2015 Coding Bootcamp News: A Year in Review

Table of Contents

• Let's Recap 2015....
• Thanks for Supporting Course Report!

2015 was another huge year for coding bootcamps, and the team at Course Report had a blast covering it. We've seen acquisitions, attention from the White House, a focus on accessibility and new schools launching weekly in cities from San Fran to Sydney. As we connect with bootcamp alumni all over the world, success stories continue to emerge and it makes us so excited to see the future of bootcamps unfold. But we can't head into the New Year without reflecting on some of the greatest accomplishments of 2015, so read on for our top picks!

Let's Recap 2015....

• We started January with a WaPo blog, urging Obama to consider coding bootcamps in his free community college plan. By February, some were asking if bootcamps could be a college alternative.
• March was all about President Obama announcing the TechHire initiative and NESTA launching their new trade organization for bootcamps (although we haven't seen a ton of progress since). Later in April, Brian Forde explored how TechHire would lead to a more diverse tech sector.
• In May, Bloomberg wrote about the growth of schools like Dev Bootcamp and App Academy. In June, Denver's Skill Distillery became the first VA-approved bootcamp to accept the GI Bill. 
• In July, the New York Times called bootcamps like Galvanize "career game changers." And Affirm started funding bootcamp tuition. 
• FastCompany wondered where all the women in tech were, and found them in coding bootcamps in August. Plus, lending startup LendLayer was acquired by Affirm. 
• In September, Inside Higher Ed reported on General Assembly's journey through regulation and expansion. 
• October was all about EQUIP, the Department of Education initiative to encourage partnerships between universities and bootcamps and the launch of private lender SkillsFund. 
• In November, ChicagoInno wrote about the next trend in the bootcamp world: Design, Data Science, and Digital Marketing. 
• Which brings us to December. My favorite read this month was this TechCrunch piece on how bootcamp grads should choose their first jobs. 

Thanks for Supporting Course Report!

In 2015, Course Report:

• Published over 250 interviews with bootcamp students, instructors, and alumni.
• Released 3 research reports on the growth of coding bootcamps, student outcomes and demographics, and expansion into design, data science, and other digital skills.
• Amassed over 1600 reviews of coding bootcamps around the world. The award for Most Reviewed School is a tie! Wyncode and DevMountain both have 74 reviews! 
• Hosted webinars with Skillcrush, Bloc, and Dev Bootcamp. And dug deep into important topics like Racial Diversity in Coding Bootcamps.  
• Grew our team, found ourselves on air with OnPoint, and moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn! 

We're looking forward to a year of pushing helpful new features, publishing tons of interviews and reviews, and working to make bootcamp education more transparent and accessible. Have a safe and wonderful 2016!

The Course Report Team