“Coding Bootcamp Scholarships for LGBTQ+ Students” was written by Bethanny Parker and originally published on bestcolleges.com.
Although many corporations have pledged support to the LGBTQ+ community in recent years by sponsoring pride events and engaging in marketing that embraces LGBTQ+ rights, people who identify as LGBTQ+ still face challenges in the workplace.
According to research from the Williams Institute and McKinsey & Company, LGBTQ+ individuals are underrepresented in management roles — especially LQBTQ+ professionals who do not identify as men.
Additionally, according to a survey by the Human Rights Campaign and PSB Research, 17% of LGBTQ+ workers lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to 13% of non-LGBTQ+ individuals.
So what can be done to help level the playing field for the LGBTQ+ community? One possibility is to increase access to educational opportunities in order to broaden the employment pathways available to LGBTQ+ individuals. This means expanding access to college education, but also to nontraditional educational programs such as coding bootcamps.
In recent years, coding bootcamps have been increasing in popularity among individuals who want to pursue a new career in tech. Since these programs usually take only a few months to complete, they allow students to enter the workforce more quickly than if they had decided to pursue a college degree. However, coding bootcamps can be expensive: The average coding bootcamp costs around $13,580.
At many of the best coding bootcamps, scholarships provide a way to make it easier for LGBTQ+ people to afford these programs. This guide highlights a few of the coding bootcamp scholarships available to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Bootcamp Scholarships That Distribute the Most Funds
For students who want to attend code bootcamps, scholarships can sometimes make the difference between being able to attend a bootcamp or not. LGBTQ+ individuals who want to improve their tech skills can take advantage of the following coding bootcamp scholarships to reduce the cost of their training.
Code Platoon
Code Platoon targets military spouses and veterans, helping them transition smoothly into the civilian workforce. The bootcamp provider offers a transgender veteran scholarship that covers the full $16,000 cost of the program. Code Platoon awards this scholarship to a member of the transgender community who is a veteran or military spouse.
Tech Elevator
Tech Elevator offers the Represent Tech Scholarship, which is awarded to students from groups underrepresented in tech, including women, transgender individuals, and nonbinary individuals. The winner of this scholarship receives $13,175, which equals 85% of the full tuition cost for a Tech Elevator bootcamp ($15,500). Candidates must be accepted into the upcoming cohort and enrolled in order to apply for this scholarship.
DevPoint Labs
The Opportunity in Tech Scholarship from DevPoint Labs awards 50% off the cost of tuition. The scholarship considers applicants from a variety of backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ individuals. The bootcamp also offers a separate 50% tuition scholarship for women. DevPoint Labs’ full-time bootcamp costs $11,000 and its part-time bootcamp costs $5,500.
Fullstack Academy
Fullstack Academy offers the Edie Windsor Scholarship in partnership with Lesbians Who Tech. To qualify, applicants must be gender-nonconforming individuals or LGBTQ+ women. The scholarship covers half of the tuition for a Fullstack Academy bootcamp, which cost $14,500-$17,910.
Turing School
Turing School offers two Diversity Scholarships to each of its cohorts, which award $4,000 toward Turing School’s $20,000 bootcamp tuition. To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must be veterans, people with disabilities, people of color, women, or LGBTQ+ individuals. Candidates must be accepted to Turing School before applying for the scholarship, which requires writing an essay.
Comprehensive List of Coding Bootcamp Scholarships for LGBTQ+ Students
To explore more coding bootcamp scholarships available to members of the LGBTQ+ community, explore BestCollege’s comprehensive list of bootcamp scholarships. This list includes 13 scholarships for LGBTQ+ individuals. You can also find scholarships for women, veterans, people of color, and people with disabilities.
To read the full article and find more educational resources and information for LGBTQ+ students, head to bestcolleges.com.
Related content:
- Made By Raffi — Challenging Gender Stereotypes at an Early Age
- Words of Wisdom for the Next Generation of LGBTQ+ Engineers
- Podcast: APAHM 2021 – Past SWE President Gloria Montano on Assimilation and Self-Acceptance
