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 LearningFuze.
- What does LearningFuze do?
- Who is LearningFuze for?
- What does LearningFuze cost? How much work is involved?
- Ratings and reviews
- Alternatives to LearningFuze
- How does LearningFuze compare to Pathrise?
What does LearningFuze do?
LearningFuze is a tech bootcamp with courses on campus in Los Angeles, Irvine, and San Diego, as well as online. They offer full-time and part-time programs in web development, as well as a part-time program UX design.
Students who enroll in the 12-week, full-time web development program first complete a 2-week online prep class that covers basic HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and GitHub. The prep program meets 2 evenings per week and on Saturdays for a total of 6 hours per week. Students in the full-time bootcamp (which does not offer an online option) meet Monday-Friday from 10am-6pm. Classes are live and not recorded, so attendance is highly encouraged. The bootcamp’s curriculum focuses on HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript & jQuery frameworks, PHP, MySQL, MVC, Github, and design patterns. Students learn how to code by working through prototypes, exercises, tasks, presentations, and projects.
The bootcamp has built a strong network of employers and staffing agencies in the Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego areas. Multiple companies even offer exclusive internships to LearningFuze graduates. In addition, students work 1-on-1 with career coaches on resumes, portfolios, and interview prep until they land their first job. On the last day of the program, students present their final projects to their peers and potential employers at Demo Day.
In addition, LearningFuze offers 2 part-time options: web development and UI/UX design. Part-time students are expected to commit 15-20 hours per week in the classroom (live online or in-person) for 12 weeks. The part-time web dev program delivers the same content as the full-time program, but in less depth. Those in the UI/UX design course study user experience and user design, as well as learn how to use in-demand tools, including Adobe XD, Figma, and InVision. In addition to the instructional time, students complete self-paced modules, which help fill any gaps in knowledge.
Who is LearningFuze for?
People with no prior experience in tech who want to land an entry level web development or product design job can benefit from LearningFuze. The bootcamp is ideal for people looking for positions in the Los Angeles/Orange County region or San Diego..
What does LearningFuze cost? How much work is involved?
The tuition for the full-time bootcamp is $12,995. People who pay their tuition upfront or register early receive a $500 discount. LearningFuze also offers $500-$1,000 scholarships for women and veterans, as well as candidates with a BA or an AA in computer science and those with a degree or work experience in graphic design. People who participate in the prep course receive a $95 discount as well.
Students can finance their tuition by taking out a loan through Skills Fund. Repayment plans and interest rates depend on an applicant’s previous credit history. Students can also participate in LearningFuze’s income share agreement (ISA), which allows them to defer tuition payments until they land a job making at least $40,000 annually (gross). Graduates pay 12% of their monthly salary for 36 months. The ISA is capped at 1.5 times the baseline tuition, which is $19,493.
For those in the part-time web development program and the UI/UX design course, the cost is $3,995 and $2,995 respectively However, students can receive a $300 discount for signing up early. Part-time students can finance classes through loans but not an ISA.
To apply, candidates fill out a brief application, speak with an admissions counselor, and make their initial $250 deposit, which is required of all students.
Ratings and reviews
Overall, online reviews of LearningFuze are positive.
People on CourseReport commended the program for its strong alumni network and job-seeking support, with one grad saying, “whenever you’re finished with the program, they don’t just kick you out. They actually provide help with your job search and an alumni workspace with monitors, post-program instructor assistance, and they aid you in network.” As one Yelp reviewer put it, “The instruction and variety of supportive staff members were paramount in finding solutions when I felt stuck.”
On SwitchUp, reviewers benefited from the rigorous curriculum. One grad said that “the curriculum has prepared me well for my first job in tech… At LearningFuze the lessons are planned to build on top of each other, and the projects are designed to reinforce all the things that you learned.”
But, one SwitchUp reviewer warns: “be prepared to put in the work. I would come to class early, code all day, make time to eat dinner with my family, say goodnight to my kids and code until at least midnight every single day.”
Alternatives to LearningFuze
If LearningFuze does not suit your career goals, check out these resources that teach web development and UX design.
- With tracks in software engineering, Galvanize, Hack Reactor, and General Assembly offer bootcamps online, as well as in a number of cities, including Los Angeles. General Assembly also offers courses in product design.
- Tech bootcamps, Flatiron School and Thinkful have tracks in software engineering and UX design, as well as other subjects.
- Lambda School and Holberton School allow students to finance their software engineering tuition bootcamp through an ISA.
- If you are looking for a self-paced, online software engineering and web dev bootcamp, you can check out Covalence or Launch School.
- As for online bootcamps with tracks in product design and web dev, Skillcrush, Designlab, or Bloc are options.
- Similarly, CareerFoundry and DesignerUp offer self-paced, online bootcamps in product design and web dev.
- Udacity and Springboard are online learning platforms with courses in web development, software engineering, and product design. Discover how Udacity and Springboard can help you by reading our program reviews.
- Similarly, Coursera, Udemy, and edX are online learning tools with hundreds of courses covering a wide range of topics in software engineering, web development, UX design, and other subjects.
How does LearningFuze compare to Pathrise?
LearningFuze is a bootcamp for people who want to develop the necessary skills to land a job as a web developer or designer. While those in the full-time program receive job-seeking support, part-time students do not.
Pathrise is a full service organization that helps people land the best job possible. Using their experiences from years spent on both sides of the hiring table, our mentors support fellows on each step of their job search, including resume & portfolio building, behavioral interview preparation, cold emailing & reverse recruiting strategies, salary negotiation, and more. Fellows learn lifelong skills that can be beneficial in their next job search in web development or product design.
Our program is flexible, with only 4 hours of group sessions per week and 1-on-1 sessions scheduled as needed. All of our sessions are live, as well as recorded, so fellows can review previous material and keep learning. While the Learning Fuze ISA is 12% for 36 months, the Pathrise income share agreement is just 9% of the 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 work with any of our mentors to optimize your job search, join Pathrise.
Apply today.
