General Assembly vs Springboard

Springboard Reviews and Key Information

Springboard is an online coding bootcamp with several part-time programs. It offers courses in cyber security, software engineering, data science, data engineering, data analytics, machine learning, and UX/UI design. All of these programs are taught remotely and are self-paced. The courses are project-based and include job search guidance, career planning, and interview tips. Read on to find out if Springboard is the right coding bootcamp for you.

Springboard at a Glance

Cost of Tuition	$6,600 to $11,691
Financing Options	Income Share Agreement, Upfront Payment, Private Student Loans
Courses Offered	Software Engineering, Data Science, Data Analytics, Data Engineering, Machine Learning, Cyber Security, UX/UI Design
Career Services and Job Assistance	Career Coaching, Job Guarantee, Network of Industry Partners

What Can You Learn at Springboard?

Springboard’s courses cover several career tracks. The courses cover all areas of software engineering and data science. The school even offers several prep courses in these fields to help ease students into their program before class starts.

Cyber Security Career Track

The units in this program cover cyber security basics, IT project management, network security, host-based security, and security assessment and training. Students will also learn about identity and access management, and app security. The course includes more than 30 labs and assignments, as well as a capstone project that will showcase the student’s new skills. In the assignments, students will practice tackling real-world issues by building and deploying malware using the remote access trojan program. Students will also be assigned a personal mentor who is a cyber security professional to help them during the course.

Data Analytics Career Track

In this program, students will learn how statistics can affect fundamental business concepts. To do this, they will study coding languages and programs such as Python, SQL, Excel, Power BI, and Tableau. Students will also learn advanced data analysis techniques while developing problem-solving skills. This program ends with two capstone projects which students will include in their portfolio.

Data Engineering Career Track

Throughout the data engineering track at Spinrgboard, students will learn to address a business’s needs by analyzing its data infrastructure. The curriculum covers analytical skills and frameworks, and current data analysis tools. Topics will include MapReduce, data pipelines, ETL, Apache Hadoop, data schema, and Spark.

Data Science Career Track

This data science bootcamp will go into both basic and advanced data science theories and techniques. Students will leave prepared for an entry-level data science role. During the program, students will study Python, create data visualizations using Seaborn and Matplotlib, and will write code in Python with the PEP8 standard. The curriculum also goes into data wrangling, statistical inference, machine learning, and software engineering for data science.

Machine Learning Engineering Career Track

In the machine learning program, students will learn how to design a prototype for a deep learning system. They will also learn how to use a web service or API to deploy apps that they have designed. The training also includes anomaly detection, linear regression, and data cleaning.

Software Engineering Career Track

This software engineering track takes 800 hours to complete and covers all the main aspects of backend development, front end development, and databases. You will learn web development fundamentals like JavaScript, as well as how to conduct event-driven programming and DOM manipulation. Students will also study programs like Github with AJAX and jQuery.

UI/UX Design Career Track

The UI/UX design program at Springboard teaches attendees how to create user-friendly websites. To do this, they will study wireframes and build high-fidelity mockups. During the program, students will work with professional web designers to implement the user experience and user interface design skills they have learned. The website that they design as part of their class project will be included in their portfolio.

Admissions: How Do You Get Accepted to Springboard?

Anyone can apply to Springboard, but some of the institution’s courses require more experience than others. As part of the entrance process, you will have to prove that you meet the prerequisites if the program to which you are applying is not intended for beginners. Keep in mind that taking one of the school’s prep courses in either data science, software engineering, or web design can increase your chances of getting admitted. You will also need to have strong critical thinking and English language skills to gain admission.

Springboard Application Process

Springboard has a rather simple application process. You must first apply online and answer several questions about your background. Prospective students must also complete an online assessment covering statistics and coding. The statistics questions will be multiple-choice, while the coding questions will cover only the basics of programming. The questions you are asked will vary depending on which program you are applying to.

Springboard Interview

You will have to complete your interview with a Springboard admissions officer before you take your online assessment. This is a behavioral and technical interview. The interviewer will want to know about you and why you chose to apply for a particular course at Springboard. The interview might also include questions meant to assess your problem-solving, communication, and technical abilities. All of these factors will be used to determine wether you will be a good fit for the program.

Paying for Springboard

Springboard’s tuition cost varies based on the program. The cheapest course offered at the school is the data analytics program, which costs $6,600, while the most expensive program is the UI/UX design program, which costs $11,691. The technical training institution provides students with many different payment options so that they are able to afford the course of their choice.

Income Share Agreement

Springboard has an income share agreement in which students are only required to pay $700 in order to attend the program. The student will then repay the remainder of their tuition over 36 months, but only after they have graduated and landed a well-paid job. If the student does not secure a job within six months of leaving the school, their tuition will be waived.

Upfront Payment

Springboard has an upfront payment option for most of its programs. Students who choose this option will be eligible for a discount. For example, the cyber security program costs $8,940 upfront, but students who pay upfront will receive a 16 percent discount.

Private Student Loans

Springboard has partnered with the financing company Climb Credit to provide loans for all permanent US residents. This loan can be used to cover both a student’s tuition and living expenses while attending Springboard. Interest rates are kept low to make this an affordable option for students.

Scholarships

Some coding bootcamps offer scholarships to high-achieving students or prospective students from underrepresented communities. However, Springboard does not offer any scholarship offers at this time.

What Makes Springboard Unique?

Springboard is unique in that it offers a wide variety of carefully constructed career track courses. The coding bootcamp stands out by exclusively teaching students the skills they will need to transition straight into a career in technology. Aside from its solid curriculum, the school also helps its students by providing career coaching and networking opportunities. Since Springobard’s courses are all offered online on a flexible schedule, anyone can attend, even while working a full-time job. Better yet, Springboard also offers a job guarantee for most of its courses. If a student fails to secure a job within six months of graduating, they will receive a full tuition refund.