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Actualize

Average Rating 4.93
612 Reviews 1 Course

Actualize is an online software engineering bootcamp focused on both full stack web development and AI engineering, the skills for building software on top of large language models. Instructors with professional educational experience teach students relevant technologies, including Python, FastAPI, Ruby, Rails, JavaScript, ReactJS, LLM APIs (from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Hugging Face), and LlamaIndex. Students learn core AI engineering techniques such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), evaluation frameworks (evals), AI agents, and LLM observability tools.

The Online Live classes are conducted in real time with video conferencing. Actualize integrates a “Job Hacking” curriculum focused on personal branding and networking — skills they view as equally essential as technical training.

To apply, students can submit an application via the website and then interview with an admissions advisor. There are no coding challenges, but students must complete 5 weeks of prework before the live training starts.

After the program, students can continue to work with the career advisors to help with the job search process.

Reviews

612 alumni reviews of Actualize

Schools can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Course Report never suppresses negative reviews.
  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · May 2022

    Great experience from begging to end

    When I decided to attend Actualize the cohort was about to begin in a week. The people at Actualize were very helpful with setting me up in a short amount of time I had, being on top of E-mails and making sure I have everything I needed. The class...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag
  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · May 2022

    Good Choice.

    I choose Actualize because I have a relative who attended and was successful in find a wonderful software developer job. It was a great experience and really challenged me. I recommend this bootcamp to anyone who is willing to devote their time and...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    AI + Fullstack Engineering · December 2021

    Great Experience

    Just spent the last 3 months of bootcamp with 5 weeks of self-taught lessons prior with homework due weekly. The self-taught portion gave exposure to coding, but not all of the same methods were used as in the class (e.g. different ways to approach...
    Overall
    4.0
    Curriculum
    4.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Student · AI + Fullstack Engineering · December 2021

    Great bootcamp with great support

    I went into bootcamp with little knowledge and little confidence with my ability to learn code, let alone make a job transition. I've since found the confidence to begin the job search and I'm amazed everyday at how much coding I've learned. The...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Student · AI + Fullstack Engineering · August 2021

    Overall a great experience

    I chose Actualize because they offered more live instruction hours compared with other bootcamps where a lot of the work done in your own time or watching recorded videos. I also really liked that they have an emphasis on having instructors that are...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Student · AI + Fullstack Engineering · July 2021

    recent grad

    I just graduated from the Actualize coding bootcamp and was fortunate to have Dani Zaghian as an instructor. I have a masters degree and have taught for a number of years, and I would say that Dani is the best educator I've seen. She is incredibly...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Student · AI + Fullstack Engineering · July 2021

    Exceeded my expectations!

    Dani was my instructor and she was amazing! I chose actualize as it was live on zoom (which held me accountable) and also during the day rather than at nights/weekends as many other bootcamps are. The 12 weeks flew by, and I truly feel like i learned...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · July 2021

    Student

    This course is pretty fantastic. The concept of teaching how to learn is rare and valuable. I wish that there was more of a split time between learning backend (ruby), and front end (vuejs). I think there is more of a focus on ruby, and I wish it...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    4.0
    Job support
    4.0
    Instructors
    4.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · May 2021

    Great Experience

    I chose Actualize because of their 1. Stress on having real teachers give over the material. 2. Their night classes allowed me to continue on with my full-time job (although I feel one really does need to  practice outside of...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · January 2021

    AMAZING!

    I entered Actualize completely new to programming and right from the very start I feel like they made all the information super clear and easy to follow along. They also are super helpful with continuous learning, alway supplying the documents you...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag
  • A
    Anonymous
    Production Manager · AI + Fullstack Engineering · January 2021

    Full Stack Web Development

    The whole experience was great! Our instructor Brian Rice was a fantastic teacher and personable individual with exceptional dad jokes. I feel very prepared and ready to learn and take on any technical challenge I set before myself. A couple of...
    Overall
    4.0
    Curriculum
    4.0
    Job support
    4.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag
  • A
    Anonymous
    Student · AI + Fullstack Engineering · May 2020

    Student

    A very helpful and informative class. I learned a lot about coding and working as a coder. The instructors were very helpful and friendly.
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    4.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Student · AI + Fullstack Engineering · May 2020

    Very happy with Actualize

    I'm very happy with Actualize. The instructors and staff were very personable. I am also very pleased with the depth of job support that is integrated into the curriculum and continues on after the 12 week program until a job is secured by the student....
    Overall
    4.0
    Curriculum
    4.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Keto BHB Canada · AI + Fullstack Engineering · March 2020

    Keto BHB Canada

    Keto BHB Canada Be careful that, despite the fact that the names are fundamentally the same as these are two distinct organizations and two unique items. Keto BHB...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag
  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · January 2020

    Review

    What made Actualize stand out to me from other bootcamps were all the great reviews I read.

    My experience at Actualize was really great. I decided to join a bootcamp because I felt I needed more structure. I definitely learned way more in the...

    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    4.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag
  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · December 2019

    Class content was quality

    Actualize taught quality content, with an excellent (one of the best I've ever had) instructor in Josh. The first month was incredibly basic, and the last month was just working on a project, so considering the price you are really paying for a 2 month...

    Overall
    3.0
    Curriculum
    4.0
    Job support
    2.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag
  • A
    Anonymous
    November 2019

    The essential first step to keeping up with the changing job market.

    I came to Actualize with a background that had nothing to do with tech. In college two years ago I was taught Fortran as a necessary computer science course. While I am sure there are many great CS degrees out there I wasn't about to go back to college...

    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag
  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · November 2019

    Very pleased with my experience

    First and foremost, I'd like to commend the teaching, job support, ad administrative staff on their dedication to making sure students succeed. They are all genuinely invested in making Actualize a successful platform for turning individuals with minimal...

    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag
  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · September 2019

    Great Learning Experience

    The structure of this bootcamp is not your typical class. The curriculum is fast-paced and dense. Always follow the two-week rule to review concepts you learn each day. I had no coding experience coming into this bootcamp. I feel solidly prepared to...

    Overall
    4.0
    Curriculum
    4.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag
  • A
    Anonymous
    Stolaf Student · AI + Fullstack Engineering · September 2019

    Great Experience

     

    It was easy to stay motivated because we were all in a video conference meaning we all saw each others faces. The instructor was amazing and had one on one sessions with each member of the cohort. He even stayed after class on a daily basis...

    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    3.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag
Courses

1 Actualize Course

Full details, syllabus, tuition, and reviews available on each course page.

News

Recent Actualize News

Jess Feldman
Jess Feldman
Updated December 01, 2025
As a response to the COVID pandemic in 2020, most in-person bootcamps quickly transitioned to online or remote classrooms. In 2025, hybrid classrooms and immersive online learning continue to be popular, but in-person bootcamp options are available again. If you’ve been waiting for an in-person classroom to start your career change, then here are the 33 in-person coding bootcamps with campuses ...
Jess Feldman
Jess Feldman
Updated December 01, 2025
Oh Summer, one of the best seasons of the year! While it’s a time to relax, bask in the sun, and plan trips with family and friends, summer is also an awesome time to learn. If you’re a current student, teacher, or professional looking to learn to code, a summer bootcamp is a great opportunity to learn to code in a short time frame. Various coding bootcamps offer summer courses to help you laun...
Liz Eggleston
Liz Eggleston
Updated December 04, 2024
The landscape of online coding bootcamps is vast – ranging from $30/month subscriptions to full-time bootcamps that cost around $20,000. And many online coding programs now offer Income Share Agreements (ISA), which adds another layer of complexity when comparing online coding bootcamp costs. In addition to flexibility, remote code bootcamps cost less than in-person bootcamps – the average onli...
Imogen Crispe
Imogen Crispe
Updated November 29, 2018
This November has been super busy in the immersive coding education world, and at Course Report! We read about how Amazon’s new headquarters will impact the coding bootcamps in New York City, we celebrated successful coding bootcamp grads, we were sad to hear that a school is closing, we heard advice for being successful at bootcamp, and found out about new initiatives to improve diversity in t...
Lauren Stewart
Lauren Stewart
Updated October 21, 2020
Jay Wengrow founded part-time web development bootcamp and apprenticeship program Actualize in Chicago in 2014 to make learning to code efficient and accessible. Now the coding bootcamp has campuses in New York and San Francisco, and in June 2017 they are launching their new online part-time program to further reduce barriers to entry into tech. We asked Jay about the format of the new online c...
Imogen Crispe
Imogen Crispe
Updated December 04, 2024
How do you get a job after coding bootcamp if you have no relevant, real-world work experience? Only 1.4% of bootcampers have worked as developers in the past, but most career-changers have little – if any– client experience when they start looking for a developer job. Some bootcamps help students overcome this hurdle by offering opportunities to work for the bootcamp itself, or with real clien...
Imogen Crispe
Imogen Crispe
Updated March 31, 2016
Luke was ready to make the transition from chemical engineer to software engineer, but wasn’t ready to quit his full-time job. He found part-time coding bootcamp Anyone Can Learn to Code in San Francisco, learned to code while working full-time, then got real-world experience in his apprenticeship with The Difference Engine- an opportunity that ACLTC guarantees all its grads. Luke tells us the ...
Kassia Shishkoff
Kassia Shishkoff
Updated October 21, 2020
If you’re determined to learn to code, there are a lot of factors you should consider when deciding how to accomplish your goal. What sort of budget do you have for the tools you might need? How much free time do you have, or are you willing to make? Do you want to quit your job and learn full-time? Another factor to consider is your own style of learning. Kassia Shishkoff of Anyone Can Learn t...
Liz Eggleston
Liz Eggleston
Updated February 03, 2016
Thinking about applying to Anyone Can Learn to Code? The part-time Chicago programming bootcamp just opened a new campus in San Francisco and is a great option for career-oriented bootcampers who can't quit their day jobs quite yet. But not everyone is accepted into Anyone Can Learn to Code, so what can you do to ace the interview? We're covering the Anyone Can Learn to Code interview and appli...
Nick Toscano
Nick Toscano
Updated April 30, 2019
Chicago is currently home to a growing lot of coding bootcamp and web immersion programs tasked with preparing students for a lucrative career in web development. Courses providers in Chicago have something for everyone with intensive programs in JavaScript, Ruby and Rails, Java and .NET. There is a healthy selection of full-time courses as well as part-time bootcamps, workshops, and night and ...
Harry Hantel
Harry Hantel
Updated May 05, 2015
Welcome to the April News Roundup, your monthly news digest full of the most interesting articles and announcements in the bootcamp space. Want your bootcamp's news to be included in the next News Roundup? Submit announcements of new courses, scholarships, or open jobs at your school! 9 Bootcamp Headlines​ Coding bootcamps find homes at accredited universities. Could This Hybrid Approach Be the...
Jess Feldman
Jess Feldman
Updated October 24, 2025
While quitting your job and diving headfirst into your coding education can yield impressive results, we also understand that not everybody can commit to a full-time, 12-week programming bootcamp. Jobs, school, families - life, in general, can prevent that kind of commitment. For all the students who can’t give 40 hours a week to a code school, we’re outlining some part-time web development boo...
Liz Eggleston
Liz Eggleston
Updated February 08, 2021
Oscar Cisneros was at a job with little opportunity for growth when he was encouraged to learn programming by a tech recruiter. After reading about Anyone Can Learn to Code (now called Actualize) in Chicago, Oscar decided to take the plunge. He's now working as a developer at startup CancerIQ and says "things couldn’t have worked out any better." We talk to Oscar about his experience and career...
Liz Eggleston
Liz Eggleston
Updated December 01, 2014
Chelsea Dommert moved to Chicago specifically to attend Anyone Can Learn to Code, a part-time, intensive web development bootcamp. The risk paid off- with her new skills, she is starting as a web developer at Pivotal Labs today! We talk to Chelsea about the teaching style at Anyone Can Learn to Code, how her past experience helped inspire her final project, and the importance of attending confe...
Liz Eggleston
Liz Eggleston
Updated January 23, 2014
Anyone Can Learn To Code, based in Chicago, launches in June 2014, and can turn you into a web developer in 12 weeks. The best news? You don't even have to quit your job. We talk to founder Jay Wengrow about his background in tech and education, his choice to teach beyond "Vanilla" Rails, and how focused Chicago students can learn to code without leaving their jobs. What is your background and ...
FAQ

Actualize FAQs

Find answers to the most-asked questions.

Is Actualize worth it?

Actualize hasn't shared alumni outcomes yet, but one way to determine if a bootcamp is worth it is by reading alumni reviews. 612 Actualize alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Actualize on Course Report - you should start there!

How much does Actualize cost?

Actualize costs around $16,900.

What courses does Actualize teach?

Actualize offers courses like AI + Fullstack Engineering.

Where does Actualize have campuses?

Actualize teaches students Online in a remote classroom.

Does Actualize offer scholarships or accept the GI Bill?

Right now, it doesn't look like Actualize offers scholarships or accepts the GI Bill. We're always adding to the list of schools that do offer Exclusive Course Report Scholarships and a list of the bootcamps that accept the GI Bill.

Is Actualize legit?

We let alumni answer that question. 612 Actualize alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Actualize and rate their overall experience a 4.93 out of 5.

Can I read Actualize reviews?

You can read 612 reviews of Actualize on Course Report! Actualize alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Actualize and rate their overall experience a 4.93 out of 5.

Is Actualize accredited?

No

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