your individual needs and goals. It’s important to research and compare different programs, read reviews from former students, and consider factors such as curriculum, duration, cost, and job placement rates before making a decision. Some popular UX bootcamps include CareerFoundry, Flatiron School, and BrainStation.