Interactive Tool

Degree vs. Bootcamp ROI Calculator

Model the financial impact of your education choice. This tool calculates total cost (including lost wages) and projects the break-even year based on starting salaries and growth rates.

JavaScript Required for Interactive Calculator

The interactive ROI modeling tool requires JavaScript. Below is a static summary of the standard model:

Degree: ~$40k/yr tuition (4 years) + 4 years lost wages. High starting salary (~$85k) and high growth. Break-even typically around Year 8.
Bootcamp: ~$15k tuition (3 months) + 6 months lost wages. Lower starting salary (~$65k) but immediate entry. Better short-term ROI, potential long-term ceiling.

Assumptions & Methodology

This model relies on several fixed assumptions for simplicity:

Duration: Degree takes 4 years. Bootcamp takes 0.5 years (inclusive of job hunt).
Lost Wages: Calculated based on your pre-education salary multiplied by the duration of the program.
Salary Growth: Assumed 5% annual raise for Degree, 4% for Bootcamp (based on historical compensation ceilings).
Tax & Interest: Ignored. This is a gross theoretical model, not financial advice. Student loan interest significantly alters real-world outcomes.

Metric	Degree	Bootcamp
Total Cost (Tuition + Lost Wages)
10-Year Cumulative Earnings
Net 10-Year Value

Degree vs. Bootcamp ROI Calculator

Input Variables

Computer Science Degree

Coding Bootcamp

10-Year Projection

Assumptions & Methodology

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