|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Companies that prioritize an effective user experience (UX) notoriously experience the most success. Think about it: If the layout of a website or grocery store is confusing or frustrating, are you likely to return? Probably not.
One more specific example is search engines. Why has Google emerged as the overwhelmingly dominant choice over, say, Bing or Yahoo? Consumers enjoy the UX.
The demand for design and user experience skills is on the rise. In 2023, it was considered one of the most important core skills for workers, according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Survey 2023. And looking ahead, it is one of the top reskilling priorities of organizations over the next five years—third to AI and big data and technological literacy among tech skills.
All of this supports the notion that UX and user interface (UI) jobs are in high demand. The demand for web developers and digital designers—which is the closest category to the role of UX designers—is growing faster than the national average, with an expected growth of 16% over the next decade.
So for those enticed by the prospect of a career in a growing field where jobs can be secured across all types of industries, the world of UX is the place to be. But with many universities not necessarily offering degrees specifically tailored to the space, many individuals turn to UX bootcamps to gain the in-demand skills to succeed.
As part of Fortune Education’s commitment to helping prospective students navigate the complicated and ever-changing education ecosystem, we are releasing our first-ever ranking of the best UX/UI bootcamps for 2024.
1. Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop’s UX & UI Design program teaches students the fundamentals of the industry, including how to use well-known software like Figma. The program also has in-person learning opportunities in New York City. Noble Desktop does not provide job placement or track employment post-program completion because many students are freelancers in a related design industry or employees sent to the program by their company.
Average Court Report rating = 5.0 out of 5
Student reviews
Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop UX & UI Design Certificate
| Price | $3,495 |
| Program Length | 6–24 weeks |
| Commitment | Part- and full-time |
Pros
- Financing options
- Lending partnerships
Cons
- No scholarship opportunities
2. Avocademy
Avocademy’s UX/UI design programs offer unlimited mentorship and promise a job guarantee (under specific requirements and restrictions). The program assists students in creating projects and a portfolio to showcase them to prospective employers. Upon completion of its Career Jumpstart Program, 95% of students obtained jobs in UX/UI Design roles within an average of four months of job searching.
Average Course Report rating = 4.81 out of 5
Student reviews
Avocademy
UX/UI Foundations + Career Jumpstart Programs
| Price | $2,997–$7,497 |
| Program length | 2–7 months |
| Commitment | Part-time |
Pros
- Financing options
- Lending partnerships
- Scholarship opportunities
Cons
3. Designlab UX Academy
Designlab’s UX Academy offers eight curriculum units on responsive design, interaction, and input. Students engage in projects, learn industry software like Figma, and create their own portfolios.
Average Course Report rating = 4.77 out of 5
Student reviews
Designlab UX Academy
UX Academy Foundations
| Price | $7,249–$9,677 |
| Program length | 4–8 weeks |
| Commitment | Part-time |
Pros
- Financing options
- Lending partnerships
- Scholarship opportunities
Cons
4. CareerFoundry
CareerFoundry’s UX design program has three goals for its students: Develop UX skills, learn how to leverage AI, and engage with mentors to guide a career path. CareerFoundry will refund eligible students’ tuition if a job is not secured within six months of graduation through its Job Guarantee. CareerFoundry has five partners: Tech Fleet, Democracylab, Digital Product School, Sprintfolio, and Chingu.io, where students can gain hands-on apprenticeship training, both paid and unpaid. On average, graduates achieve a $15,082 salary increase in their first role after graduation, and the average time it takes a graduate to land their first job is 75 days.
Average Course Report rating = 4.67 out of 5
Student reviews
CareerFoundry
UX Design Program
| Price | $7,505–$12,000 |
| Program length | 10-month maximum |
| Commitment | Self-paced |
Pros
- Financing options
- Lending partnerships
- Scholarship opportunities
Cons
5. Burlington Code Academy
The UX/UI Design Bootcamp at Burlington Code Academy teaches everything from transforming rudimentary sketches into high-fidelity wireframes to collecting data through research. The course offers an interest-free payment plan and a private loan option to help with financing the cost.
Average Course Report rating = 4.89 out of 5
Student reviews
Burlington Code Academy
UX/UI Design Bootcamp
| Price | $9,600 |
| Program length | 24 weeks |
| Commitment | Part-time |
Pros
- Financing options
- Lending partnerships
- Scholarship opportunities
Cons
6. Springboard
Springboard’s UX Bootcamp includes lessons on 16 topics, including information architecture, wireframing, and communication skills. The program teaches students popular design tools such as Adobe XD and Figma. Springboard also offers a Job Guarantee for students who qualify. UX graduates have worked at companies like YouTube, Apple, and Nike. Among “job-qualified” individuals, the program boasts of an 85.3% job placement rate within one year and 68.1% within six months.
Average Course Report rating = 4.63 out of 5
Student reviews
Springboard
UI/UX Design Bootcamp
| Price | $11,900–$19,648 |
| Program length | 9 months |
| Commitment | Part-time |
Pros
- Financing options
- Lending partnerships
- Scholarship opportunities
Cons
7. UX Design Institute
UX Design Institute’s bootcamp offers a professional diploma, credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University. Based on a survey sent to program graduates one year after working with the school’s career team, around 79% of graduates get jobs in the UX field. The curriculum spans 12 modules and covers topics such as design principles, mobile UX, prototyping, and AI tools.
Average course report rating = 4.8 out of 5
Student reviews
UX Design Institute
Professional Diploma in UX Design
| Price | $2,962–$4,223 |
| Program length | 6 months |
| Commitment | Part-time |
Pros
- Financing options
Cons
- No Lending partnerships
- No Scholarship opportunities
8. Mento Design Academy
Mento Design Academy’s UX/UI Design program includes more than 50 assignments, two practice projects, and up to three portfolio projects. The curriculum covers everything from UX research and information architecture to portfolio building and career strategy. Founder and instructor Radu Vucea previously worked at Adobe and Fitbit. Students spend one-on-one time with industry experts each week. According to the site, students are hand-picked upon admission into the program.
Average Course Report rating = 4.84 out of 5
Student reviews
Mento Design Academy
Self Paced Online UI/UX Bootcamp
| Price | $4,839–$5,694 |
| Program length | 6–9 months |
| Commitment | Part-time |
Pros
- Financing options
Cons
- No lending partnerships
- No scholarship opportunities
9. edX*
edX’s UX and UI bootcamps are hosted in conjunction with accredited universities across the country, including top schools like Columbia University, Northwestern University, and the University of California–Berkeley. The programs teach students the necessary skills in subjects like user-centric design research, wireframing, and prototyping. 81.1% of UX/UI boot camp graduate respondents said the bootcamp helped them change their career or field of work and/or are in a more fulfilling career path, according to a 2021 Gallup-2U Boot Camp Graduates Study.
Average Course Report rating for all programs = 4.61 out of 5
Student reviews
Pros
- Financing options
- Lending partnerships
- Scholarship opportunities
Cons
10. Bethel School of Technology
Bethel School of Technology’s UI/UX design program teaches faith-based values alongside more than 1,000 hours of relative skills training, which translates to 27 hours of college credit. In terms of curriculum, the boot camp teaches HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, plus research methods, pitch proposals, and prototyping. At the end of the program, there is a capstone design project and a module on honor, leadership, and the Bible. It’s worth noting that Bethel Church runs this program.
Average Course Report rating = 4.75 out of 5
Student reviews
Pros
- Financing options
- Lending partnerships
- Scholarship opportunities
Cons
11. Ironhack
The UX/UI Design program at Ironhack is remote-friendly and also offers an on-campus experience for those in Miami, Florida. In this program, students learn how to think like designers, solve problems, and use software like Figma. By the end of the program, students will have completed 3–6 projects centered around modern techniques and industry-standard software to add to their portfolios. This course has no prerequisites, but it’s recommended that students have an eye for design, empathy, creativity, and communication skills.
Average Course Report rating = 4.79 out of 5
Student reviews
Pros
- Financing options
- Lending partnerships
Cons
- No scholarship opportunities
12. Flatiron School
Flatiron School’s UX/UI Product Design Bootcamp offers live office hours and has a 24/7 learning-aid chatbot. After graduation, students receive 180 days of one-on-one career coaching. The course curriculum integrates the latest emerging technologies like
AI with lab work, hands-on practice, and a community approach to learning. Whether full-time or part-time, the bootcamps are the same price. After applying, students will be asked to schedule an interview with the admissions team and take a 15-minute aptitude assessment.
Average Course Report rating = 4.46 out of 5
Student reviews
Flatiron School
UX/UI Product Design Bootcamp
| Price | $16,900 |
| Program length | 15–40 weeks |
| Commitment | Part- or full-time |
Pros
- Financing options
- Lending partnerships
- Scholarship opportunities
Cons
13. Thinkful
Thinkful’s UX/UI design bootcamp teaches the ins and outs of information architecture, user empathy, and interactive design. All instructors and mentors have 3+ years of relevant industry experience. Thinkful alums have worked at companies like Google, IBM, and Amazon. The program’s job placement rate is 30% for the graduates who completed their career services period within the last year.
Average Course Report = 4.53 out of 5
Student reviews
Pros
- Financing options
- Lending partnerships
- Scholarship opportunities
Cons
14. BrainStation
BrainStation’s UX design bootcamp leads students through UX fundamentals, research, responsive design, and more. Program graduates have gone on to work at companies like Shopify, Intuit, and Thomson Reuters. In-person learning opportunities are available in New York, Miami, Toronto, London, and Vancouver.
Average Course Report rating = 4.67 out of 5
Student reviews
BrainStation
UX Design Bootcamp
| Price | $16,500–$17,928 |
| Program length | 12–35 weeks |
| Commitment | Part- and full-time |
Pros
- Financing options
- Scholarship opportunities
Cons
- No lending partnerships
15. General Assembly
General Assembly’s UX design bootcamp teaches students skills related to prototyping, user research, visual design, and more. The course ends with a three-week design sprint capstone, where students team up to complete UX research and create designs for an app, website, or product. There are also in-person learning opportunities in New York City and Singapore. General Assembly graduates have pursued careers at Apple, Cash App, and Mastercard. Among “job-seeking graduates,” 93% were able to obtain a job one year after the program.
Average Course Report rating = 4.3 out of 5
Student reviews
Pros
- Financing options
- Lending partnerships
- Scholarship opportunities
Cons
16. Deep Dive Coding
Deep Dive Coding is a non-profit organization operated by Central New Mexico Community College, though the User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) Design program is entirely remote. The program covers topics like color theory, information architecture, research methods, and how to pitch ideas to employers. The software students learn to use is Figma, Marvel, Miro, and the Adobe Creative Suite. Post-completion, students earn a certificate of completion. Prerequisites include experience with Windows, OS X, or Linux Ubuntu operating systems and basic computer skills.
Average Course Report rating = 4.05 out of 5
Student reviews
Deep Dive
User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) Design
| Price | $3,399 |
| Program length | 15 weeks |
| Commitment | Part-time |
Pros
- Lending lartnerships
- Scholarship opportunities
Cons
- No financing options
More about edX bootcamps
edX hosts UX/UI bootcamps in partnership with 17 universities across the country. These programs are largely similar in curriculum, yet their pricing does tend to differ slightly. For example, the bootcamp with Columbia costs nearly $14,500, whereas the University of Kansas’s program is closer to $12,000. Some universities offer programs for around $9,000, which is based on a time-limited discount.
The full list of programs includes:
- University of Minnesota UX/UI bootcamp
- University of Texas at San Antonio UX/UI bootcamp
- University of Kansas UX/UI bootcamp
- George Washington University UX/UI bootcamp
- University of Central Florida UX/UI bootcamp
- The Ohio State University UX/UI bootcamp
- Rice University UX/UI bootcamp
- The UX/UI bootcamp at University of Texas at Austin
- University of Denver UX/UI bootcamp
- University of California–Berkeley UX/UI bootcamp
- Columbia Engineering UX/UI bootcamp
- Northwestern University UX/UI bootcamp
- The UX/UI bootcamp at University of California–Irvine
- Southern Methodist University UX/UI Design and Development bootcamp
- University of Oregon UX/UI bootcamp
- University of Utah professional education UX/UX bootcamp
- The UX/UI bootcamp at UNC Charlotte
Source: fortune.com
