Flatiron School is a NYC-based education company launched by Adam Enbar and Avi Flombaum in 2012. They offer courses on coding, data science, and cybersecurity, which you can take in person at one of their eight different campuses or online. Are they a good option if you’re wanting a career in tech? What is their tuition cost? What are people saying? Scroll down for my Flatiron School review.
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Before Flatiron School began running YouTube ads to tell you how they were voted Best Coding Bootcamp by Career Karma, they had to navigate some turbulence. They took two rounds of funding in 2014 and 2015. Two years later, in 2017, they were sued by the New York State Attorney General for a couple of violations. One, operating without a license; and two, false advertising.
According to Wikipedia, Flatiron School was boasting a 98.5% employment rate for their graduates, but this number included apprentice workers and freelancers. Meanwhile, they said the average salary for a graduate was $74,447, but this number only included those who landed full-time positions. Whoops. They got off with a slap on the wrist, agreeing to pay a $375,000 penalty.
Later that year, in October of 2017, Flatiron School was bought out by WeWork. (Watch the WeWork documentary on Hulu if you haven’t already. You’ll thank me.) After that came Access Labs, an initiative to make tech education more affordable for the financially-strapped. In August of 2018, Flatiron School acquired a UX/UI design school in Chicago called Designation. In addition to New York City, they opened campuses in Austin, Chicago, Denver, Houston, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. In 2020, Carrick Capital Partners bought Flatiron School from WeWork.
So what’s it cost? To enroll in Flatiron School, you’d need to put down a $500 deposit, then pay the rest of the $16,900 tuition in one lump sum before your first class begins. They do have links to two third party websites that offer “competitive financing.” To start your journey with Flatiron School: submit your application, conduct interview with admissions rep, submit sample assignment and go over it with an instructor, receive a decision as to whether or not you’re accepted within four business days.
You’ll need your own computer for all classes. It will take approximately three and a half months for on-campus students to graduate; and between five and fifteen months for virtual students. It’s intense. Plan on devoting 60+ hours per week spread between projects, lectures, studying, and assignments.
Flatiron School reviews are generally positive. “Flatiron is an intensive, rigorous program that requires your preparation (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, GitHub) and dedication,” wrote Wendy McNair on Course Report. “The Software Engineering program consisted of five modules in which you built a project at the end of each module. Instructors are incredibly knowledgeable. They support you but they also push you to learn how to go out and find the answers on your own.”
The only complaints I found cited poor instruction and an “alienating culture.” However, even those people admitted that their overall outcome was positive. “I found a job shortly after graduating where I am well-paid to do meaningful work,” explained software engineer Rebecca Poulson on a Quora thread.
My only thing is, if you’re into computers, why not risk a small fraction of the money and start your own internet biz? Then you would have full control over your income and schedule. While it’s not easy, I don’t know that it’s any harder than grinding out 60+ hour weeks for months on end as a Flatiron student.
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