Rithm School offers a comprehensive coding bootcamp for future software engineers. The well-structured, balanced curriculum helps students develop the necessary skills to succeed in their future careers — including front-end development, full-stack web development, and the most popular software tools in the industry today. This full-time, immersive program is demanding and requires a 60- to 80-hour commitment weekly. However, despite the challenging nature of this bootcamp, it holds a reputation for producing high-earning graduates. With most of their graduates landing a job just nine months after graduation, students can feel confident in choosing Rithm School to attain their career goals.
Rithm School Overview Table
| Website | https://rithmschool.com |
| Courses Offered | Software engineering |
| Course Delivery Method | Hybrid — Students can attend all lectures and complete coursework remotely. Still, students local to the Bay Area can attend scheduled pair programming or in-person advising sessions if they choose to. |
| Length of Courses | 16 weeks |
| Time Commitment | 60-80 hours per week
20 hours of live virtual lecture + 40 hours of coursework (exercises and projects) |
| Tuition Policy | $0 upfront
Students only pay after completing the course and finding employment that meets minimum salary requirements. |
| Tuition | $24,000 |
| Job Placement | There is no guaranteed job placement, but students complete courses in Technical Interview Prep and Behavioral Interview Prep in their final weeks of the program. Students also participate in an Alumni Membership and have unlimited access to a Career Services manager after graduation. |
| Certificates Offered | Bootcamp certificate in software engineering from Rithm School |
How Signing Up For a Bootcamp With Rithm School Works
First, prospective students must fill out a short application with basic information and work history. Next, students will select the start date for the program they would like to attend — Rithm School offers two software engineering bootcamps per year — and the intended payment method. After submitting the initial application, students will be prompted to schedule a call with a member of the admissions team to discuss the next steps.
While this is in progress, Rithm School encourages applicants to take the JavaScript Prep Course. The introductory course consists of five modules and covers the basics of JavaScript. The fifth module prepares students for their Rithm School admissions interview and the Timed Coding Challenge. This additional course ensures that admitted students are intellectually prepared to enter the Software Engineering program.
Applicants looking for additional prep can sign up for Rithm School’s Private Prep Course — a two-week course featuring live instruction and personalized feedback. Although this step is optional, students who complete the Private Prep Course are three times more likely to succeed in their bootcamp interview.
After students complete sufficient prep work, they will take a timed coding challenge to assess their technical skills. After passing the challenge, they are able to schedule the admissions interview. Admissions interviews are conducted one-on-one and typically last for 90 minutes. They consist of two to four technical coding problems to be completed in the code editor of your choice.
After the interview, students find out if they passed in one to two business days. Those who do not pass on the first go-around can interview again two to six weeks after the initial attempt. Students who pass will receive an offer of admission, an invoice for the $1,000 tuition deposit, and “pre-work.” Pre-work at Rithm School is approximately 80 hours of self-study problem-solving and web development projects that students must complete before the session start date.
Rithm School Tuition Overview
Rithm School offers many financing options to make their bootcamp as accessible as possible. Students can pay the tuition upfront, in monthly installments with a financial partner, or can opt for a hybrid or deferred tuition plan.
| Payment Method | Upfront Tuition | Ascent Loan | Hybrid Tuition | Deferred Tuition |
| Tuition Deposit | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Tuition | $23,000 | $23,000 | $11,500 | n/a |
| Additional Information | Credit cards accepted | Payment options differ on a case-by-case basis. Learn more on Ascent’s website. | 17% of salary, payments over one year | 17% of salary, payments over two years |
Students can also pay their tuition in two or four installments directly to Rithm School but will incur an additional $500 fee for doing so.
Those electing to pay with a loan from Ascent may be eligible for an additional loan to cover up to $6,000 of living expenses.
Rather than repaying a set amount, students who opt for deferred tuition agree to Income Sharing. This payment method allows students to pay back their tuition as a percentage of their gross salary (before taxes).
Deferred tuition is contingent on eligibility. To be eligible, students must be a resident or hold asylum status in the United States and not have any other Income Share Agreements.
Bootcamp Courses Available
Software Engineering
$24,000 | Online/Hybrid | Full Time | 60-80 hours a week | 16 weeks | February 20, 2023 or April 3, 2023
Rithm School’s Software Engineering bootcamp is fully comprehensive. The program lasts 16 weeks and covers intermediate front-end development, full stack web development, and single page applications with React and Node.js. In the final weeks of the program, students complete professional projects with organizations in the Bay Area.
- Placement Test Required? Yes
- Interview Required? Yes
- Skill Level Required? JavaScript fundamentals and basic coding skills
A Typical Week at Rithm School
The Rithm School curriculum includes instruction, professional projects, and interview prep.
During the first 11 weeks, students focus on instruction. Instructors lecture on conceptual topics in the morning and afternoons in 90- and 120-minute increments. Learners are encouraged to practice coding while instructors are present but will have ample time before and after lectures to complete coding projects and review necessary learning materials to ensure understanding.
Weeks 12 through 14 focus on professional projects. Students complete projects for organizations local to the Bay Area during this time. Tasks vary, but each student can expect to develop the necessary teamwork skills to participate in a typical work environment while continuing to work on their professional portfolio.
During the program’s final weeks, the curriculum homes in on interview prep. Students develop skills to pass technical and behavioral interviews at the top tech companies.
Additional Features
High-quality instructors
Rithm School students benefit from attentive and invested instructors. Each educator holds a love for teaching equal to their passion for coding and is selected for their ability to mentor learners and ensure student success. In addition, because each cohort is capped at 20 students, instructors can guarantee individualized instruction in the classroom.
Cohort community
Perhaps because of their selective and rigorous application process, Rithm School’s cohort sizes are capped at just 20 students. This small class size has various benefits, namely that it promotes interaction and instills a sense of community among students. This feature is crucial for coding bootcamps, providing ample peer-to-peer support and camaraderie.
What We Like About Rithm School
Preparatory courses
Rithm School makes it possible for all students to attain a career in software engineering with its selection of preparatory courses. Those new to coding can take a free course in JavaScript Fundamentals or Intermediate JavaScript to prepare for the rigorous application process. In addition, Rithm School offers an optional Private Prep Course, which gives students a better opportunity to successfully pass their timed coding challenge and technical interview.
Comprehensive curriculum
The curriculum at Rithm School is thorough and well-structured. Learners begin coursework before entering the classroom to prepare for their future careers. Students complete “prework,” a selection of self-study coding problems and web development projects, to prepare for the rest of the curriculum. Students progress to modules in intermediate front-end development, full-stack web development, and single page applications to further develop their skills before wrapping up the term with real-life work experience.
Job placement support
After completing the program, graduates have unlimited access to various career support services. Students complete courses in technical interview prep, behavioral interview prep, and one-on-one mentorship with a Rithm School alum. A Career Services manager provides coaching and can connect students to open opportunities at Rithm School’s 120+ partner companies.
What We Don’t Like About Rithm School
No guaranteed job placement
Unlike similar boot camps, Rithm School does not guarantee a job after graduation. Considering the relatively high tuition, some students might feel they need a guaranteed job to commit to such a program. However, Rithm School does provide ample job placement support. Because this support is unlimited, some prospective students might be able to overlook this with the knowledge that their career support services will never expire.
No Part-time options
Although there are many benefits to attending a full-time program, some students might need more flexibility. For example, anyone with a full-time job or significant responsibilities might need help to meet Rithm School’s attendance and time requirements. Alternatively, some students might want to opt for the full-time option for its relatively quick completion time. Full-time attendance means the program can be completed in just 16 weeks — a short time for anyone eager to enter the field.
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