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The job market may look bleak right now in many industries, but there’s one sector that’s not only holding steady but actively growing in demand: artificial intelligence.
Earlier this year, job search platform Indeed reported that between 2020 and 2025, postings for AI and machine learning engineers in the US increased over 300%.
This hype won’t be short-lived, either. The World Economic Forum reported back in 2023 that AI and machine learning specialist was the fastest-growing job worldwide, with the field projected to generate one million new positions by 2027.
If job security isn’t enough of a draw, machine learning engineers can also make a pretty penny when compared to other tech roles: At the entry level, you can command up to $162,000 a year, and surpass $200,000 in annual salary before hitting the five-year mark, according to Glassdoor. (For reference, software engineers make between $118,000 and $188,000 a year.)
So you’re sold on the idea of becoming a machine learning engineer, but have no idea where to start your career journey — and going back to college is just not an option for you financially or time-wise. Well, you’re in luck, because we’ve done the hard work of vetting the best machine learning bootcamps available right now for aspiring techies of any background or expertise.
How we chose the best machine learning bootcamps
The ideal machine learning bootcamp should come at a reasonable price and suit your specific learning and working style, whether you learn by doing or need to fit in class time between jobs or school pickups.
Here’s how we evaluated the current ML bootcamp landscape:
- The quality and comprehensiveness of the curriculum: A worthwhile AI/ML bootcamp should cover the hard skills required to build and manage large language models, data, and other advanced tools, as well as the soft skills necessary to innovate and iterate on existing frameworks and work alongside other engineers.
- Job placement, career support, and student outcomes: Each of the bootcamps we selected have a strong record of having graduates land jobs at top tech companies and set students up for quick and painless job searches through networking opportunities, resume and cover letter reviews, interview prep, and more helpful resources.
- Cost and financing options: None of these bootcamps have outrageous fees, and all are priced in line with what they offer in terms of curriculum, exposure to experts, and educational and career support. Many also offer options for financing with scholarships or via flexible payment plans.
- Instructor background and expertise: The top bootcamps are designed and run by veterans in the field, whether that’s former and current machine learning engineers, tech leaders, or professors with decades of experience studying AI models and development.
- Reviews and community feedback: Every bootcamp listed below has a 4 out of 5 or higher rating on customer review platforms Course Report and Career Karma, meaning they’re beloved by students.
The top 5 machine learning bootcamps to take in 2026
Start the new year off right with one of these five machine learning engineer bootcamps:
1. Best for complete beginners: TripleTen’s AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp
TripleTen’s machine learning program caters to a wide and diverse audience, with a curriculum that spans the fundamentals of Python and data analysis as well as advanced concepts like computer vision and neural networks. Each section of the bootcamp is grouped by theme and formatted in a two-week sprint, where you’ll apply what you learn to scenarios based on real-world business cases. Your projects are evaluated by industry experts, who serve as mentors throughout your education. Beyond honing your machine learning skills, you’ll also develop a strong toolkit of critical thinking, time management, and creating and maintaining documentation.
Cost: $14,000 ($10,500 with a 25% discount) or $17,950 in installments ($13,463 with a 25% discount)
Duration: 9 months, 20 hours a week
Format: Online, part-time
Rating: 4.84/5 on Course Report, 4.7/5 on Career Karma
What you’ll learn:
- Python fundamentals
- Statistics
- Data visualization
- SQL
- Machine learning algorithms
- Supervised/unsupervised learning
- Feature engineering
- APIs
- Neural networks
- Computer vision
- Natural language processing
- Large language models and generative AI
- Cloud deployment
- MLOps
Why choose it:
- No IT or STEM background required to apply
- 82% of students are employed within six months of graduating, with many graduates working at companies like Amazon, Lockheed Martin, and Samsung
- On average, participants make $23,750 more after completing the bootcamp
- If you don’t land a job within 10 months of graduation after following the advice of the bootcamp’s career experts, 100% of your tuition will be refunded
- Ongoing support from dedicated coaches, code reviewers, tutors, and career coaches
- Regular check-ins with a placement coordinator post-graduation
- Code Jams and externships for putting your learning to the test and building a portfolio of work
- Flexible, part-time schedule perfect for any life or work situation
Best for: Beginners and career changers, workers balancing learning with a job or family obligations
2. Best for those who dabble in coding and math: Fullstack Academy’s Online AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp
Fullstack Academy’s coding bootcamp is divided into seven units taught via live instruction and workshops. It begins with programming fundamentals, then dives into applied data science with Python and essentials in machine learning and generative AI. At the end, students complete a capstone project that applies the techniques they’ve learned to solving real-world challenges based on publicly available data.
Cost: $10,995
Duration: 26 weeks, 3 days a week for 3 hours a day
Format: Online, part-time
Rating: 4.77/5 on Course Report, 4.5/5 on Career Karma
What you’ll learn:
- Essential Python data types
- File-handling techniques
- Data manipulation and analysis with NumPy and Pandas
- Hypothesis testing and statistical analysis
- Data cleaning
- Machine learning models
- Deep neural networks for image and text classification
- Machine translation systems
- Generative AI modeling
Why choose it:
- Access to a large alumni network with roles at Google, Facebook, and other top tech brands
- Professional career coaching support for up to a year following graduation
- Part-time, remote schedule after work hours
- Option to pay in installments or with a loan
Best for: Individuals with prior knowledge or experience in programming languages, linear algebra, probability and/or statistics, and those with a couple years of formal work experience
3. Best for entry-level engineers: Caltech’s Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Bootcamp
Hoping to pivot from data science to a more specialized machine learning role? Look no further than the Center for Technology & Management Education at Caltech’s six-month bootcamp, which combines prerecorded, self-managed instruction with live coding labs and project-based learning. The program also offers monthly masterclasses with Caltech instructors covering the latest industry trends and best practices.
Cost: $8,000
Duration: 24 weeks
Format: Online, hybrid
Rating: 4.14/5 on Course Report
What you’ll learn:
- Python
- Statistics
- Supervised/unsupervised learning
- Model building and fine-tuning
- Natural language processing
- Neural networks
- Deep learning
- Reinforcement learning
- Recommendation systems
- TensorFlow 2
- Keras
- NLTK
- Django
- Flask
- OpenCV
Why choose it:
- A decade of teaching tech professionals in 150 countries
- Access to Caltech’s LinkedIn network
- Personalized career support services
- Case-based learning applied to the fields of social media, healthcare, entertainment, and more
Best for: Individuals with some coding, mathematics, and data science knowledge
4. Best for tech career advancers: Springboard’s Machine Learning & AI Bootcamp
Springboard’s bootcamp is in partnership with University of Arizona Continuing and Professional Education and is geared toward coding professionals who want to level up in AI. The nine-month, part-time training pairs online modules with hands-on projects and practical exercises for a comprehensive education in machine learning algorithms and model deployment.
Cost: $13,950
Duration: 9 months, 15 hours a week
Format: Online, part-time
Rating: 4.6/5 on Course Report, 4.6/5 on Career Karma
What you’ll learn:
- Supervised/unsupervised learning
- Automated machine learning
- Deep learning techniques
- Model bias
- Recommendation systems
- Exploratory data analysis
- Neural network architectures
- Computer vision
- Natural language processing
- Machine learning ethics
- SQL
- Tensorflow
- Pandas
- AWS
Why choose it:
- Job placement success at companies like Google, Nike, and Accenture
- One-on-one mentorship with experts, advisors, and career coaches
- Access to an online community for feedback and support
- Month-to-month payment plan, financial options, and scholarships
Best for: Individuals with some proficiency in Python, Java, or JavaScript
5. Best for aspiring data scientists: BrainStation’s Data Science Bootcamp
BrainStation’s data science bootcamp is broken up into four units, where you’ll attend evening and weekend classes, as well as four-day industry sprints that apply your new knowledge to problems faced by real companies like Airbnb and the NBA. The fifth unit on professional development explores design thinking, presentation and communication in the workplace, and how to prepare a portfolio.
Cost: $16,500
Duration: About 6 months, 2-3 days a week
Format: Online or in person (New York, Miami, Toronto, Vancouver, or London only), part-time
Rating: 4.66/5 on Course Report, 4.4/5 on Career Karma
What you’ll learn:
- Data analysis and visualization
- SQL
- Python
- NumPy
- Pandas
- Git
- Statistics
- Predictive modeling
- Hypothesis testing
- ChatGPT
- Dall-E
- Supervised/unsupervised learning
- Big data
- Cloud fundamentals
Why choose it:
- Has placed students at companies like Spotify, IBM, and PwC
- Payment plans and scholarship options
- Office hours with experts
- Career support, including job search strategy, mock interviewing, resume review, and access to advisors
- Flexible schedule for busy professionals
Best for: Entry-level engineers looking to specialize in data science, those with a bigger time commitment and budget for continued education
Machine learning bootcamps in comparison
How to pick the best ML bootcamp for your career goals
You can’t really go wrong with any of the options above, but to help guide your search, we suggest following these tips for picking the best ML bootcamp for you:
- Outline a reasonable schedule: How much time can you commit every day or week? Do you want to complete the bootcamp in six months or a year? Once you know the timeframe you’re comfortable working with, you can select a program that fits that schedule and doesn’t overwhelm you or take time away from other priorities like work, family, and hobbies.
- Figure out your budget: Some bootcamps want full payment or a deposit upfront, while others allow you to pay in installments or take out a loan. If you have enough saved up to pay the entire tuition from the get-go, that’s great! Otherwise, you may want to consider programs that give you more financial flexibility. Consider, too, whether your current employer will cover some of the costs for you.
- Evaluate your AI knowledge: If you have no idea what terms like “natural language processing” or “Python” mean, that’s OK, you’re just a true beginner to machine learning! In that case, you’ll want to apply to a program like TripleTen’s that will cover all the basics. Meanwhile, if you’re no stranger to data analysis or coding, more advanced bootcamps like Fullstack Academy’s or BrainStations could be a better fit.
- Pinpoint your dream career: Data scientist, machine learning engineer, AI automation engineer — the list goes on for job titles in the field of AI. Make sure whatever bootcamp you land on covers the hard and soft skills your dream job requires. When in doubt, browse some job listings or speak to tech experts in your network to get a sense of what employers are looking for in your career of choice.
Start your ML career journey today!
Machine learning enthusiasts, unite!
We know how overwhelming selecting a bootcamp can be, which is why we offer free career consultations to anyone interested in delving into machine learning. Book a call with a TripleTen advisor right this very second to turn that dream into a reality.
FAQ
Do I need prior programming experience to enroll in an ML bootcamp?
No, you don’t necessarily need prior experience to enroll in an ML bootcamp. Most ML bootcamps start you from scratch, teaching Python basics before jumping into the heavier topics. If you can handle basic math, logic, and algebra, you can pick up programming while learning machine learning. However, some programs might want you to know a little coding or data analysis going in (details above).
How long after graduation will it take me to find a job?
For 82% of TripleTen graduates, it takes six months post-graduation to land a job. Add in more time, and that percentage increases. Your mileage will vary based on how hard you network, where you live (being near a tech hub helps), how much you use career support services, and what your portfolio looks like.
Is an ML bootcamp worth it compared to a traditional degree?
An ML bootcamp is worth it when compared to a traditional degree if you're switching careers and want to land an entry-level ML or data science job fast. With them, you're done in months instead of years, and they cost far less. Bootcamps focus on practical, project-based education and help you get hired. Degrees give you deeper academic foundations, which matters more for research positions.
How much time do ML bootcamps require?
ML bootcamps demand 40-60 hours weekly for full-time programs and 15-20 hours for part-time programs. Juggling that with work or life can be rough, but it gets you skilled and career-switched fast. Plenty of successful grads say the compressed timeline was worth it because they hit their career goals in months instead of years.
What career paths are available after completing an ML bootcamp?
Bootcamp grads can take a few different career paths
- Machine learning engineer — building production ML systems
- Data scientist — analyzing data and creating predictive models
- Data analyst — supporting data-driven decisions
- ML operations (MLOps) engineer — deploying and maintaining models
- AI specialist/LLM engineer — working with large language models
Career switchers often use their previous experience (healthcare, finance, marketing) as an edge when going after specialized roles.
What soft skills will I develop beyond technical knowledge?
The soft skills you'll gain at an ML bootcamp include interview prep, resume writing, networking, communication, problem-solving, and project management. Many run mock interviews, career coaching sessions, and networking events with employers to help you fully hone those aptitudes.. These skills matter just as much as your technical acumen when you're trying to land that first role.
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