There are a few key reasons why Pathrise may not be the best fit for everyone:
- Cost concerns. While there’s no upfront payment, the cost can add up to over $12k from your salary down the road, which some people find hard to justify.
- Lack of tech training and certifications. Pathrise focuses solely on career mentorship, making it less suitable for those who are earlier in their tech careers and seeking foundational training or certifications.
- Limited community-building opportunities. Since mentoring is one-on-one, there’s little chance to build a community or expand your professional network.
The good news is, Pathrise isn’t the only option to help you find a job. There are several other career accelerator platforms and programs out there that might better align with your needs.
Some of these platforms offer a model similar to Pathrise, where you pay nothing upfront. But, even better, some Pathrise competitors are entirely free! Additionally, these alternatives may provide not only job placement support but also tech training, industry-recognized certifications, a supportive peer community, and access to a broad professional network.
In this guide, we explore companies like Pathrise to help you navigate your path to a successful career in tech.
Pathrise Alternatives for Job Placement Support & Tech Training
While Pathrise supports your job search, it doesn’t provide the certifications that recruiters often seek. If you’re just starting out in your career, professional training is incredibly valuable.
That’s why we’re highlighting 7 companies similar to Pathrise that offer not only career mentorship but also professional training. In many of these programs, you’ll be trained by tech professionals who are invested in your success, giving you the best chance to secure roles at top tech companies.
Pathrise Alternatives
1. Climb Hire: A Pathrise Competitor That Offers Free Tech Training Paired with Dedicated Job Placement Support
The first on the list is our very own non-profit organization, Climb Hire. Our purpose is to help low-income and overlooked working adults launch careers in the tech industry.
What You Get from Climb Hire
Climb Hire offers two specialized tech skills training programs designed to help you secure a job in the tech industry within a year:
- IT Support: You’ll study for and earn the CompTIA A+ certification, a key credential for IT support roles.
- Google & Meta Ads Certification: This program teaches you the fundamentals of paid search marketing, a specialization within digital marketing.
Unlike Pathrise, Climb Hire provides tech training in a group setting. This group-based approach helps build a strong community, allowing you to connect with fellow learners and expand your professional network. In fact, 77% of Climbers say that this community is one of the biggest benefits of our program.
With Climb Hire, all programs are fully remote and led by industry-experts. Class time is carefully structured, focusing on both technical and soft skills:
- Technical training includes hands-on labs or projects with real-world clients to gain practical experience and build your portfolio.
- Soft skills training covers essential topics like resume writing, job interview success, and effective communication in professional settings.
Programs last either 4 or 6 months, followed by an additional 6 months of career support. During this time, you’ll receive personalized job placement support from our Career Development Advisors, which includes:
- Guidance on refining your resume and LinkedIn profile
- Crafting compelling cover letters
- Intensive interview preparation
- Effective job search strategies
- Tailored career advice and insights specific to your industry
All of this provides you with a clear advantage in landing a tech role.
Graduates also benefit from Climb Hire’s extensive professional network, connecting you with industry insiders, potential employers, and a robust alumni community. Building such a network can significantly increase your job opportunities.
Climb Hire: How You Pay
All programs are free for students enrolling in 2024, thanks to our generous donors. Climb Hire also covers the cost of certifications, such as CompTIA A+, which typically costs over $500.
Pros
- No prior tech experience is required for admission.
- Over 80% of graduates secure jobs within 6 months of completing the program.
- Most graduates earn an average starting salary of $50k.
- 77% of alumni highly value the community aspect of the program.
Cons
- Eligibility is restricted to adults aged 24–40 who earn less than $30k per year.
- The selection of tech learning tracks is limited.
Climb Hire Testimonials
- “The soft skills I learned at Climb Hire really helped me to learn how to interact with interviewers when I was looking for a job. Those little things really make a change when you’re looking for a job.”
– Miguel Ruiz, Climb Hire graduate - “I first thought Climb Hire was going to be a class, but actually Climb Hire isn’t just a class, it’s a community. Everyone I meet over there is basically my second family now.”
– Kevin Nyun, Climb Hire graduate - “Right before the program even finished, I had secured a job at a premier private equity firm called TPG.”
– Lucy Sithole, graduate of Climb Hire
Learn more about Climb Hire and our tech training programs and apply now.
2. Springboard: Bootcamp-Style Courses & Job Placement Assistance
Springboard is an online learning platform offering a variety of courses across different tech fields. Note that a bachelor’s degree may be required for admission.
What You Get from Springboard
You’ll have access to a wide selection of bootcamp-style courses in fields like data science, UX design, and software engineering. With Springboard, you’ll also benefit from one-on-one mentorship, with personalized guidance throughout your learning journey.
The program includes real-world projects that help you build a strong portfolio. It also offers career coaching, resume reviews, and interview preparation.
The courses are designed for self-paced, independent study, so you won’t have the same community atmosphere and peer support that you would through Climb Hire.
Springboard: How You Pay
Pricing for Springboard’s programs ranges from $99 to $11,900.
For certain programs, students can opt for an income-sharing agreement (ISA) model, where they pay a percentage of their income once they secure a job. Upfront payment options and financing plans are also available.
Pros
- They offer a job placement guarantee with a full refund if you don’t secure a job.
- Over 85% of graduates receive job offers within 12 months.
- 65% of courses involve hands-on project work.
Cons
- Admission often requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
- Springboard can be pretty pricey, depending on the course you choose.
- Self-paced, independent learning can be challenging without a structured classroom environment.
- There’s limited interaction with peers, which may reduce opportunities for community and networking.
Springboard: Testimonials
- “Springboard’s approach helped me get projects under my belt, build a solid foundation, and create a portfolio that I could show off to employers.”
– Lou Zhang, Springboard graduate - “My career coaches helped me land interviews and make a good impression on recruiters.”
– Eric Rivera, Springboard graduate
3. ActivateWork: Local Programs Offering In-Person Tech Training & Job Placement Support in the Denver Area
ActivateWork is a nonprofit organization based in Denver, Colorado, dedicated to helping individuals from underrepresented communities gain the skills and support needed to succeed in the tech industry. They offer both in-person and online course components.
What You Get from ActivateWork
ActivateWork offers courses in:
- IT support (which leads to CompTIA A+ certification)
- Security fundamentals
- Software engineering
You’ll receive mentorship and coaching throughout your learning journey, as well as career services including resume building, technical interview preparation, and job placement assistance.
The courses are delivered in a hybrid model, requiring attendance in Denver for in-person classes. Coursework includes technical training and hands-on labs to provide practical experience.
ActivateWork: How You Pay
Programs offered by ActivateWork are free for all students.
Pros
- Classes are taken with peers, increasing community building and networking opportunities.
- 78% of graduates find IT roles within 12 months.
- All students are placed in paid apprenticeships.
- Graduates see an average income increase of 123%.
Cons
- Requires 40 hours of classes and 20 hours of study time per week, which may be challenging for those working full time already.
- You must live in the Denver area to attend in-person classes.
- A tech assessment is required for admission.
ActivateWork: Testimonials
- “I’m most proud of my accomplishments at ActivateWork because they gave me the confidence in myself to not only get a new career but succeed at that career.”
– Brian Hannon, ActivateWork graduate - “I have successfully transitioned my career with ease thanks to the all-inclusive program offered by ActivateWork.”
– Kyle Tweedy, ActivateWork graduate
4. App Academy: A Platform That Focuses on Coding Bootcamps
App Academy is a coding bootcamp platform designed to help job seekers become software engineers.
What You Get from App Academy
The curriculum at App Academy focuses exclusively on web development, covering languages and frameworks such as Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, React, and more. You’ll gain experience in both front-end (what users see and interact with) and back-end development (the underlying functionality of websites).
The program emphasizes pair programming, where you collaborate with a partner on the same code, enhancing your learning through teamwork, error detection, and skill development.
App Academy provides career coaching, resume reviews, interview questions and preparation, and job search support.
The bootcamps are available in both in-person and online formats, with full-time or part-time schedules that last 6 or 12 months, respectively. As such, it’s a much bigger time commitment than programs like Climb Hire.
App Academy: How You Pay
The cost of App Academy’s programs ranges from $20k to $22k. Various payment options are available, including upfront payment, month-to-month plans, deferred payments, and financing.
Pros
- You’ll study alongside peers, which allows for community-building and networking.
- Graduates from 2021 bootcamps earned an average salary of nearly $81k.
- The full-time coding bootcamp curriculum is available for free online, allowing for self-study.
- No previous coding experience is required for admission.
- 89% of graduates secure full-time software engineering roles.
Cons
- The programs are quite expensive.
- App Academy offers programs exclusively in coding.
App Academy: Testimonials
- “I started off with no coding experience and at the end of the 24 weeks I felt confident in my abilities to break into the field of software engineering.”
– Caroline Sarkki, App Academy graduate - “Within a month of graduation I was hired as a Senior Software Engineer at an international company that has over 5,000 employees.”
– Jacob Richardson, App Academy graduate
5. Flatiron School: Rigorous Programs with a Weekly Time Commitment of 40–60 Hours
Flatiron School offers immersive bootcamps in various tech sectors. Industry publications frequently list the school as a top coding bootcamp.
What You Get from Flatiron School
Flatiron School provides intensive coding bootcamps in:
- Software engineering
- Data science
- Cybersecurity
- UX/UI product design
Their curricula are comprehensive and focus on practical, real-world projects that mirror the type of work you’ll do in the industry. For example, in the software engineering bootcamp, you’ll build websites, develop custom web applications, and create interactive features.
Flatiron School provides one-on-one career coaching, which includes assistance with resumes, mock interviews, and personal branding. Their job placement support continues 180 days after graduation.
Flatiron School: How You Pay
Tuition ranges from $14,900 to $17,900. You can pay the tuition upfront, use financing, or opt for a payment plan. Scholarships are available based on need, merit, and for women.
Pros
- You can choose between full-time or part-time study, ranging from 15 to 60 weeks.
- 78% of graduates got job offers within six months of graduation in 2021.
- There are multiple course options to fit various career paths in tech.
- All programs are designed for complete beginners.
- You can choose to study remotely or in-person (in New York or Denver).
Cons
- The programs are quite expensive.
- The full-time programs are rigorous, requiring a significant time and energy commitment. You might not have space for this if you’re already working a full-time job.
- The part-time programs are mostly pre-recorded lectures, so you won’t get the same level of live interaction and personalized support.
Flatiron School: Testimonials
- “My Career Coach helped to focus me and frame my applications in a way that allowed me to stand out not despite my unconventional background, but because of it.”
– Eric Saber, Flatiron graduate - “My favorite part of Flatiron School was the project/assessment period and the people. The assessments allowed me to gauge my progress and set reachable goals, while my cohort mates and instructor made the learning process enriching and enjoyable. We grew together, and the bonds forged will last a lifetime.”
– Terry Threatt, Flatiron graduate
6. Merit America: Tech Training Programs for a Career Transition
Merit America is a nonprofit organization that offers tech training programs for adults looking to transition into in-demand careers.
What You Get from Merit America
At Merit America, you can choose from comprehensive tech training programs in:
- IT support
- Data analytics
- Java development
- UX design
- Cybersecurity
- Project management
These programs lead to industry-recognized Google certificates, such as the IT Support Professional Certificate and the Data Analytics Professional Certificate.
You’ll receive one-on-one career coaching to improve your interview skills, navigate the job hunt, and negotiate job offers. Additionally, you’ll gain access to an extensive professional network of employer partners.
The courses are remote, flexible, and part-time, making them ideal for working adults.
Merit America: How You Pay
Tuition for Merit America’s programs is $5,700. You can take advantage of a no-interest loan with $0 upfront cost, and repayment only begins once you start earning $40k per year. Additionally, you can check with your employer to see if they’ll cover some or all of the cost.
Pros
- The tuition fees are fairly low compared to many other tech training programs.
- You’ll get strong community support through peer learning groups and alumni networks.
- Over 80% of graduates earn an average salary of more than $50k.
- Live meetings are only 3–5 hours per week, making it easy to fit coursework into your schedule.
Cons
- Job placement assistance only lasts 12 weeks, which may not be sufficient time to secure a job.
- Applicants must not have earned a bachelor’s degree within the last 5 years or made more than $35k in the past year.
Merit America: Testimonials
- “I had no tangible qualifications to put on a resume and couldn’t afford training and exams for the IT certifications that I knew of. Merit America provided everything that I was looking for.”
– Yves, Merit America graduate - “I’ve always wanted to learn Java and had looked at options available at community colleges. It was going to cost me more and take longer than Merit.”
– Elizabeth, Merit America graduate
7. CareerFoundry: Tech & Design Programs with Independent Coursework
CareerFoundry is an online education platform specializing in tech and design courses to prepare individuals for careers in digital industries.
What You Get from CareerFoundry
At CareerFoundry, you’ll find a comprehensive selection of tech and design courses, including web development, UX/UI design, data analytics, digital marketing, and more.
The curriculum focuses heavily on hands-on projects and practical experience.
You’ll benefit from one-on-one mentorship and career coaching, which includes portfolio development, refining job application materials, and interview prep. You’ll also have access to a global network of industry professionals.
The learning is flexible and self-paced, so you’ll study and complete assignments from a structured curriculum on your own without scheduled classes.
CareerFoundry: How You Pay
Tuition for CareerFoundry ranges from $6,555 to $8,500. You can choose a monthly payment plan to make it more accessible.
Pros
- 90% of graduates find jobs in their field.
- They offer a money-back guarantee if you don’t land a job within 6 months of graduating.
- No previous tech experience is required.
- Self-paced study means you can do the work as it fits your schedule.
- International applicants are eligible for admission.
Cons
- If you’re an international applicant, you must have written and spoken English proficiency to be eligible.
- Self-paced, independent study can mean limited opportunities for you to build a peer community and facilitate connections in the job market.
- CareerFoundry’s tuition payment plan includes a high monthly payment ($550+/month for 8–12 months).
CareerFoundry: Testimonials
- “Towards the latter part of the course where you have help from a career specialist in the job preparation course, I worked with Melanie. She changed my life! She’s just incredible.”
– Julian Were, CareerFoundry graduate - “Personally, I needed the confidence to know that I can start something from the beginning, decide for myself how to analyze the data, and own a project. That’s something that I learned through multiple projects with CareerFoundry. I really appreciated the different types of projects that focus on different skills.”
– Azadeh Rezaei, CareerFoundry graduate
Get a Job in Tech in Under a Year with Climb Hire
At Climb Hire, our mission is to help low-income and overlooked working adults achieve their professional dreams.
Our tech training programs only take three to six months to complete, and 80% of our graduates find work in under six months. This means you could easily be working full-time in your new tech career in less than a year.
We’re committed to ensuring our programs lead to lucrative tech careers by offering:
- Free tech training for all of 2024. We believe financial barriers shouldn’t stand in the way of career success. Thanks to our amazing donors, we’re able to offer this opportunity at no cost to our students this year.
- Dedicated career development and job placement support. In class, this translates to lessons in resume and cover letter writing, interview training, and other soft skills. For their job hunt, every student is assigned an advisor who supports and guides them throughout the process.
- A community-focused approach, which is one of the most valued aspects of our programs. This fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and mutual support, leading to a lasting network of peers who keep in touch long after graduation.
Learn more about Climb Hire’s IT Support and Google & Meta Ads Certification programs today.