Coding Bootcamps in New Mexico

With a population just over 2 million people, I notice that New Mexico has an emerging tech scene. After moving to Albuquerque, I started working at Deep Dive Coding at the beginning of 2017, I have met a lot of developers working remotely for both large and small tech companies from their homes. There is a hidden industry of remote developers learning to code and working remotely while living cost effectively in New Mexico.

The coding bootcamp is a growing industry. In the last 5 year of its existence, the number of students has increased five times. Larger educational institutions can be slow and take a few years to change curriculum, which leaves the industry teaching and working in old and deprecated systems. If a city is trying to drive innovation in a growing tech industry, it will not do so with basic computer science education. With that said, bootcamps are not a replacement for traditional CS degree. If you can afford to do both, do a traditional CS degree and fast paced coding bootcamp to get both the theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice required to really excel.

Python + Machine Learning Workshop at Deep Dive Coding

If you choose to do a bootcamp, you should consider taking it in a city away from your hometown. If you are interested in taking one in New Mexico, here are a few things to consider and list of available bootcamps.

1. New Mexico is more cost effective. When choosing a program remember to factor in the cost of living; and New Mexico has one of the lowest costs of living in the US. Price transparency is important, don’t forget to calculate food, housing, transportation, etc.
2. Go away for bootcamp. When my friends joined the Military, they went away for bootcamp. Why not do the same for developer bootcamp? Our students from other cities and states mention that it helps them focus on the task at hand: learning to be a programmer. You also have the chance to get to know other budding programmers and a new market different than your hometown.
3. Experience a unique culture. Thanks to it strong Native American and Hispanic cultural roots, New Mexico is very unique in the United States. There are pueblo style homes, and red and green chile everywhere. The dry climate can take some getting used to, but it’s a place unlike anywhere else to experience while you are training for 3 months.

Coding Bootcamps in New Mexico

Deep Dive Coding (formerly Dive Dive Coders)

• Established in 2013 by a local entrepreneur, acquired by the local community college in 2015.
• Focus: Fullstack web development, recently expanded to other verticals including Java enterprise software and Android mobile applications.
• Unique Traits: First coding bootcamp in New Mexico, accepts veterans benefits, offers housing, college credit and child care.

Cultivating Coders

• Established in 2016, formed by alumni of Deep Dive Coding.
• Focus: Working with high schoolers and remote under-served populations
• Unique Traits: Great work cultivating more diversity, especially with local Native American reservations, provides mobility of when/where the bootcamp is conducted

Parallax Code Academy

• Established 2017 by local developer, Never quite took off
• Focus: iOS development
• Unique Trait: Formed a local mobile development shop called Pixegon, partners with Cultivating Coders

If you know of any other coding or tech bootcamps, feel free to message me. @superherondan on (Twitter). I’ll try to keep this list updated!