The Tech Academy
Average Rating4.83
418 Reviews
39 Courses
The Tech Academy is a trade school headquartered in Portland, Oregon that offers full-time and part-time bootcamps online and in-person at their Portland campus. The Tech Academy offers part-time and full-time bootcamps in computer programming, website development, cybersecurity, game development, mobile development, data science, front-end development, tech marketing, and tech sales. The immersive experience aims to create well-rounded technology professionals, and also gives students the option to take the course at their own pace. There are also no set starts dates or rigid scheduling. Students can enroll at any time, study from home, and choose whatever study schedule they would like.
The Tech Academy’s bootcamps cover topics including computer science fundamentals, programming basics, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, C#, Python, Bootstrap, jQuery, React.js, project management, Agile, Scrum, MVC, version control, Java, and more. Each bootcamp also includes a Live Project, where students gain real-life experience to add to their resume as well as job placement assistance.
None of The Tech Academy's bootcamps require any tech background or experience. To apply, applicants need to take an IQ test with logic-based questions (to ensure applicants can read, write and perform basic math), followed by an admissions interview.
The final part of every The Tech Academy bootcamp is the Job Placement Course which covers interviewing skills, resume writing, where to find tech jobs, and gives students access to job placement staff who assist students in landing technical positions.
418 The Tech Academy Reviews
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BradenStudent • Self-Paced Software Developer Boot Camp • OnlineSep 21, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceComprehensive and Beginner Friendly
The coding bootcamps that the Tech Academy offers feel very accessible. I had absolutely zero prior knowledge of anything to do with coding before I started my course. Since beginning, I feel the material gives a really thorough explanation of all terms and concepts that are introduced. Plus, the best part is that it's all at my own pace!- Leonardo S. SalazarGraduate • Online Software Developer Boot Camp (full-time) • OnlineApr 06, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
The Tech Academy
My time throughout the Software Developer bootcamp I took with Tech Academy was an amazing experience. As far as content goes, the school does a good job on making sure you understand the topics thoroughly and consists of various projects that test what you've learned so far. The instructors are also very attentive over the students and provide the assistance necessary for the students to succeed. I am very pleased with everything they have taught me so far and glad to have joined such a...My time throughout the Software Developer bootcamp I took with Tech Academy was an amazing experience. As far as content goes, the school does a good job on making sure you understand the topics thoroughly and consists of various projects that test what you've learned so far. The instructors are also very attentive over the students and provide the assistance necessary for the students to succeed. I am very pleased with everything they have taught me so far and glad to have joined such an amazing program. - MOHANED ELWALIGraduate • Online Python Developer Boot Camp (full-time) • OnlineMar 13, 2023Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Amazing time i school
It's one of the best school I work with ever very learnfull material and kick the goal and wander full staff Instructors Directors and super friendly and helpful I was so lucky to be there and I strong recommended to anyone who looking for getting to Tech industry - Samantha NGraduate • Online Software Developer Boot Camp (part-time) • OnlineDec 22, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Look No Further
Choosing the right boot camp was a very difficult decision. I chose The Tech Academy Software Developer Boot Camp based on the content they taught, their awards for Best Boot Camp, and the friendly initial interaction with the staff. Instructors were always standing by (during their extensive available hours) to help me when I got stuck. They also teach you how to teach yourself, and where to look when problems arise. Having graduated, I immediately saw how much it paid off. So many job ...Choosing the right boot camp was a very difficult decision. I chose The Tech Academy Software Developer Boot Camp based on the content they taught, their awards for Best Boot Camp, and the friendly initial interaction with the staff. Instructors were always standing by (during their extensive available hours) to help me when I got stuck. They also teach you how to teach yourself, and where to look when problems arise. Having graduated, I immediately saw how much it paid off. So many job listings are looking for the exact skills that were focused on in this boot camp. Overall, I couldn't have made a better choice than The Tech Academy to learn software development. - Michael LFull-Time Student • Student • Online Software Developer Boot Camp (full-time) • OnlineNov 23, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
54, so far so Good
The Tech Academy was recommended to me by two others who went through the course and were offered positions before they even completed their camp. Both are currently happily employed at those same positions.
My youngest son graduated a four year college as and is a full-time remote software engineer and knew them both. He recommended the course to his older brother and to me.
My middle son decided to plunge in and is currently half way through the ...The Tech Academy was recommended to me by two others who went through the course and were offered positions before they even completed their camp. Both are currently happily employed at those same positions.
My youngest son graduated a four year college as and is a full-time remote software engineer and knew them both. He recommended the course to his older brother and to me.
My middle son decided to plunge in and is currently half way through the same Tech Academy boot camp and approves of the courses at the time of this review.
All of their approval encouraged me to understand that even at my age, I‘m 54, I could learn how to do this and find a new career in this field if I wanted to. I had always wanted to learn programming but had not found the opportunity to do so. I took a beginners Python class outside of the boot camp before signing up to make sure I would enjoy programming as much as I thought I would and was happy to have done so. Although I have worked on computers for over three decades I have never programmed. Taking the course assured me that I could and that I did enjoy it and that I was ready to begin the camp. This may not be necessary for others, but it did encourage me set aside my hesitations and to pursue enrolling in the camp.
At the time of this writing I am a full-time on-line student of the Software Development boot camp, about three weeks in. The staff is great and the course is pretty well put together for anyone, whether or not you have ever programmed or even know what a computer really is or how it really works. They will start you at the beginning and make sure you are familiar with the basics and give you a good foundational footing and launch pad to succeed from.
I hope this was helpful; the course I am in is self paced and requires 40 hours a week of study, it is a "boot camp". It can be done full or part time, both of which are different subscription levels. I had the opportunity to go full-time and jumped in both feet and am enjoying it so far.
- Alexander BroderGraduate • Online C# and .NET Framework Boot Camp (part-time) • PortlandNov 23, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Great Coding Experience
Overall a very thorough coding experience involving both front end and back end languages. While the online curriculum might be difficult for some, I found it very rewarding and informative. My only negatives regarding my experience is that I felt very uncomfortable actually staying on campus, and I had very little interaction with other students. Otherwise I would definitely recommend it! - David MeyerSoftware Development Engineer • Graduate • Online Software Developer Boot Camp (full-time) • OnlineNov 22, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
The Tech Academy Experience
I enrolled in the Tech Academy's "Overview of Software Development" self-paced online course in March of 2021. It took me a little longer than expected (around 6 months) due to personal circumstances. Altogether, I believe the Tech Academy helped me establish a "Software Developer" foundation which I am continuing to build off to this day. The "how" is so much more important than the "what", when it comes to learning. I only use a small portion of the specific curriculum from The Tech Ac...I enrolled in the Tech Academy's "Overview of Software Development" self-paced online course in March of 2021. It took me a little longer than expected (around 6 months) due to personal circumstances. Altogether, I believe the Tech Academy helped me establish a "Software Developer" foundation which I am continuing to build off to this day. The "how" is so much more important than the "what", when it comes to learning. I only use a small portion of the specific curriculum from The Tech Academy's course. The greater benefit was the ability to know what questions to ask, and how to find the answers. It's a bit difficult to explain, I hope that makes sense! Quick pros/cons list:
Pros:
-Self paced course
-Access to instructors during normal business hours (very helpful and kind instructors!)
-"Live Project" (A real project simulating working with an Agile dev team)
-Good "basic overview" of software development principles
-Technical terms are very clearly defined
Cons:
-Some of the course materials are somewhat outdated (technology moves quickly!!)
-MUST have self-discipline to stay focused on course work
-MUST be able to "self-start" and seek additional information outside the curriculum
-If self-paced, may have to wait for instructor's response to get help (if not working during normal business hours)
-Impossible to cover everything in the boot camp time frame (there will be much more to learn after graduating. This boot camp should not be treated as a "ticket to a new job", but rather a baseline foundation for understanding principles of software development) - Nate DorganStudent • Online Software Developer Boot Camp (full-time) • PortlandNov 21, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
So far so good
Overall, i like the practicality of the program and its scope. It includes a couple simulated work situations in an agile framework as is the standard so you get at least a couple very direct experiences in what your job will be like. You somewhat work with a team on the live projects in that you can ask questions in the discord server, but teamwork overall is very minimal so if you learn best in a social setting, you may be better off with other programs. It is also outside of the proje...Overall, i like the practicality of the program and its scope. It includes a couple simulated work situations in an agile framework as is the standard so you get at least a couple very direct experiences in what your job will be like. You somewhat work with a team on the live projects in that you can ask questions in the discord server, but teamwork overall is very minimal so if you learn best in a social setting, you may be better off with other programs. It is also outside of the projects entirely self-paced so if you want more direct supervision and accountability, yhus might also not be great for you. - Ethan LaRoccaStudent • Online Software Developer Boot Camp (full-time) • OnlineNov 19, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob AssistanceN/A
A Bootcamp Worth Taking
Let me preface this review with my background.
- I got a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts with zero programming-related classes in 2020.
- In 2022, I took Google's Data Analytics course which in hindsight gave me an extremely small taste of SQL and R knowledge.
- I took a 1 week Coursera trial of the University of Michigan's "Python for Everybody Specialization" course to determine if I enjoyed programming in general, and if I felt it would be worth taking the boot camp. In a nut...Let me preface this review with my background.
- I got a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts with zero programming-related classes in 2020.
- In 2022, I took Google's Data Analytics course which in hindsight gave me an extremely small taste of SQL and R knowledge.
- I took a 1 week Coursera trial of the University of Michigan's "Python for Everybody Specialization" course to determine if I enjoyed programming in general, and if I felt it would be worth taking the boot camp. In a nutshell, a very small understanding of programming.
- I had a sibling with a Bachelor's in Computer Science, who helped me out whenever I didn't understand concepts or ran into problems. He would never give answers, instead guiding me as he was taught in college. He was basically like one of the instructors, except he was in the other room as opposed to an email away.
- Said sibling had a friend with zero programming knowledge who also enrolled in The Tech Academy, same boot camp, and got himself a job after finishing the JavaScript course. This was a big plus for me, as I indirectly knew someone who successfully landed a developer job through the skills made in this boot camp.
A few points to know before you pay.
- They will recommend the Software Developer boot camp as it is the complete package of courses, minus the Cyber Security and extra self-paced courses. It's a 22-week course for full-time. At the time of this review, it was $11,660 for this boot camp.
- They will recommend for full-time students to work 40 hours per week, or a standard work schedule of 8 hours per day/5 days a week in order to graduate on time. I feel that my collegiate study experience gave me an edge here, as I had plenty of extra time built up halfway through the boot camp.
- You are effectively buying a subscription to use their learning system, you can buy extra weeks for extra fees if you run out. If you end with extra time leftover (very possible), you can get additional classes if you want.
- You get a certificate, letter of recommendation, and 90 days of Job Assistance after you finish
- You are NOT guaranteed a job, and this is not a bad thing - it is realistic. They will not do your interviews for you.
- If you take the boot camp online, you will only interact with the instructors if you run into problems with assignments. There is no real social connection with other students, I imagine the experience is different if you go to the campus. The instructors are very nice in my experience, though, and give decent tips and helpful guidance!
- I am fairly confident they give every student at least one extra week.
Overview:
I enrolled in The Tech Academy's Software Developer boot camp in hopes of beginning a new career as a programmer. There are a variety of boot camp packages to choose from; I chose this one specifically because I felt learning more languages would give me more experience in programming, and also give me a more impressive looking resume in the end.
The first three courses are required regardless of which boot camp you take, and they are 95% articles on concepts, videos on concepts, and quizzes on concepts, and a few assignments to ensure you understand these various topics. If you know a decent amount about computers (like me) or programming, these classes will likely bore you until something new pops up. Just power through it, take notes - the final exam will be related to what you learn. After that, though, you get to the fun part of learning new computer languages!
The courses are taught with the idea that you know nothing. The difficulty of the courses increase as you go; you start out with what is basically hand-holding, to eventually being let go and having to craft entire functions or applications on your own. I'd say up to JavaScript is pretty much copying down code, and ensuring you understand what that code does - you gain good debugging practice from this. Python was when I finally felt I'd be able to make it as a programmer. Because JavaScript, Python, and C# are all object-oriented programming languages, each course could be considered a single step to further understanding object-oriented programming as opposed to mastering a single language.
My experience:
I personally decided to work a standard 9-5 work week to mimic that of a normal job environment. It was pretty grueling at times - some days I would take half a day off, or even a three-day-weekend to revitalize myself for the following Monday. I have been told I worked far harder in this boot camp than I would in any job as a developer, so that in itself was a kind of motivation.
Once I got to HTML, I was having fun. I absolutely love learning and every day there was something new. I was slowly picking up the skills and tools to do the work, and my confidence grew along with it. Putting together websites, creating databases, small game applications, all of it was a thrill even if some days were more difficult and (usually unnecessarily) stressful than others. But I believe it was all worth it - there is nothing like finally crafting something all by yourself, spending hours debugging it until it finally all comes together and just works.
I did have my moments of skepticism and concerns in the beginning, but I kept going and once I hit Python course I felt that I could easily recommend this boot camp to anyone. I'm planning to take additional courses, as The Tech Academy does have some extra self-paced courses that aren't included, the more I know the better off I am - do note these self-paced courses do not offer certificates at the time of this review. - Charlie JewellStudent • Online Software Developer Boot Camp (full-time) • PortlandNov 18, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Constant Support
Tech Academy instructors are always there to help and review my work any time of day. I feel like not only a priority to instructors but staff and they both put in the effort to make me feel recognized and supported. Staff was very friendly and communicating in the application process and I was able to pop into the office when I needed help. - Ransom CadoretteJunior Software Engineer • Graduate • Online Software Developer Boot Camp (full-time) • OnlineNov 18, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
I expected more for the price
Bottom line here is that the Tech Academy provided enough schooling for me to get my first job in the tech industry. The resources for the Tech Academy were very mixed in how well they were written, a few were excellent, most were fine, some were actually poorly written and executed or out dated.
The biggest disappointment with The Tech Academy's Software Developer Bootcamp was the instructors. The instructors were extremely kind, helpful, and engaged. However, t...Bottom line here is that the Tech Academy provided enough schooling for me to get my first job in the tech industry. The resources for the Tech Academy were very mixed in how well they were written, a few were excellent, most were fine, some were actually poorly written and executed or out dated.
The biggest disappointment with The Tech Academy's Software Developer Bootcamp was the instructors. The instructors were extremely kind, helpful, and engaged. However, their only experience was having graduated from The Tech Academy. The Academy tried to spin this in a positive light "Our instructors know exactly what you're working on because they've done it themselves" but realistically it just means the people meant to teach us had barely more experience than we had. This was frustrating when I came across problems that I could not solve and that they could not help me with because of their own lack of experience.
The Live Projects at the end of the Python and C# courses were decent examples of working during a sprint. You were technically working on the same project with other students, but in completely different areas which meant that coordinating between and working with other students was unnecessary and unproductive to finishing your own course work (especially if you had limited time to work on your own code). - Vivienne PadillaStudent • Online Software Developer Boot Camp (full-time) • OnlineNov 18, 2022Overall ExperienceInstructorsCurriculumJob Assistance
Valuable Experience!
I loved everything about the curriculum. The curriculum gradually gets harder as you progress through the bootcamp, so there's always a new challenge to improve your problem solving skills. The instructors are attentive and always happy to help. This bootcamp even offers job support and will help you build a resume!
The Tech Academy Alumni Outcomes
70%
Employment Rate
80%
Graduation Rate
$45,000
Median Salary
95% of students intended to seek in-field employment within 180 days of graduating. 5% of students did not intend to seek in-field employment. Below is the 180 Day Employment Breakdown for 158 graduates included in report:
180 Day employment breakdown
| Employed in-field | 70.1% |
| Full-time employee | 70.1% |
| Full-time apprenticeship, internship or contract position | 0.0% |
| Short-term contract, part-time, or freelance | 0.0% |
| Started a new company or venture after graduation | 0.0% |
| Not seeking in-field employment | 11.2% |
| Employed out-of-field | 2.8% |
| Continuing to higher education | 4.7% |
| Not seeking a job for health, family, or personal reasons | 3.8% |
| Still seeking job in-field | 8.5% |
| Could not contact | 10.2% |
salary breakdown
Notes and Caveats
This is the 180-day employment breakdown. We continue to help our graduates beyond 180 days, and many more found employment beyond this time period.
Recent The Tech Academy News
Jess Feldman
Updated March 04, 2024
This February, we saw more buzz about skills-based hiring and AI literacy initiatives through private and public organizations. A technical course provider landed over $6 million in a Series A fundraise this month, and Pell Grants for short-term programs continued to be discussed in the U.S. House of Representatives. Plus, find out which 8 coding bootcamps we added to the Course Report listin...
Jess Feldman
Updated November 05, 2024
As a response to the COVID pandemic in 2020, most in-person bootcamps quickly transitioned to online or remote classrooms. In 2024, hybrid classrooms and immersive online learning continue to be popular, but in-person bootcamp options are available again. If you’ve been waiting for an in-person classroom to start your career change, then here are the 30 in-person coding bootcamps with campuse...
Imogen Crispe
Updated August 19, 2019
The Tech Academy is partnering with the US Air Force to train personnel in modern, in-demand technologies, so they are able to identify and solve problems using tech. We asked The Tech Academy Austin Dean, Trisha Saldanha, how this partnership came about, what the Air Force students are learning, and what the goals are for the students when they graduate. Find out about the Air-Force-spec...
Imogen Crispe
Updated April 09, 2019
Ben was an audio engineer but started to burn out working in the music industry. Friends suggested he try coding, and he discovered The Tech Academy’s self-paced coding bootcamp in Portland, OR. In six months, he changed careers, and now works at the school as an instructor and CTO! Ben tells us about the cross over between music and software engineering, why he loves teaching and working...
Lauren Stewart
Updated December 05, 2018
As The Tech Academy prepares to open a new campus in Austin, Texas, we sat down founders Jack & Erik to get the specifics. Read on to learn about the blended online coding bootcamp, why they’re excited to teach students in Austin, what companies are hiring developers in Austin, and what will stand out about the Austin Tech Academy campus in this rising tech hub.
Q&A
As the c...
Lauren Stewart
Updated August 14, 2018
The Tech Academy is expanding to Denver, and their new campus will be run by Cole Dixon, a former student and instructor who worked in tech for three years before returning to the school that jump-started his career! Cole tells us what the new campus at The Tech Academy is like, how students will interact with instructors and students from campuses in Portland and Seattle, and the compani...
Lauren Stewart
Updated March 16, 2018
After multiple degrees in geology, Alex Wong set out to become a petroleum geologist. But a crash in the oil market coincided with a change in Alex’s interests, and he started his journey into tech. Alex chose to learn programming in Seattle at The Tech Academy, and because The Tech Academy is self-paced, he’s on track to graduate soon. We check in to find out about his learning experienc...
Imogen Crispe
Updated March 10, 2021
What will your salary be after coding bootcamp? Coding bootcamps are judged almost entirely by their ability to find students high-paying jobs as web developers. Some schools release data about alumni jobs, others offer money-back job guarantees or deferred tuition, but how much are students earning when they graduate and how does their earning potential change as they gain experience? Every ...
Imogen Crispe
Updated October 21, 2020
From high school dropout to lead developer for a marketing agency at just 19; Temple Naylor took a huge risk and it paid off. He left school at 16, taught himself to code, then enrolled at The Tech Academy’s online coding bootcamp for a more structured learning environment, and to boost his professional skills. Temple tells us what it was like studying remotely with The Tech Academy, how hi...
Imogen Crispe
Updated February 07, 2020
Should I do a coding bootcamp? This is a question we hear all the time, and for good reason. As more coding bootcamps launch (not to mention the rising media coverage), you’re probably wondering, “should I jump on the bandwagon and learn to code?” A recent TechCrunch article implored you not to learn to code unless you’re ready to put in the work to be great, whereas President Obama wants...
Imogen Crispe
Updated July 22, 2016
In 2014, Adam was working as a business trainer in the restaurant industry, but kept thinking about how much he enjoyed coding as a kid. After going through the software development program at The Tech Academy in Portland, Adam was hired as an instructor. Adam tells us about his path back to coding, the learning structure and curriculum at The Tech Academy, and why he finds teaching so exci...
Liz Eggleston
Updated May 20, 2015
Annandra Grace had an advancing career at an insurance company for 16 years, but was ready for a new challenge. She came across an ad for The Tech Academy while searching for jobs in tech and was immediately intrigued. After a campus visit that convinced both her and her brother, a self-taught programmer, she enrolled in the Portland .NET bootcamp. Now having completed the course at Tech Ac...
The Tech Academy Alumni Reviews Summary
Based on 400+ alumni reviews of The Tech Academy on Course Report, the school is highly praised for its comprehensive and practical Software Developer Bootcamp. Students consistently commend the hands-on experience, especially the live project component, knowledgeable instructors, and the supportive learning environment. One review captures this sentiment: "I gained a immense wealth of knowledge... The instructors were extremely helpful, especially during the live projects." However, some students mentioned the fast pace of the program and the need to dedicate significant time and effort to keep up.
Overall Experience
4.8
Instructors
4.9
Curriculum
4.7
Job Assistance
4.9
More Information
Guarantees Job
Job Assistance
Includes Housing
Offers Corporate Training
Accepts GI Bill
Licensing
We are a licensed trade school through the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (and other state licensing bodies), authorized to certify students in coding and other technical professions.
Awards
Recent The Tech Academy News
By Jess Feldman
By Jess Feldman
By Imogen Crispe
FAQs
How much does The Tech Academy cost?
The Tech Academy costs around $14,000. On the lower end, some The Tech Academy courses like Self-Paced Front-End Web Developer Boot Camp cost $1,800.
What courses does The Tech Academy teach?
The Tech Academy offers courses like Online C# and .NET Framework Boot Camp (full-time), Online C# and .NET Framework Boot Camp (part-time), Online Cyber Security Boot Camp (full-time), Online Cyber Security Boot Camp (part-time) and 35 more.
Where does The Tech Academy have campuses?
The Tech Academy has in-person campuses in Portland. The Tech Academy also has a remote classroom so students can learn online.
Is The Tech Academy worth it?
The data says yes! The Tech Academy reports a 72% graduation rate, a median salary of $54,000 and 85% of The Tech Academy alumni are employed. The Tech Academy hasn't shared alumni outcomes yet, but one way to determine if a bootcamp is worth it is by reading alumni reviews. 418 The Tech Academy alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed The Tech Academy on Course Report - you should start there!
Is The Tech Academy legit?
We let alumni answer that question. 418 The Tech Academy alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed The Tech Academy and rate their overall experience a 4.83 out of 5.
Does The Tech Academy offer scholarships or accept the GI Bill?
Right now, it doesn't look like The Tech Academy 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 The Tech Academy reviews?
You can read 418 reviews of The Tech Academy on Course Report! The Tech Academy alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed The Tech Academy and rate their overall experience a 4.83 out of 5.
Is The Tech Academy accredited?
We are a licensed trade school through the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (and other state licensing bodies), authorized to certify students in coding and other technical professions.