Hi, I’m Brian, a former senior software engineer and now industry mentor at Pathrise. I have worked with hundreds of web developers and software engineers to help them land their dream jobs in tech. Check out my review of DevMountain.
- What does DevMountain do?
- Who is DevMountain for?
- What does DevMountain cost? How much work is involved?
- Ratings and reviews
- Alternatives to DevMountain
- How does DevMountain compare to Pathrise?
What does DevMountain do?
DevMountain is a bootcamp that helps people learn the technical skills necessary to land a job as a web developer, UX designer, iOS developer, or software quality assurance (QA) professional. Students can choose between full-time and part-time options in Phoenix, Dallas, and Lehi (Utah). They also offer a remote option, allowing students to participate in live classes with 1-on-1 support from anywhere. As of August 2020, due to Covid-19, all courses are offered remotely, allowing students to attend live classes with 1-on-1 instruction from anywhere.
Before starting a DevMountain bootcamp course, full-time students complete 40 to 60 hours of pre-work in their chosen subject. The part-time programs only require 30-40 hours of pre-course work. The pre-work curriculum features recorded lectures, teaching assistants, and coding projects.
The 13-week full-time bootcamps meet Monday-Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Only the UX course offers a part-time option, with a 16-week program meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00pm to 9:00pm and Saturdays from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Students participate in lectures, workshops, programming challenges, and other hands-on projects. While classes and lectures are live, they are recorded for students to review later.
The web development course teaches students how to build front-end and back-end applications using HTML5, CSS3, Javascript, Git, Github, NodeJS, and ReactJS. They also work with databases and learn version control with Git and Github. The UX course includes lessons on design thinking, UX research, site evaluation, site redesign, and other skills needed to land a job as a UX/UI designer. Students who enroll in the QA course learn unit testing, test writing, Javascript, test automation, and Git & Github. The iOS development course teaches students to build mobile apps using Swift, Objective-C, and X Code, as well as providing UX/UI design, debugging, and digital architecture lessons.
Full-time students are given free housing in Phoenix, Dallas, or Lehi. Full-time students also receive 1-on-1 career training, with resume support, portfolio assistance, interview preparation, and free admission to tech networking events as part of the program.
Who is DevMountain for?
People with no experience in web development, UX design, quality assurance, or iOS development and are looking to move into these careers could benefit from the DevMountain bootcamps. The program is especially helpful for people who are based in Dallas, Phoenix, or Lehi, and for those interested in student housing.
What does DevMountain cost? How much work is involved?
The price for the program depends on the course and location. Tuition for the full-time web development course is $11,900 on-campus, while the remote course costs $7,900. Students who enroll in the full-time QA course pay $7,500 to study on-campus and $4,900 for the remote course. Tuition for the iOS mobile development course is $10,900 for on-campus learning, but only $7,900 for remote learning. The full-time UX course costs $9,900 on-campus, while tuition for remote students is only $7,900. The part-time course, both remote and on-campus, costs $7,900. Note that the tuition for full-time courses, if taken on campus, includes housing as part of the price.
Financing is available through Skulls Fund and Climb Credit. Rates and repayment plans depend on an applicant’s credit history. DevMountain offers 5 scholarships, ranging from $3,000 to a full ride.
Before applying to DevMountain, candidates should familiarize themselves with the basics of their chosen course. The admissions process begins with a written application. Next, candidates have a behavioral interview over the phone. After the call, prospective students complete an “application challenge,” which tests their knowledge in their chosen subject. DevMountain accepts around 1 in 4 applicants.
Ratings and reviews
DevMountain has fairly positive reviews. They have a 4.1/5 star rating on Career Karma and have been listed among CourseReport’s top 15 courses for 3 years. DevMountain graduates praise the program for its effective curriculum and instructors, but some graduates have mixed feelings about their job preparation.
One graduate on Career Karma reports being extremely satisfied with the intense, speedy pace of mobile development lessons. He also enjoyed the on-campus housing option and thought it cultivates a positive learning environment. However, he worried there was “not enough interview prep.”
On Quora, one graduate praised the course’s 1-on-1 time with instructors, remarking “you have a mentor instructor there all the time.” Another student felt the curriculum taught a good mix of practical and theoretical tech concepts, describing the course material as “exactly what I needed to learn.”
DevMountain is rated 4.67/5 stars on SwitchUp, where students praise the course for its dedicated instructors and fast pace. However, one graduate felt “I was not 100% prepared to enter the job market. Many employers cited lack of experience when turning down my application. I would have liked to have another project or two during my time at DM.” On the whole, however, reviewers were satisfied by the curriculum and the valuable tech skills they gained.
Alternatives to DevMountain
If you decide not to enroll in Mountain, there are many alternative bootcamps and courses that can help aspiring web developers, UX designers, QA professionals, and mobile app developers.
- The popular Ironhack bootcamp offers full-time and part-time courses in UX design and web development. They offer a fast-paced curriculum similar to DevMountain.
- Another well-known bootcamp is General Assembly, which offers full-time, part-time, and 1-day courses on topics like software engineering, data science, UX design, digital marketing, product management, and much more. Read more about General Assembly in our review.
- Flatiron School is another bootcamp teaching courses on UX design, software engineering, and more. Students can choose part-time or full-time options, both on-campus or online.
- A full-time tech bootcamp, Kenzie Academy offers both in-person and online courses in software engineering & UX design and front-end engineering. Learn more about Kenzie Academy in our review.
- Aspiring web developers and web designers can check out Bloc, which has courses in those subjects.
- The well-known bootcamp, BrainStation offers programs in UX/UI design, web development, data science, marketing, and product management. Like DeMountain, BrainStation provides a collaborative environment, offering immediate feedback for students.
- The tech bootcamp Thinkful has tracks in web development, UX/UI design, and data science.
- For students interested in bootcamp housing, The Software Guild takes housing and living costs into consideration with their pricing. They also provide a discount to Louisville students.
- Aspiring UX designers can consider Designlab, an online bootcamp that teaches students all the skills needed to land a job as a UX designer. Read more about Designlab in our review.
- Lambda School offers 9-month courses iOS development, data science, and software engineering. Similarly, Holberton School and Byte Academy offer software engineering and web development courses with ISA options.
- Students interested in UX design can also check out DesignerUp. They offer full-time and part-time UX courses, tailored to each student’s unique schedule and needs. Learn more about DesignerUp in our review.
- Those looking for online learning platforms can consider Springboard and Udacity, which host thousands of courses on a variety of subjects. Learn more about Springboard and Udacity in our reviews.
- Codecademy is an extremely popular web development and mobile development program. They offer free, online coding courses on many different programming languages. They also have membership options ranging from $20 to $40 per month for expanded course options and greater support.
- For those seeking lower-cost web development and UX courses, Simplilearn, Learn UX, Treehouse, and Pluralsight could be worth pursuing. While they may not have the same level of support as full-time bootcamps like DevMountain, these programs offer a wide range of courses to learn essential skills for a software engineering career.
- Students may also consider Udemy, which has affordable video courses on web design and computer science. Individual classes cost around $10 each.
How does DevMountain compare to Pathrise?
DevMountain is a bootcamp for people interested in learning the skills needed for a career as a web developer, UX designer, QA professional, or mobile app developer. Although students should have an interest in tech, most DevMountain students start from scratch.
Pathrise job-seekers should already have some background in their chosen field to get the most out of the technical curriculum. A full-service organization, Pathrise assists program fellows at each phase of their job search including resume and portfolio optimization, cold emailing and reverse recruiting, technical and behavioral interviewing, and negotiation. Through workshops and 1-on-1 mentorship, Pathrise tailors the program for each fellow’s needs.
Our program is flexible, with only 4 hours of group sessions and 1-on-1 sessions that can be scheduled as needed by fellows. The Pathrise income share agreement is 9% of their first year’s salary and we never require upfront payments or deposits.
Pathrise is a career accelerator that helps people land their dream job in tech through 1-on-1 mentorship. If you would like to optimize interested in optimizing your job search, join Pathrise.
Apply today.
