You might be using an unsupported or outdated browser. To get the best possible experience please use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge to view this website.
Reviewed
Reviewed
Updated: Mar 7, 2024, 12:46pm
If you’re creative and tech-savvy and you love to experiment, the field of digital marketing may be the perfect niche for you. Digital marketing professionals are in charge of planning and executing campaigns for brands of all sizes, from local businesses to household names.
Digital marketing professionals have access to ample job opportunities and abundant career growth potential. They work in various roles, such as social media manager and search engine optimization (SEO) specialist, that require a deep knowledge of the latest trends and technologies.
But you don’t need a full digital marketing degree to enter this in-demand field. A bootcamp can equip you with the intensive training and practical experience needed to excel in a digital marketing career.
To help you navigate your options, we’ve ranked the best digital marketing bootcamps available online. Read on to learn more.
Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education
Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics, education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.
We scored four online digital marketing bootcamps in the U.S. using 13 data points in the categories of career support, credibility, affordability and student experience. We pulled data for these categories from individual bootcamp providers. Data is accurate as of November 2023.
We scored bootcamps based on the following metrics:
Career Support
Credibility
Affordability
Student Experience
We listed all four bootcamps in the U.S. that met our ranking criteria.
For the purpose of our rankings, we do not evaluate bootcamps offered through universities. Find our full list of methodologies here.
Total Upfront Cost
$6,555
Job Guarantee?
Yes
Official Hiring Partners
Google, Apple, PayPal, eBay, Facebook
$6,555
$6,555
Yes
Yes
Google, Apple, PayPal, eBay, Facebook
Google, Apple, PayPal, eBay, Facebook
Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, CareerFoundry has a global student base and a high student satisfaction rate. Its beginner-friendly digital marketing bootcamp covers all aspects of the field, from content marketing to SEO. The program boasts a 90% graduation placement rate and offers a money-back guarantee if students don’t find a job within six months.
The digital marketing bootcamp is 100% asynchronous and online. Students can complete the program part time in seven months or full time in as little as three months. Expert support is available from mentors, student advisors and career specialists.
Total Upfront Cost
$6,725
Job Guarantee?
No
Official Hiring Partners
IBM, ADP, FedEx, Merck, Cannon
$6,725
$6,725
No
No
IBM, ADP, FedEx, Merck, Cannon
IBM, ADP, FedEx, Merck, Cannon
Noble Desktop’s digital marketing bootcamp is offered in person in New York City and online via synchronous learning over Zoom. The program is geared toward individuals looking to start digital marketing careers, as well as marketing professionals and business owners interested in enhancing their skills.
Training covers SEO, social media marketing and analytics tracking, among other skill areas. Students receive live, project-based training and six one-on-one mentoring sessions for portfolio review, résumé help and job advice. Passing students earn a digital certificate of completion.
Total Upfront Cost
$5,341
Job Guarantee?
No
Official Hiring Partners
Google, Webflow, IBM, Amazon, Walmart Labs
$5,341
$5,341
No
No
Google, Webflow, IBM, Amazon, Walmart Labs
Google, Webflow, IBM, Amazon, Walmart Labs
Thinkful’s 100% online digital marketing bootcamp features rolling start dates. The part-time program includes an expert curriculum, one-on-one personalized mentorship and a virtual messaging platform for real-time answers to study-related questions.
Students receive career coaching for six months after completing the program to assist with customizing a résumé and portfolio, creating a list of target employers, planning interviews and negotiating salary. The curriculum helps students master SEO, content marketing and pay-per-click, among other skills.
Total Upfront Cost
$3,250
Job Guarantee?
No
Official Hiring Partners
Apple, Shopify, Netflix, Spotify, Google
$3,250
$3,250
No
No
Apple, Shopify, Netflix, Spotify, Google
Apple, Shopify, Netflix, Spotify, Google
BrainStation’s online digital marketing bootcamp serves professionals interested in accelerating their careers and beginners looking to dive into something new. Brainstation partners with companies like Apple, Microsoft and Nike to ensure industry-relevant topics are up to date.
Students learn job-ready skills in email and paid social marketing, SEO and Google Analytics. Collaborative coursework is conducted in an interactive environment where learners can work together on real-life projects to use in professional portfolios—a great way to show off their skills to potential employers.
If you’re considering a career in digital marketing, a bootcamp is a speedy, immersive gateway into the industry. Bootcamps typically cost less—and are much shorter—than traditional digital marketing degrees. Graduates are prepared to land mid-level roles like social media manager, content marketer and SEO strategist.
A Forbes Advisor survey of bootcamp grads found that 57.4% enrolled in their programs to become eligible for higher salaries. And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), marketing managers, including digital marketing managers, make a median wage of $140,040 per year.
Plus, the field of digital marketing is booming—an important consideration for prospective students. The BLS projects demand for marketing managers to grow by 7% between 2022 and 2032. That’s more than twice as fast as the average projection for all jobs nationwide.
Ultimately, the decision to enroll in an online digital marketing bootcamp is a personal one, but it can be a good way to launch a new career or advance your current skills.
Online bootcamps can provide useful training for aspiring digital marketing professionals, but the bootcamp industry is a relatively unregulated space. That means credibility across bootcamps can vary significantly.
One way to assess a program’s quality is by checking its graduation job placement rates, reading online student and alumni reviews, and researching the qualifications of instructors.
While bootcamps do not have a process equivalent to college accreditation for quality assurance, the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR) reviews and assesses bootcamps to verify quality. CIRR-member bootcamps voluntarily agree to adhere to the organization’s reporting standards.
CIRR evaluates student outcomes data for bootcamps, such as graduation rates, job placement rates and salary trends, to promote accountability and transparency in the market. Our methodology rewards bootcamp providers that report outcomes data to CIRR.
If you’re ready to choose a digital marketing bootcamp, consider these factors to find the right fit.
Think about the specific skills you want to gain, considering your desired job role within the digital marketing field. If you want to specialize in SEO, social media marketing or content marketing, for example, choose a program offering relevant courses and career assistance.
How much time can you dedicate to a bootcamp every week? Some bootcamps have asynchronous, self-paced options, while others hold online classes at scheduled times. If you juggle work and family obligations, a more flexible option may better suit your needs.
Online bootcamps are often more cost-effective than traditional degrees, but prices vary. Consider how much you are willing to invest in a bootcamp and compare costs, including materials and fees, among different providers.
Bootcamps may cost less than traditional degree programs in general, but they still charge thousands in tuition. Here’s how to pay for a digital marketing bootcamp.
Bootcamp costs vary by program, but upfront tuition prices for online bootcamps range from $1,500 to $23,000, according to data collected by Forbes Advisor. Tech bootcamps cost a median of $8,300 in total tuition.
The top digital marketing programs on this list cost between $3,250 and $6,725 in upfront tuition, making them relatively inexpensive compared to other types of bootcamps.
Paying for your tuition upfront is usually the most cost-effective option if you can afford to pay in a lump sum. Bootcamp providers typically offer a discounted rate for this payment method.
Most bootcamps allow students to pay their tuition in installments, either monthly or in other intervals. This option usually costs more over time than paying upfront.
An income share agreement (ISA) is a financing option with no upfront costs. Students take out a loan for the cost of their bootcamp and agree to repay the debt with a fixed percentage of their future income for a set period of time.
ISAs may be a viable alternative for students who do not qualify for other types of loans. Still, exercise caution when considering an ISA. You’ll be required to pay a set percentage of your income regardless of how much you make, and you could end up paying twice the upfront cost of your digital marketing bootcamp. Plus, missed payments can come with stiff penalties.
Some bootcamps offer job guarantees to ensure job placement after graduation. A job guarantee refunds graduates who don’t land qualifying jobs within a specific period, often six months, after graduation.
It’s important to read the fine print before committing to a bootcamp with a job guarantee. To be eligible, students must fulfill specific requirements such as attendance, completing assignments and maintaining a certain performance level.
Federal student aid, such as grants and loans, is generally unavailable for digital marketing bootcamp students. However, some bootcamp providers feature scholarships to provide financial assistance to students. They may also partner with private lenders to offer flexible loans with low-interest rates.
Military veterans may qualify to use their GI Bill® benefits to fund tuition for certain bootcamps. Similarly, the Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) program may help fund bootcamp tuition. To find out if a program qualifies for military assistance, check the Veterans Affairs website.
If you’re interested in a career in digital marketing, a bootcamp is a great way to get started. The immersive and comprehensive curriculum of a high-quality bootcamp can help you gain the skills you need to excel in the field.
The bootcamps ranked in this guide range between $3,250 and $6,725 in upfront tuition.
A digital marketing bootcamp is an immersive training program that teaches skills like SEO, social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, paid advertising and analytics. Some programs also offer mentorships and career coaching.
Heidi Borst is a freelance journalist, healthcare content writer and certified nutrition coach with a love of all things health and wellness. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, Good Housekeeping, MSN, Yahoo and more. Based in Wilmington, North Carolina, Borst is a lifelong runner and general fitness enthusiast who is passionate about the physical and mental benefits of sleep and self-care.
