“What should I do if I can’t afford a coding bootcamp?”

Here at Bloc, we frequently get this question about financing for our bootcamp programs. Unaccredited institutions, which includes most bootcamps, can’t accept the GI Bill or FAFSA. We’ve been racking our brains for a solution to this problem as we believe in accessible education for everyone.
So, how do we make our programs more affordable?
We released a new loan option with our financing partners, Skills Fund that allows students to pay the interest on the loan while in the program, bringing monthly in-program costs down to:
- as low as $152/mo. for the Software Developer Track
- as low as $69/mo. for the Part-Time Web Developer Track
- as low as $76/mo. for the Designer Track
This loan also gives you a 2 month flexibility period after you finish the program before you start paying interest + principal costs. The idea is that this loan allows you to pay small monthly installments before you get your job as a Web Developer, Software Developer, or UX Designer. After you get your job in one of these roles, the estimated salary is projected to cover your increased monthly payments.
Hear from some of our students who are already taking advantage of this new loan!

Patrick Morris | Temple, GA | Part-Time Web Developer Track
What type of work are you currently doing?
I am currently an independent distributor at a baked goods company with 12 years of experience in sales and merchandising. The position is physically demanding and requires working long hours.
Why did you choose to apply for the Interest-only loan?
I chose the interest-only loan so that I wouldn’t be burdened financially during the program. Also, I don’t have to deplete my savings.
What does the Interest-only loan allow you to do?
This loan allows me to off set paying on the principle until I complete the program. And I don’t have to adjust my monthly finances for the time being.
What are you hoping to get out of this program?
I’m hoping to learn the program languages required for current web and software development applications. I would like to join a fast pace and growing team of developers after I finish this program.

Sonja Snoeyink | Lansing, MI | Part-Time Web Developer Track
Before Bloc, what type of work were you doing?
I went to school for finance and was a financial analyst for 2 years before I decided I wanted a different career path. I taught myself HTML and CSS and have been working as a freelance website designer and developer. I turned to Bloc so that I could learn more advanced development in a structured format without having to go to a traditional class.
Why did you choose to apply for the interest-only loan?
I work as a freelance website designer/ developer so my income isn’t guaranteed or predictable. I’m confident that I will give it my best and learn as much as I can through Bloc. It’s nice to be able to have small payments while I’m learning and can’t count on a steady paycheck yet.
What does the interest-only loan allow you to do?
An interest-only loan gives me the ability to make small payments while I am learning. I can focus on thoroughly learning the material rather than having to worry about dedicating more time to freelance work and sacrifice on my education. Having small payment just makes the whole situation less stressful and I know I’ll be able to find employment quickly after completing my track, at this time I plan on paying off the loan quickly.
What are you hoping to get out of this program?
I hope to build my web developer skills. While I was able to learn HTML and CSS on my own, I am hoping to gain more experience with Javascript and other backend developer languages. I’m looking to learn as much as I can and how to apply this knowledge to real-world projects. By improving my skillset, I hope to increase my employability and find a position in the tech or marketing industry.

Steven Peniche | Bronx, NY | Software Developer Track
Before Bloc, what type of work were you doing?
Before Bloc, I was working overnight as a Bellman at The Greenwich hotel. In the morning I attended Baruch College.
Why did you choose to apply for the interest-only loan?
I chose to apply for the interest-only loan because it allowed me the opportunity to quit my job and focus fully on Bloc for the next couple of months. With a full payment loan I wouldn’t have been able to take that plunge and probably would of had to look for alternative options.
What does the interest-only loan allow you to do?
The interest-only loan allows me to focus 100% of my time towards my goal of becoming a software developer with the help of an amazing program like Bloc. Without it I probably would of had to go the route of self teaching.
What are you hoping to get out of this program?
I’m hoping to get the tools and education necessary to help bring my ideas to life. I’m tired of having light bulb moments from time to time and not being able to act upon them. With the help of Bloc, my mentors and this interest-only loan, I’ll be able to do that and so much more!

Matthew Perry | Belmont, NH | Software Developer Track
Before Bloc, what type of work were you doing?
Before Bloc I was going from one job to another without any clear direction. I didn’t really know where I wanted to go in the future, and college didn’t quite fit with me or my schedule. Bloc gave me the flexibility and opportunity to expand a pastime hobby into a chance for a better tomorrow.
Why did you choose to apply for the Interest-only loan?
The interest-only loan almost seemed too good to be true at first! I didn’t think I’d be able to embark on this exciting new career path, but Bloc and Skills Fund made that a real possibility all while working part time.
What does the Interest-only loan allow you to do?
The interest only loan allows me to focus on my studies and progress without having to worry about the major payments here and now. I can easily pay off the interest while working part time, giving plenty of time for me to hack the world!
What are you hoping to get out of this program?
In Bloc I’m really looking forward to learning a new set of skills that will be applicable both when I finish and ten+ years from now. I didn’t want to feel like I was working towards a set of skills that would become obsolete as technology progressed, and Bloc has given me that opportunity!
Janet Miller | Berkeley, CA | Software Developer Track
Before Bloc, what type of work were you doing?
Before Bloc, I was a senior staff tech writer at Google and then director of technical communications at a startup.
Why did you choose to apply for the Interest-only loan?
Flexibility. The interest-only loan offers the same rate as the full-payment loan, but lets me make low payments during school. And there’s no pre-payment penalty, which means I can pay off the loan as quickly as I choose.
What does the Interest-only loan allow you to do?
Lower payments means I won’t need to work while in school. I can focus on coding and finish the program faster than I would otherwise.
What are you hoping to get out of this program?
Learning to code has been a dream of mine for years so I’m excited to be at Bloc making it a reality. I chose the software developer track so I can learn as much as possible before starting out as a software engineer.
