I did a coding bootcamp instead of a CS degree — honest 3-year review
by Aiden Chong·May 21, 2026
Three years since finishing a 16-week bootcamp. Here's whether it was worth it.
The good:
- Got my first junior developer job 3 months after graduating
- Saved 3 years and RM60,000+ compared to a degree
- The portfolio projects I built during the bootcamp were directly relevant to interviews
The gaps that showed up later:
- CS fundamentals (algorithms, data structures, computer architecture), had to learn these separately for technical interviews
- System design knowledge, this comes with experience but I was behind peers with CS degrees initially
- Credentialing: some companies (especially GLCs and larger MNCs) filter for degree holders. This is less common now but still exists
The verdict at 3 years: I'm earning RM8,500/month as a mid-level developer. Peers from the same bootcamp cohort who stayed in tech are similarly placed. CS grad peers aren't dramatically ahead salary-wise. The bootcamp was worth it for me, but only because I picked a good one and worked hard on the fundamentals afterward.