Break into software development with these Pittsburgh coding bootcamps

Some people start their technology careers in the lecture halls of a college’s computer science course. Others have the interest, but require a less conventional approach.

If you’re dreaming of a career in tech, but prefer crash courses over ivy-covered walls — or if your interests have changed since you got your degree, or traditional schooling is too expensive — then a coding bootcamp could be what you’re looking for.

Whether they’re virtual, in person or somewhere in between, these Pittsburgh coding bootcamps could be the start of a new career. You don’t need experience to join most, and for some programs, you don’t even need to pay — you just need to be ready to learn.

This is developing list, following our 2021 edition. Did we miss any Pittsburgh coding bootcamps that are currently active? (And does anyone know what’s up with Upstream Coding?) Email pittsburgh@technical.ly.

Academy Pittsburgh

Also known as AcademyPGH, this program teaches students web development skills including Ruby, C# and JavaScript — the latter of which Director John Lange told us “is by far the most popular in the job market currently.” AcademyPGH aims to prepare students to enter positions ranging from data scientists to full-stack developers. The org is located in Brookline following its departure from Allentown’s now-defunct Work Hard Pittsburgh.

• Duration — 12 weeks
• Cost — Pay $10,000 upfront or 10% of a grad’s income for 24 months
• Applications — Fall sessions start Sept. 19

Tech Elevator

This national org’s Pittsburgh branch, with an HQ at 901 Pennsylvania Ave., offers remote and in-person courses in Java, C#, HTML, CSS and SQL. It also pledges job placement post graduation, and hosts Pittsburgh’s #learntocode meetup, which offers free events and workshops for coders at all levels.

• Duration — Between 14 and 30 weeks depending on if the student is in a part-time or full-time program
• Cost — $15,950 with scholarships, grants and income share agreements available
• Applications — Due dates vary based on the time of year, with the next cohort beginning Sept. 12

Tech Elevator students. (Courtesy photo)

Per Scholas Pittsburgh

This local branch of a New York-headquartered, national program currently offers courses in cybersecurity, IT support and software engineering. It expanded to Pittsburgh in 2021 in partnership with TEKsystems, a technology services provider that stated its intention to hire from Per Scholars classes to work in Pittsburgh’s growing tech industry.

• Duration — 15 weeks
• Cost — Free
• Applications — Aug. 15 for cybersecurity, and Sept. 12 for information technology and software engineering

General Assembly

General Assembly is a national program with a virtual Pittsburgh option which offers courses in data science, UX design, software engineering and digital marketing. Currently the bootcamp’s classes are online with a part-time or full-time option.

• Duration — 12 weeks
• Cost — $15,950 for full tuition, or pay through income share agreement with monthly installments post-grad
• Applications — Fall courses start on Aug. 22 and Sept. 6

Girls Who Code

This national program seeks to close the gender gap in the tech field through free courses for students in grades 3 through 12 that help them to learn coding skills. Pittsburgh Technical College hosts a virtual club throughout the year open to students in grades 6 through 12. During the school year, public and private schools can set up clubs for interested students, and during the summer, high school students can brush up on their coding skills while exploring possible careers in tech. Additionally, women and nonbinary college and graduate students are eligible to start chapters on their campuses, which can offer internship assistance, interview and career readiness programs, and direct hiring pipelines.

• Duration — Club durations are based on the school calendar. Four-week sessions in the fall and nine-week sessions during the winter.
• Applications — Some clubs and camps require registration, and chapters require applications for funding, which are submitted between Aug. 2 and Oct. 17
• Cost — Clubs are free; summer camps charge tuition fees but could offer grants for participants who need them; and college and young professional programs are free

STEM Coding Lab

The STEM Coding Lab is a Pittsburgh nonprofit seeking to help kids from lower-income backgrounds learn computer science skills in partnership with Pittsburgh Public Schools. In after-school programs, online or during school hours, students in grades K through 12 can learn CS, robotics, and website design and development.

• Duration — After-school programs and in-school classes are based on the school calendar. During the summer, three two-week summer camp sessions are offered.
• Cost — Free or low-cost
• Applications — None

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If one of these local options isn’t for you, consider these national and virtual programs:

• Flatiron School
• Coding Dojo
• Sylvan Learning Center
• NuCamp
• Thinkful
• Code Galaxy