Cybersecurity is a fast-growing field with incredible demand, and cybersecurity bootcamps offer a great way for interested professionals to sharpen their skills and become part of this burgeoning profession. But many of these online courses have different approaches, and the best course may be different for each student. To help narrow down your options, we researched and reviewed the 10 best cybersecurity bootcamps.
- Code Fellows – Ops and Cybersecurity – Top Pick
- Flatiron School – Cybersecurity Analytics – Best Instructors
- Fullstack Academy – Cybersecurity Analytics – Best for Beginners
- Claim Academy – Cybersecurity – Best for Collaboration
- Evolve Security Academy – Cybersecurity – Best Interactive Projects
- Springboard – Cybersecurity – Best Career Coaching
- Eleven Fifty Academy – Cybersecurity – Best for Certifications
- Ironhack – Cybersecurity – Best for Remote Learning
- The Tech Academy – Cybersecurity – Best for Learning Programming
- Automation Workz – Cybersecurity Tech – Most Affordable
Our Ranking Criteria
The best cybersecurity bootcamps are able to take participants from beginner level to career ready by focusing on the most important skills needed for success in the field. We evaluated nearly 50 cybersecurity bootcamps based on the criteria below, and using the results we narrowed our selection down to the 10 best cybersecurity courses available.
Basic Ranking Criteria
To start narrowing down our list, we took a look at the following factors to determine how flexible the courses are, how much time and effort are needed to complete them, and what they offer to students who successfully complete them.
Time to complete. Our list includes bootcamps that can be completed in a reasonable amount of time. The longest courses on our list take about six months to finish.
Prerequisites required. To ensure novices are able to find courses that suit their needs, our list mostly contains bootcamps that do not require any prerequisites. The ones that do require prerequisites are better suited for those with a basic understanding of cybersecurity.
Flexible schedule. Online courses should be flexible to accommodate students and working professionals with busy schedules. In making our list, we rewarded bootcamps that offer flexible schedules.
Certificate of completion. A certificate of completion can be a valuable addition to your resume. While not all courses offer one, we made sure to note which bootcamps award graduates with a certificate of completion.
Advanced Ranking Criteria
To narrow down our selection even further, we reviewed cybersecurity courses based on advanced criteria to ensure that the ones in our list offer everything participants need to prepare themselves for a career in cybersecurity. Our criteria include the following:
- The course has positive reviews from students.
- The course focuses on modern skills needed to succeed in the cybersecurity field.
- The course is taught by a professional cybersecurity expert.
- The course is solely dedicated to cybersecurity.
- The course offers value for both complete beginners and advanced cybersecurity professionals that want to improve their skills.
- The course is available on-demand or every few months.
- The course is engaging and offers productive assignments that help students improve their skills.
10 Best Cybersecurity Bootcamps
Code Fellows
Ops and Cybersecurity
Intelligent Award: Top Pick
This cybersecurity course is particularly robust, offering 720 hours of live instruction. Code Fellows is also notable for their module-based design — with courses ranging from Ops 101: Explore Ethical Hacking & Cybersecurity Careers to Ops 401: Cybersecurity Engineering, students are able to test-in at the level they are capable of and exit whenever they obtain the skills they seek. If you take all of these courses, you’ll graduate the program with A+, Network+, and Security+ certifications. Code Fellows also offers flexible scheduling, with an accelerated daytime track for full-time students as well as a nights and weekends track for part-time students.
- Price: $99 – $12,000 per module
- Time to complete: 8 hours – 9 weeks per module
- Prerequisites required: No
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? With their module-based approach, Code Fellows is an excellent option for both beginners and advanced students.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Module-based course design. | No asynchronous option. |
| Industry certifications provided. | |
| Affordable pricing. |
Flatiron School
Cybersecurity Analytics
Intelligent Award: Best Instructors
Flatiron Schools’ Cybersecurity Analytics course is an extremely well-rounded option for any individual interested in a career in cybersecurity. The 480-hour immersive online cybersecurity program can be taken on a full or part-time basis and costs $16,900, which is in line with the other options on our list. The curriculum is designed to set students up for careers as 1+ SOC analysts, threat intel analysts, security consultants, or compliance analysts. The course consists of both live lectures and individual study, and after completion, students will be able to meet with a dedicated career coach to help launch their careers.
- Price: $16,900
- Time to complete: 480 hours (Full-time: 30 hours per week; Part-time: 15-hours per week)
- Prerequisites required: None
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? This bootcamp’s curriculum is designed specifically for students interested in a career in cybersecurity analytics, and as such, is best suited for those with some background in data and analytics.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Includes career coaching. | Not the best course for complete beginners. |
| Instructors have extensive cybersecurity experience. | Limited financing options. |
| Offers full-time and part-time course options. |
Fullstack Academy
Cybersecurity Analytics
Intelligent Award: Best for Beginners
Cybersecurity Analytics by Fullstack Academy is built to take students from complete beginners to career-ready cybersecurity professionals. The curriculum covers several in-demand cybersecurity skills and includes hands-on projects to give students practical experience. Students can take advantage of several financing options to offset the $15,980 tuition, including an income sharing program that allows students to pay using a portion of their income after finding employment. Graduates will receive career guidance to help build their resumes, prepare for interviews, negotiate offers, and connect with other cybersecurity professionals. Fullstack also offers several free resources and workshops to help interested individuals prepare for the course.
- Price: $15,980
- Time to complete: Full-time: 13 weeks; Part-time: 26 weeks
- Prerequisites required: None
- Flexible schedule: No
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? The course’s beginner-friendly curriculum makes it an easy choice for complete novices. However, due to its inflexible schedule, it’s best suited for individuals that don’t need to work while attending the course.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Free introduction workshops are available. | Schedule is not flexible. |
| Offers career guidance to graduates. | |
| Easy application process. |
Claim Academy
Cybersecurity
Intelligent Award: Best for Collaboration
Claim Academy offers online and on-campus programs to help transform complete beginners into industry-ready cybersecurity professionals. This bootcamp offers a flexible schedule, making it an ideal option for those with demanding schedules. However, to complete the program in 12 weeks, Claim Academy says students should expect to commit 60 hours per week. At $13,995, the cost to attend this course is reasonable when compared to others on our list. Students having trouble paying their tuition can take advantage of loans and scholarships, and veterans can use the GI Bill to help pay for tuition and housing. While novices are encouraged to apply, you will need to complete a free “Intro to Java and Fundamentals of Programming” course to prepare for your technical interview. Pair programming and mentor sessions allow students to develop their knowledge through practical coursework.
- Price: $13,995
- Time to complete: 12 weeks
- Prerequisites required: Intro to Java and Fundamentals of Programming
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: No
Who should take this course? Claim Academy is a well-rounded program that is great for students who value a collaborative working environment. However, for those hoping to complete the course in 12 weeks, the 60-hour-per-week commitment may prove to be too much.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Collaborative learning. | 60-hour-per-week schedule. |
| Accepts GI Bill. | |
| Bootcamps available throughout the year. |
Evolve Security Academy
Cybersecurity
Intelligent Award: Best Interactive Projects
Evolve Security Academy’s cybersecurity bootcamp is an immersive 20-week program that focuses on hands-on training to prepare students for their future careers. While the course can’t be completed at your own pace, it only requires a 20-hour per week commitment, making it fairly easy to balance with work and other obligations. The course consists of live lectures, pre-recorded lectures, and labs — all of which are suited for complete beginners. Students must pass 1-on-1 verbal tests at the end of each module to verify their competency, and group projects help students gain more practical experience. Graduates receive a certificate of completion, career coaching, and a voucher to pursue their CompTIA Security+ certification at no cost.
- Price: $12,500
- Time to complete: 20 weeks
- Prerequisites required: None
- Flexible schedule: No
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? Evolve Security Academy’s cybersecurity bootcamp is perfect for students that want to develop their knowledge through collaborative projects and labs. This course also sets students up to pursue additional certifications that can improve their resumes.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Verbal assessments to ensure competency. | Schedule is not flexible. |
| Practical student projects. | |
| Accommodates beginners. |
Springboard
Cybersecurity
Intelligent Award: Best Career Coaching
Springboard’s cybersecurity bootcamp aims to help students build practical skills and gain the certifications needed to establish a successful career in cybersecurity. The program was created in partnership with CompTIA to ensure the curriculum covers modern, in-demand skills. Projects focus on real-world scenarios to give students practical experience, and all students will work 1-on-1 with a mentor to help them build their skills faster. Graduates have access to unlimited career coaching, and Springboard offers a full money-back guarantee if you don’t find a job within 6 months after graduating. At under $10,000, Springboard is not only one of the most well-rounded programs on our list, but also one of the most affordable.
- Price: $9,540
- Time to complete: 6 months
- Prerequisites required: Students must pass an evaluation of baseline soft skills
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? Springboard offers a great program for those that value career coaching services and certification preparation. As the course is self-paced, this is also a great option for those that need to work while completing their coursework.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Affordable tuition. | Course length is fairly long. |
| Excellent career coaching services. | |
| Self-paced. |
Eleven Fifty Academy
Cybersecurity
Intelligent Award: Best for Certifications
Eleven Fifty’s cybersecurity programs prepare students to conduct, monitor, and stop cyberattacks. These skills allow students to obtain entry-level positions as security analysts, SOC analysts, and incident response analysts. Course work includes several weeks of training on a cyber range that mimics real-life cyber-attacks to give students practical, real-world experience. Throughout the bootcamp, students will work on obtaining their CompTIA Network+ and Security+ certifications, and students will build a personal portfolio that allows them to showcase their skills to employers. Graduates can work with career coaches to develop their LinkedIn profiles, build their resumes, and network with industry professionals.
- Price: $18,000
- Time to complete: 14 to 24 weeks
- Prerequisites required: None
- Flexible schedule: No
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? Due to the program’s emphasis on preparing for certifications, this bootcamp is ideal for individuals that prioritize obtaining necessary CompTIA cybersecurity certifications.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Certification preparation. | No flexible schedule. |
| Projects focus on real-world scenarios. | Expensive. |
Ironhack
Cybersecurity
Intelligent Award: Best for Remote Learning
Ironhack’s remote cybersecurity bootcamp accepts individuals with no IT background and prepares them for entry-level cybersecurity positions. Before beginning the program, students must complete 20 hours of prep work that focuses on basic concepts like how operating systems work and what networks are. Throughout the course’s three modules, students will learn the basic principles of cybersecurity, how to build security programs, and how to protect against real-time cyber attacks. The course utilizes live classroom lectures to give students the opportunity to interact directly with their instructors and peers, and the bootcamp helps prepare students for work in a remote environment.
- Price: $12,000
- Time to complete: 12 weeks
- Prerequisites required: 20 hours of prep work
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? Ironhack’s bootcamp offers a fantastic remote learning environment that is best suited for individuals that are interested in obtaining a remote cybersecurity position following graduation.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Flexible Schedule. | Limited financing options. |
| Comprehensive curriculum. | Limited Availability. |
The Tech Academy
Cybersecurity
Intelligent Award: Best for Learning Programming
The Tech Academy’s cybersecurity bootcamp focuses on teaching students all the basic elements of modern cybersecurity practices, including the protection of hardware, websites, networks, software, the cloud, and apps. Students will also learn skills that they can apply to careers in programming and software development, including Java development, iOS development, and Android development. At $20,000, this course is rather expensive compared to other options, and even when attending full-time, it takes 20 weeks to complete. The program provides 800 hours of study material and activities, and it concludes with a live project to give students real-world experience. Graduates will then have access to job placement services to help them get their start in the cybersecurity industry.
- Price: Full-time: $20,000; Part-time: $24,640
- Time to complete: Full-time: 20 weeks; Part-time: 30 weeks
- Prerequisites required: None
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? As this bootcamp covers many in-demand programming skills in addition to basic cybersecurity practices, this course is ideal for those that want to gain knowledge and develop skills that they can apply to other sectors in the tech industry.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Comprehensive curriculum. | Expensive tuition. |
| Full-time or part-time enrollment options. | Long course length. |
Automation Workz
Cybersecurity Tech
Intelligent Award: Most Affordable
Automation Workz offers the most affordable cybersecurity program on our list while still providing a comprehensive curriculum that adequately prepares students to enter the cybersecurity workforce. Students will earn their Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification and learn how to protect against common hacker tactics, including phishing, ransomware, malware, and social engineering. Full-time students can expect to complete the course in four months, while part-time students should expect to complete the course in eight months. For those that can’t commit to a strict schedule, self-enrollment is available and offers more flexibility. By the end of the course, students will also be prepared for the Cisco CyberOps Associate (CCOA®) exam, setting them up for a career as a cybersecurity operations analyst. Many former students have secured six-figure cybersecurity jobs after graduating this course. And if you’d like an even more affordable option, Automation Workz offers a free Introduction to Cybersecurity course as well.
- Price: $8,425
- Time to complete: Full-time: 4 months; Part-time: 8 months
- Prerequisites required: Students must first complete the Network Tech program
- Flexible schedule: Yes
- Includes verified certificate of participation: Yes
Who should take this course? As the cheapest course on our list, Cybersecurity Tech by Automation Workz is ideal for students on a budget that may not qualify for financing options offered by other bootcamps.
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Very affordable tuition. | Part-time completion takes eight months. |
| Certification preparation. |
Online Course Comparison Chart
| Course | Price | Features |
| Code Fellows – Ops and Cybersecurity – Top Pick | $99 – $12,000 per module | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible Schedule ✓ Certificate of completion |
| Flatiron School – Cybersecurity Analytics – Best Instructors | $16,900 | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible Schedule ✓ Certificate of completion |
| Fullstack Academy – Cybersecurity Analytics – Best for Beginners | $15,980 | ✓ No prerequisites required
X Flexible Schedule ✓ Certificate of completion |
| Claim Academy – Cybersecurity – Best for Collaboration | $13,995 | X No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible Schedule ✓ Certificate of completion |
| Evolve Security Academy – Cybersecurity – Best Interactive Projects | $12,500 | ✓ No prerequisites required
X Flexible Schedule ✓ Certificate of completion |
| Springboard – Cybersecurity – Best Career Coaching | $9,540 | X No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible Schedule ✓ Certificate of completion |
| Eleven Fifty Academy – Cybersecurity – Best for Certifications | $18,000 | ✓ No prerequisites required
X Flexible Schedule ✓ Certificate of completion |
| Ironhack – Cybersecurity – Best for Remote Learning | $12,000 | ✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible Schedule ✓ Certificate of completion |
| The Tech Academy – Cybersecurity – Best for Learning Programming | Full-time: $20,000
Part-time: $24,640 |
✓ No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible Schedule ✓ Certificate of completion |
| Automation Workz – Cybersecurity Tech – Most Affordable | $8,425 | X No prerequisites required
✓ Flexible Schedule ✓ Certificate of completion |
Tips for Succeeding in an Online Cybersecurity Course
1. Consider the cost
How much do online cybersecurity classes cost?
Online cybersecurity bootcamps typically cost between $10,000 and $20,000, with the most expensive course provider on our list being The Tech Academy at $20,000 and the cheapest being Automation Workz at $8,425. Most courses can be paid via a single lump sum or in installments. Many also provide financing options, including loans, scholarships, and income sharing agreements that allow students to pay for the program after graduating and finding employment.
Will my employer pay for me to take the course?
Many employers offer financial assistance and reimbursements to employees that want to further their education. If you’re having trouble finding a course that you can afford, or you don’t qualify for financing options, your employer may be able to help cover the costs. Talk to your boss or HR department to determine whether or not assistance is available.
2. Get your tech squared away
Most bootcamps require students to have their own equipment to complete their courses. For cybersecurity courses, students typically only need access to a laptop or desktop computer to complete the course. Be sure to contact your course provider to determine whether or not your equipment supports the software they use during the bootcamp. In general, your computer should have 8GB of RAM and should not be older than five years. You should also make sure you have access to a reliable Internet connection in order to avoid complications when watching course videos and attending live lectures.
3. Use the right study resources
While bootcamps do their best to provide students with all of the knowledge they need to succeed, it’s always a good idea to take advantage of supplemental resources to improve your knowledge and skills.
Check out the following resources to aid you in your studies:
- US Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Resources
- TechExam Certification Preparation
- MIT Cybersecurity Lectures
Students should also check with their course providers for additional resources outside of their normal coursework.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cybersecurity Courses
What jobs can you get after completing a cybersecurity course?
Cybersecurity courses set students for several career paths. Common jobs in the cybersecurity field include:
- Cybersecurity analyst
- Cybersecurity engineer
- Information security analyst
- Systems engineer
- Software engineer
- SOC analyst
- Cyber threat analyst
According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for cybersecurity professionals is about $113,000 per year or $54 per hour. Cybersecurity bootcamps position graduates for a high-earning career in an incredibly fast-growing field.
Are there free online cybersecurity courses?
Yes, there is a wide variety of free online cybersecurity courses available on the Internet, many of which are offered by universities and reputable tech companies.
Popular free online cybersecurity courses include:
- Introduction to IT and Cybersecurity by Cybrary
- Cryptography by the University of Maryland
- Foundations of Cybersecurity by Springboard
The National Institute of Standards and Technology also offers a list of free and low-cost resources for individuals interested in cybersecurity as part of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education.
These courses are typically not as in-depth as the bootcamps included on this list, though, as a lot of time, energy, and resources are required to develop and teach a comprehensive cybersecurity curriculum.
How long is the average online cybersecurity course?
Online cybersecurity course lengths vary greatly as many of them offer full-time, part-time, and on-demand enrollment options. With that in mind, cybersecurity bootcamps tend to take anywhere from three to six months to complete depending on how much time you are able to commit to the course on a weekly basis.
How much is cybersecurity bootcamp?
Most cybersecurity boot camps cost between $10,000 and $20,000, while outliers like Automation Workz cost less at just over $8,000. If you’re having trouble paying for your course, most providers offer financing options to help students complete their training.
What is the best cybersecurity bootcamp?
There are several online cybersecurity bootcamps that offer everything students need to establish a successful career. Our pick for the best cybersecurity bootcamp is Cybersecurity Analytics by Flatiron School as it offers a well-rounded curriculum and excellent career coaching services to help graduates land a high-earning job.