Focused heavily on creating engaging interactions with products, digital interfaces, and other tools, UX design offers learners an intensive creative background and the chance to transition into a high-earning role in a rapidly growing and innovative field. People who want to improve their lives may find UX design well worth mastering ASAP.
Thankfully, learning the necessary skills has never been easier, especially with so many live online UX design bootcamps available for students today! These classes offer a convenient way to gain the required abilities for this career by providing a structured, immersive learning experience that includes real-world projects and personal interaction with teachers. In this article, we will explore the costs associated with live online UX design bootcamps, the factors that influence these costs, and the value they offer to students interested in changing their lives.
Average Cost of UX Design Bootcamps Online
Anyone interested in attending an online UX design boot camp must know precisely what they’ll pay for their classes. After all, these courses can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and anyone on a tight budget must plan their expenses and avoid overpaying. However, it’s also essential to find programs that provide excellent value to ensure learners get the best results. Before weighing each bootcamp individually, let’s take a deep look at their average costs to give students a quick look at what they’ll be paying for their intensive and engaging bootcamps.
Overview of Typical Price Range
The cost of live online UX design bootcamps can vary significantly depending on many factors, each of which will be explored in more depth later. A quick look at varying schools will find classes for as little as $650 (very affordable even for people on a budget) to $10,000 (a lot harder for most people to pay). Those widely ranging costs typically average to about $4,000 to $5,000, though, as online courses almost always cost less than in-person options. Most also accept various types of financial aid to help make them more accessible for learners to afford.
Comparison of Average Costs Between Different Bootcamps
Each live online bootcamp offers varying pricing structures that can significantly impact a student’s learning costs. For example, some may provide a quick and easy learning experience over a few hours that requires little more than a few hundred dollars. By contrast, more intensive programs provide weeks or months of learning and prepare students for a professional career. That makes it essential to carefully research each offering and find prices that make sense for a student’s needs. On that note, here are some schools with average UX bootcamp costs:
- Noble Desktop: As New York’s most trusted learning team, Noble provides UX courses that range from about $695 all the way up to $3,500, which is fairly affordable compared to some longer and more intensive learning options on the market.
- General Assembly: This school’s UX courses have pretty wildly variant learning costs, with one class costing just $250 and another $16,500. Students looking at programs for under $500 need to be prepared for a short and fast-paced experience.
- Thinkful: With just two UX courses, this learning team’s prices vary from $7,000 to $12,200. Each program covers not only UX design but also UI or user interface skills to help a learner build more robust and competent career skills.
- Devmountain: Providing a single course available in part- and full-time models, this facility’s programs last anywhere from 13 to 16 weeks and cost just under $10,000. The balance between depth and price is strong in these classes.
Factors Affecting the Cost of UX Design Bootcamps
Obviously, many unique elements impact what students pay for their UX design bootcamps. Some of these factors are pretty obvious and easy to guess such as program length, focus, and intensity. However, others are a little more obscure or even surprising. Who knew that school reputation could impact what students pay for a program? Well, that information and much more is available here for learners fascinated by the UX design world. They can use the following details to understand their bootcamp prices and plan their intensive studies accordingly.
Duration of the Program
Typically, UX design bootcamps online will last for a few weeks to several months, depending on the purpose of the program. For instance, a six-hour UX class (they do exist) provides a primer that helps students gauge whether this subject is right for them. By contrast, longer programs typically provide professional-level preparation for a design career. As a result, they cost more due to the extended instruction time and more comprehensive curriculum. After all, students in these courses will walk away more or less ready to start a professional career in this market.
Curriculum and Specializations Offered
UX design is not a simple subject and often requires learners to study very specialized and unique subjects. As a result, many programs offer training in these specific areas to help a student master this market better. These include topics as diverse as user research, interaction design, or completely digital UX/UI topics. Due to their more finely tuned focus, these programs usually have higher fees compared to general UX design bootcamps but also better prepare a student for a career. In a real way, paying more for a class is almost always a wise investment.
Reputation and Ranking of the Bootcamp
In the educational world, “what goes around comes around, ” and schools with poor reputations usually struggle to compete with programs with rave reviews. For example, someone Googling “live online UX bootcamps” will quickly find lots of one-star reviews for many facilities and are likely to avoid them for those with five-star ones. As a result, bootcamps with a strong reputation, better job placement rates, and positive student reviews often charge higher tuition rates due to their stronger perceived value and success rates. They’re simply more trustworthy.
Location and Facilities
While online bootcamps don’t require physical facilities, the location of the bootcamp's headquarters can still impact costs. For example, many of the best UX design bootcamps mentioned here are based in cities with higher operational expenses. Living in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston are expensive enough; try running a business out of them! Especially a company focusing so heavily on tech-based learning. These schools pass some of these costs to students to stay in operation. It’s a frustrating reality that’s hard to avoid.
Instructor Qualifications
Bootcamps that employ experienced industry professionals as instructors often charge more, as these teachers bring valuable real-world insights and mentorship to the program. For example, a school that hires someone who’s actually worked in UX design brings a level of professionalism to their classes that professors without this experience simply lack. Often, these courses include guest speakers or instructors from major design firms that may come with higher price tags. However, the value of these speakers is tremendous for UX learners.
Benefits of Attending UX Design Bootcamps
Online UX design bootcamps might seem too pricey for many people at first. In fact, many might just try to learn UX concepts by themselves in self-directed learning that touches on various sources, including YouTube videos and online articles. That’s understandable because paying thousands of dollars can seem like a wild investment for many people. However, attending live online UX design bootcamps provides more benefits than downsides and is essential for those who want to take their careers to the next level. Here are a few reasons why it’s so intelligent.
Structured Learning Environment
Trying to learn UX design without a bootcamp is like trying to hold water indefinitely in the hand. It might seem theoretically and temporarily possible, but it will mostly run right through a learner’s fingers. Without a bootcamp, there’s insufficient structure to help students build on previously mastered lessons. By contrast, live online UX design bootcamps provide a structured curriculum and a clear learning path that covers all necessary topics. This benefit is critical for students who thrive in organized environments or those who need guidance to stay on track.
Access to Experienced Instructors and Mentors
Sure, it’s technically possible to not only learn UX design outside of a bootcamp but also become professionally competent enough to start a career. That said, it’s very rare, and most students who take bootcamps are happy they did because they get direct access to experienced professionals and teachers. These experts provide guidance, answer questions, and give industry insights that make UX design easier to grasp for learners. Many online bootcamps offer one-on-one mentorship to help students feel more connected with their teacher.
Networking Opportunities with Peers and Industry Professionals
Despite being online, many UX design bootcamps facilitate networking events, guest lectures, and virtual meetups. During these events, learners might connect with others nationwide to build a network of peers throughout the UX world. Furthermore, they might even meet real industry insiders who can keep them in mind when hiring new employees. These connections can be crucial for job placement and career growth. For example, a learner might call up their former professor, learn about an internship, and have a better chance of getting hired for it.
Career Services and Job Placement Assistance
These days, many of the best UX design bootcamps offer robust career services that can help students find work after they finish their training. These resources include resume workshops, portfolio reviews, interview preparation, and job placement assistance. Note that some schools may provide all or just some of these benefits, but most usually have some kind of help. Surprisingly, there are a few that offer job guarantees, where students only pay if they secure a job after graduation. These are relatively rare because they’re often so risky to the school.
Why Paying for a UX Design Bootcamp is Better Than Learning for Free
Students looking at their bank account before signing up for a UX design bootcamp may decide they simply can’t afford these in-depth courses. Instead, they might try to use YouTube videos, asynchronous programs, or even free seminars to learn about UX design and try to bluff their way to the top. That’s understandable but unfortunate because an in-depth training course provides the best learning opportunity for people fascinated by this market. Those who want to break into UX design should read on to learn why paying for training is so intelligent.
Accountability and Motivation
Trying to learn for free will challenge the attention span of even the most dedicated student. With little at stake beyond their time and effort, most learners get quickly bored in free programs and drop out. Here’s a little psychological trick about paying for a bootcamp: it often increases a student’s commitment to completing the program and staying motivated throughout the course. In essence, the financial investment acts as an incentive to stay focused and dedicated. After all, they’ve paid thousands of dollars and don’t want to waste that cash by skipping classes.
Hands-On Projects and Real-World Experience
UX design isn’t something that learners can master by simply reading a few articles online. It’s an intensive and hands-on skill set that requires working on big projects with real-world scopes. Thankfully, live online UX design bootcamps provide practical, hands-on projects that simulate real-world tasks. This benefit ensures that students gain applicable skills without paying expensive prices for UX software and hardware. Just as importantly, this experience is crucial for building a portfolio of attractive and exciting work that can impress potential employers.
Immediate Feedback and Personalized Support
Students studying UX design on their own might make what seems like good progress before creating a portfolio of work to share with a mentor. Then, the unthinkable might happen: their work gets laughed at by potential employers. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to fall into bad work habits or misunderstand critical UX design theories. In bootcamps, instructors and mentors offer immediate feedback on assignments and projects. This helps students understand their mistakes and improve, offering a level of personalized support often lacking in free courses.
Community and Collaborative Learning
Sitting in front of a computer for hours after work trying to master UX design isn’t exactly a social experience. For many people, that sense of isolation can quickly become depressing and make it hard to complete their training. However, live online UX bootcamps create a sense of community and provide opportunities for collaborative learning. Students will meet new friends, have fun learning new UX skills, and build friendships that could become professional. That peer support significantly enhances the experience and makes learning much more fun.
Financing Options for UX Design Bootcamps
People researching UX design bootcamps may find it hard to justify paying thousands of dollars for training. That’s understandable, but these teams understand how difficult it is to handle this process. Thankfully, there are many financing options available that can make these classes far more affordable. These include scholarships from the school, various types of income share agreements, and even loans. Here are four of the most common choices for financing UX design bootcamps, including a few of their benefits and drawbacks, to seriously consider.
Scholarships and Grants
Most types of online UX design bootcamps offer scholarships and grants to help offset their costs. These scholarships are typically available to people who show great promise, although many are set up for underrepresented groups in design. In some cases, these include state and federal scholarships and grants, so it’s vital for students to research their options. When used properly, these financial aid options can significantly reduce the economic burden of bootcamps. Though often hard to get, they require no repayment, making them critical to get.
Income Share Agreements (ISAs)
Income Share Agreements, or ISAs, are a great financing tool but not one that’s always available. They allow students to pay a percentage of their salary after securing a job such as cutting out a small portion of the paycheck and funneling it to the school. That helps make education accessible without upfront costs and aligns the bootcamp’s success with the student’s success. After all, the school only gets its money back if a student finds a job, so they’re more compelled to help the learner with job placement help such as internships and other options.
Payment Plans and Deferred Tuition
When scholarships and ISAs aren’t available, flexible payment plans and deferred tuition options can enable students to pay their tuition in various ways and ensure that they get the best results possible. Payment plans let them pay in installments such as eight bundles over a year or so. That’s a strong option for those with a decent budget but not enough to pay for a class all at once. Deferred tuition will delay payment until after graduation, making bootcamps more accessible to students who cannot afford to pay the full tuition upfront but may later.
Loans and Financial Aid
Though loans and financial aid must be paid back eventually and have interest rates that can make them costlier, they might be the only choices available. Thankfully, various loan options are available through private lenders to finance bootcamp tuition, usually paying for the whole thing upfront so students can get to learning. Furthermore, some bootcamps also partner with lenders to offer favorable terms, including lower interest rates. While federal financial aid is typically unavailable for UX design bootcamps, private loans can help bridge the gap.
Available UX Design Bootcamps Online
Anyone looking for online UX design bootcamps will likely find dozens or even hundreds available from sources as diverse as private schools, community colleges, and universities. As a result, narrowing down their options requires a lot of careful work and research to pinpoint the courses that make the most sense for their needs. Thankfully, there are three high-quality providers who can set up excellent UX design programs that make sense for learners across the nation. Here’s a deeper look at these schools and one UX design bootcamp for their needs.
Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop was founded in 1990 and has become one of the most popular and high-quality training teams in the nation. Available in-person in New York City, their online courses include innovative learning methods, high-quality exercises, unique practices, and much more. Known for hands-on learning and time-tested curricula, this course is an in-depth and practical educational experience that takes people to a better point in their lives. From design, coding, and business classes, Noble provides the help learners need to start a more exciting career.
UX & UI Design Certificate
UX & UI Design Certificate is a 132-hour course that teaches students important concepts quickly to prepare them for more advanced education after graduation. Costing just $3,500 to complete, this certificate includes 1-on-1 mentorship, small class sizes, prototyping support, concept development, and data analysis. Teams learn in a real-world environment, focusing on creating projects that solve real problems. When done, they’ll have mastered Figma and Adobe XD software and will walk away ready to handle various UX and UI projects professionally.
General Assembly
General Assembly provides bootcamps and workshops in multiple subjects, including digital marketing, software engineering, data science, web design, and user-experience design. Courses are available part- and full-time, meaning learners can choose which schedule makes the most sense for their needs. Their online programs include small sizes, which helps learners work directly with professors in more depth. Just as importantly, they can set up mentorship help that gives students the chance to correct common errors and walk away more confident.
User Experience Design Immersive
User Experience Design Immersive takes 12 weeks to complete and costs $16,500. Students who take it will learn about creating digital experiences that help produce better customer loyalty and make products more successful. They’ll work in either solo, group, or client projects and utilize UI design and Agile methodologies. As they build their skills and gain more confidence, they’ll move on to more complex topics and ensure they walk away confident. Completion certificates highlight a student’s experience to make it easier to find a job after graduation.
Thinkful
Thinkful creates various courses and events held almost entirely online, providing some in-person support in areas like Philadelphia, Boston, Denver, Florida, and Chicago, as well as states like California, Texas, and Washington. They focus on preparing students for competitive fields like software engineering, web development, data analytics, and UX design. With intensive courses that can last as long as six months, Thinkful helps learners get deep into each studied subject and makes it simpler to start a rewarding career after finishing their training.
UX/UI Design Immersion
UX/UI Design Immersion is a five-month course that requires 40 hours per week. Costing $7,000, it provides in-depth exercises in UX/UI design, as well as theoretical practice, peer mentorship, 1-on-1 training, and more. Students will learn how to prototype software with wireframes and develop apps that make sense for consumers. They’ll also study group coding concepts to ensure that they create compelling work. As they progress through this course, they’ll not only build their skills effectively but walk away confident in their overall work quality.
Admission Requirements and Application Process
Most beginner-level UX design bootcamps online don’t have intensive prerequisites for those interested in mastering this subject. Instead, they’re usually open to everyone, accessible in qualifications, and adaptable to every learner’s need. That said, it’s critical to check every course because some might require basic computer knowledge and some experience in design. Furthermore, more intermediate and advanced programs may ask users to take extra classes before their training to help prepare them for more next-level training experiences in this field.
Skills Learned in UX Design Bootcamps
People studying UX design will quickly learn that it’s a very complex and intensive skill that requires mastering many unique concepts. Thankfully, bootcamps provide a streamlined and efficient structure that makes it easier to master these theoretical and practical steps. Students fascinated by UX design will learn about these skills and master them by utilizing intensive and exciting activities that test their abilities and push them to the next level. Here are a few of the most important things people will learn when taking an intensive online UX design bootcamp.
Core UX Design Principles and Tools
UX design centers on a series of fundamental principles that create unified, coherent, and practical work. These include topics as diverse as user-centered design, wireframing, and prototyping. Students will learn not only about these concepts but how to use them to produce appealing and effective designs. Furthermore, they’ll also practice with tools like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD, software programs that help produce fantastic UX projects. This in-depth approach will ensure students walk away confident in their work and skills later.
User Research and Testing
While UX design focuses heavily on practical concepts and critical design theories, it also requires a deep understanding of customers and their needs. As a result, most online UX design bootcamps emphasize user research and usability testing to help learners carefully adjust their designs to make them even better. These bootcamps focus on teaching students how to gather insights and validate design decisions through user feedback. Tools like surveys, data-collection programs, and much more all help UX designers produce better work.
Interaction Design and Visual Design
Intensive UX design training includes interaction principles and visual techniques that are essential for creating user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing interfaces. For example, students will learn about contrasting colors, how to draw the eye down on a design project, essential tools for increasing interactivity with their projects, and much more. Synchronizing all these steps together is definitely a challenge, but when handled properly, it can give UX designers the best chance of producing professional-level work that will help them stand out in their careers.
Collaboration and Teamwork
Like most complex design careers, UX design requires working with many people, often as many as a dozen, to produce appealing, attractive, and unforgettable work. As a result, the best live online bootcamps usually include group projects that pair students with collaborators and let them work together to produce large-scale UX design work. Steps like these focus on teaching students how to work collaboratively in a team setting. Just as importantly, they’re critical for mirroring real-world design practices that fuel this innovative and exciting tech industry.
Jobs Available After UX Design Bootcamps
After completing UX design bootcamps online, learners should be ready to tackle a job in this exciting field. While they may not be 100% ready, they can get to that level quickly with practice. Thankfully, this industry is among the highest-earning and should make great money for entry-level jobs. The following careers are some of the most popular UX design jobs on the market and are arranged by their average US salary. Note that earnings will vary depending on where a person is located, with some making double the national median:
- UX Researcher: Working as a UX Researcher is a very rewarding experience for advanced designers, as it helps them focus on more research-intensive tasks. They make a US average of $78,000 and a Los Angeles median of $150,000 annually.
- UI Designer: Though tangential in some ways to UX design, a UI Designer often focuses heavily on similar tasks such as making sure an interface is easy to use. Salaries are good, with a US average of $91,000 and up to $117,000 in Virginia.
- Product Designer: As a Product Designer, learners will focus on refining the visual and functional aspects of an item to make it work better for users. Expect a media US salaryof about $116,000, with averages getting as high as $144,000 in Orange County.
- User Experience Designer: A User Experience Designer is responsible for producing digital products that create a simple and effective experience for the user. They earn a US average of about $123,000 annually and a $145,000 median in New York City.
Why Learning UX Design is Rewarding
By now, most readers have likely picked a UX design course that interests them and might have signed up already. But what about those who are still on the fence? They need to understand how deeply rewarding learning UX design is for their lives. Beyond mastering new skills, it provides many unique advantages that students must acknowledge before entering this field. Anyone who’s still not sure if a bootcamp is right for them should read on to learn more about the tangible benefits they’ll earn by completing one of these intensive and exciting courses.
High Demand for Design Skills in the Job Market
In today’s tech-obsessed market, there is a consistent demand for skilled UX designers. These professionals sit at a unique crossroads in the market, as they work in the tech industry and are heavily involved in product management and marketing. As a result, learning UX design is a valuable and marketable skill that can help in almost every industry. Even better, as design jobs are in high demand, learners get job security and growth opportunities, including the chance to start a design company, become a manager, or transition into research roles instead of design.
Opportunities for Creativity and Innovation
UX design allows individuals to express creativity and innovation by developing new user experiences and design solutions. It might seem strange at first, but this market gives creative individuals the chance to really flex their minds in fun and exciting ways. Whether they're designing websites, focusing heavily on digital products, creating software products, or producing mobile apps, UX design offers endless possibilities for creative expression. That makes it very rewarding for those who love creating new and interesting products.
Potential for Remote Work and Flexible Hours
Like with any digital-oriented job, many UX design positions give learners the flexibility of remote work and adjustable hours. For example, some might have 10-hour days and work just four days a week. Talk about a great schedule! That kind of flexibility is innately appealing to those seeking a healthy work-life balance. Even better, the design industry is known for its remote-friendly work culture. Often, people can find jobs with companies nationwide, even around the world! That makes UX work attractive for those who want diverse job opportunities.
Personal Satisfaction and Continuous Learning
Sometimes, learning a new skill is all the reward a person needs. In this way, understanding UX design in an online bootcamp can be personally fulfilling, particularly for tech-oriented people. Mastering new skills provides a sense of accomplishment that can boost self-esteem and make people happier and healthier. Furthermore, it creates ongoing opportunities for learning and growth in their careers and personal lives. Since the design industry constantly evolves, UX professionals are always learning new skills and technologies to stay in high demand.
How Easy is It to Learn UX Design?
UX design is an innately complex skill that requires much time to perfect. While some of the basic techniques and programs might be easy to master in a few weeks, combining them will take a lot of work and practice. So yes, learning UX design can be challenging and require a complete rethinking of how a person looks at the world. However, many find it easier to handle with dedication and the right educational resources. Bootcamps are designed to take beginners and turn them into job-ready designers in a relatively short period with expert-level support.
During this period, beginners may struggle with mastering design tools, understanding user behavior, and balancing technical and creative skills. Consistent practice and persistence are key to becoming proficient in UX design, while overcoming challenges may require a little extra support. The best UX design bootcamps online provide bonus training with mentors and peer networks, which makes reinforcing skills easier. Even better, these networks introduce students to potential co-workers and employers and make finding a job a much easier process.
How Long Will It Take to Learn UX Design?
People interested in taking a UX design bootcamp online shouldn’t expect to walk away job-ready after a few weeks or even months. Sure, they’ll learn fundamental skills that can help them prepare for exciting UX design jobs and teach them how to practice these concepts in their careers. However, mastering UX design fundamentals in a few months doesn’t guarantee competency. Instead, expert-level knowledge requires learners to sit down and get their hands dirty practicing theories and practical steps, including prototyping and executing UX designs.
That kind of practice not only helps students build skills but expands their portfolio in exciting ways. While they’ll walk away from a bootcamp with a portfolio already, practicing creating new work not only expands on their current work but improves on it. After all, those early projects will be slightly rough because learners won’t have the same level of experience they’ll possess after practicing for a few weeks or months on their projects. Fine-tuning their skills in this way will make them look more impressive to potential employers and make it easier to find a job.