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Launch School

Average Rating4.84
95 Reviews
2 Courses

Launch School is an online program for studious beginners whose goal is to become professional developers. The program focuses on fundamentals of programming and software engineering including core problem solving, programming language fundamentals, object-oriented programming, networking, databases, and guides students through a structured path of building up proficiency in software development.  The program consists of two main phases: Core Curriculum and Capstone. The Core Curriculum uses a mastery-based learning pedagogy to teach fundamentals of software development. It takes approximately 1200-1800 hours (8-16+ months) to complete, and students can choose either a Ruby or JavaScript focused track through Core. After that, there is an optional and admissions-based Capstone Program that's focused on helping students acquire career-launching opportunities. The Capstone Program takes 4 months full-time and employs an Income Sharing Agreement where students pay after they get a job offer.

The Core Curriculum is open to everyone, and the only requirement is that people complete Launch School’s free preparatory courses. Students who complete the Capstone Program will receive career guidance, and be exposed to algorithmic thinking that employers demand. 

Launch School offers a Deferred Payment Program (DPP). Students pay nothing upfront, and will begin to pay back tuition only once they land a job that pays at least $60,000.

95 Launch School Reviews

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  • Dorey Miller
    Dorey Miller
    SDE II • Graduate • The Capstone Program • Online
    Oct 18, 2021
    Overall Experience
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    100% worth it

    I can't really say enough how much I value the experience I had going through both Launch School Core Curriculum and their Capstone program.  When I started Core, I had just a little bit of development experience, and my knowledge and understanding of programming was very limited.  I wanted a deep understanding of programming fundamentals that would provide me a solid foundation for a career as a software engineer.   
    I worked through the Ruby track, and each of ...
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  • Mark
    Mark
    Jun 25, 2021
    Overall Experience
    Instructors
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    Not worth it. Not practical. Waste of time

    I’m a Javascript grad from LS and this course isn’t worth it at all. There are no projects. Self studying will take less time than LS and there is much better material out there for much cheaper. The study sessions are weird, the instructors can snitch on you to the Owner of LS if you don’t do well in the sessions. My advice would be to get on Udemy or Youtube and you can get the exact same material, with less typos and grammatical mistakes and for much much cheaper.
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    Chris Lee of Launch School

    Founder

    Jun 28, 2021

    Hi Mark,

    I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience at Launch School. I've always maintained that student-school fit is really important and just because it didn't occur here doesn't mean the student can't succeed or that the school is bad. No program can be a good fit for every student. The key, in my opinion, is being able to leave the school immediately if there's not a good fit. 

    We designed Launch School with this primary idea in mind -- that anyone can leave Launch School at any time if it doesn't feel right. I'm wondering why you decided to finish the JavaScript track despite negative feelings? If it was something that we did to make you feel that you had to stay at Launch School, please let me know as I want to improve and that's not the feeling I want people to have. We are against educational entrapment. 

    My goal is to build the most student-centric program and that, imo, centers around be transparent and allowing people to come and go as they please. Most places make it very easy to sign up but impossible to leave. We are the opposite: it's very difficult to pay us money (we require a manual admissions process), but it's very easy to leave (self service to stop anytime). 

    In any case, if you still feel wronged by your experience at Launch School, please send me an email (chris@launchschool.com) and I'll see what I an do to make it right.  
  • Ben Z
    Ben Z
    Software Developer • Graduate • Online
    May 14, 2021
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    Laying the Foundation for Growth

        The Core Program does a great job of laying a solid foundation for growth. Interviewers were always impressed to learn about Launch School’s chapters on reading documentation and PEDAC. In the age of Bootcamps, the ability to solve problems and find answers is rare in new graduates, and Launch School’s emphasis on this pays off very well.
        That payoff is easy to see in yourself as well. During my interview process, I was asked numerous times to build small...
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  • Josh
    Josh
    Graduate • Core Curriculum • Online
    Jan 28, 2021
    Overall Experience
    Instructors
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    N/A

    I was promoted after learning and finishing the Core curriculum.

    I remember starting Launch School almost two years ago in 2018, about the same time that I started a new job. I was already working in tech as an IT Systems Administrator, but I wanted to propel my career into something more fulfilling where I could not maintain systems all day. I wanted to get out of the grind of a cost centric job and propel myself into something that provided more value to the business. After dabbling for years, trying to find a program that worked for me, and never f...
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  • Jeremy
    Jeremy
    Graduate • Core Curriculum • Online
    Jan 25, 2021
    Overall Experience
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    Curriculum
    Job Assistance
    N/A

    In-Depth Curriculum, Extremely Knowledgeable TAs, Extensive Assessments, and High-Caliber Students

    I'm early on in starting my software development career, as I graduated Launch School's Core Curriculum just a couple weeks ago. I'm busy preparing my portfolio, seeking out open source projects, and expanding my network. That being said, I am already aware of how Launch School has given me the skills to analyze new problems and grasp how different programming pieces fit together.
    In my opinion, the best features of Launch School are the in-depth curriculum, extr...
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  • Melissa M.
    Melissa M.
    Software Engineer II • Graduate • The Capstone Program • Online
    Nov 29, 2020
    Overall Experience
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    An Incredible Community for Web Development Education

    Launch School focuses on the fundamentals - things that don't change even as frameworks and libraries rise and fall in popularity. Mastering this base knowledge set me up to more easily adopt new languages and frameworks and expand my understanding to more advanced, integrated concepts.

    Launch School emphasizes breaking challenges down into smaller pieces and examining them from various angles. They provide a framework for developing and updating your own mental models...
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  • Tiffany Han
    Tiffany Han
    Software Engineer • Graduate • The Capstone Program • Online
    May 23, 2020
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    Capstone Exceeded My Expectations

    If you’re a Launch School student, you already know that the curriculum and instructors are top notch. As a Capstone student, you can expect the same level of pedagogy, rigor, and thoughtfulness. The only difference is that Capstone is several times over more intense, more interactive, and even more personalized.

    Before my cohort started, I had many worries. Would the remote nature of the program result in a diminished learning experience? Would very recent changes to ...
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  • Daniel Roth
    Daniel Roth
    Software Engineer • Graduate • The Capstone Program • Online
    May 09, 2020
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    Instructors
    Curriculum
    Job Assistance

    More than a bootcamp

    It's hard to overestimate the role Launch School's Capstone and the Core Curriculum programs played in me getting my first full time tech job. No part of this was quick and easy - but it was absolutely worth it.

    If I had to summarize the experience in way too few words, I would say the Core Curriculum had taught me how to think as a developer, and Capstone taught me everything I might need to do well in the current job market. Now, I don't say 'everything' lightly. Thi...
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  • Ying Chyi Gooi
    Ying Chyi Gooi
    Engineer • Graduate • The Capstone Program • Online
    May 02, 2020
    Overall Experience
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    Landed a Job at DigitalOcean

    My college degree in Actuarial Science did not prepare me well enough to land a job in the field. I was stuck working in a role that required only a high school degree. That went on for a full year. I was able to pay my bills and have some savings, but I realized that I wasn't happy at my job - it lacked meaning. That's when I started looking elsewhere - into tech and into programming. I eventually found Launch School.

    Launch School is one of the best decisions that I ...
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  • Josh
    Josh
    Graduate • The Capstone Program • Online
    May 01, 2020
    Overall Experience
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    Trust The Process, Results Will Follow

    When I started my journey into programming I quickly realized that there was a million resources out there and very little structure. I was constantly battling the questions of "what should I focus on and to what depth?". In addition, I saw a lot of flashy quick-turnaround solutions flooding the marketplace. My intuition told me that programming was a difficult undertaking and that cramming all that I would need to know into a 3 - 6 month window seemed too good to be true. Fortunately, d...
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  • Steven S
    Steven S
    Senior Software Engineer • Graduate • Core Curriculum • Online
    May 01, 2020
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    The guaranteed (but slow) path to success

    When gyms advertise "Train here to get lean and jacked within 10 weeks!", most of us roll our eyes and are skeptical. But coding bootcamps do the exact same thing and people bite. 

    LaunchSchool is the "boring" coach that tells you to follow a longer path but you'll 100% get into the best shape of your life. And trust me, it works.

    If you want to land the best jobs in the tech industry without having to go through a 4 year computer science degree, LaunchSchool will help you ...
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  • Sean D
    Sean D
    Full Stack Developer • Student • Online
    Apr 11, 2020
    Overall Experience
    Instructors
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    N/A

    Opaque grading policies marred by hidden criteria

    I wanted to give Launch School a high rating. As a developer with 3 years experience, I came into the program to iron out my weak points rather than learn programming from the beginning. But after taking, and not passing Launch School's written assessments multiple times, I've lost confidence that their grading scheme is fair.

    The `this` keyword is one of the most complex subjects in vanilla Javascript. I spent several days learning its rules from several sources, including Launch...
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    Chris Lee of Launch School

    Instructor

    May 01, 2020

    I started writing a response and it turned out really long, so I posted it on my Medium account. Please take a look and feel free to reach out if there are any additional questions (hello@launchschool.com). 

    https://medium.com/launch-school/our-first-non-five-star-review-cad827b1484c

Launch School Alumni Outcomes

Recent Launch School News

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Launch School Alumni Reviews Summary

Overall Experience
4.8
Instructors
4.9
Curriculum
4.8
Job Assistance
4.8
Write A Review
More Information
Guarantees Job
Job Assistance
Includes Housing
Offers Corporate Training
Accepts GI Bill
FAQs

How much does Launch School cost?

Launch School costs around $199. On the lower end, some Launch School courses like The Capstone Program cost $0.

What courses does Launch School teach?

Launch School offers courses like Core Curriculum, The Capstone Program.

Where does Launch School have campuses?

Launch School teaches students Online in a remote classroom.

Is Launch School worth it?

Launch School hasn't shared alumni outcomes yet, but one way to determine if a bootcamp is worth it is by reading alumni reviews. 95 Launch School alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Launch School on Course Report - you should start there!

Is Launch School legit?

We let alumni answer that question. 95 Launch School alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Launch School and rate their overall experience a 4.84 out of 5.

Does Launch School offer scholarships or accept the GI Bill?

Right now, it doesn't look like Launch School offers scholarships or accepts the GI Bill. We're always adding to the list of schools that do offer Exclusive Course Report Scholarships and a list of the bootcamps that accept the GI Bill.

Can I read Launch School reviews?

You can read 95 reviews of Launch School on Course Report! Launch School alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Launch School and rate their overall experience a 4.84 out of 5.

Is Launch School accredited?

While bootcamps must be approved to operate, accreditation is relatively rare. Launch School doesn't yet share information about their accreditation status.

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