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Holberton School

Average Rating 4.27
80 Reviews 5 Courses

Holberton School is a software engineering school with campuses on 4 continents and over 20 countries that trains individuals to become Full Stack Software Engineers. All schools offer the 36-week Foundations of Computer Science program, with short- and long-term specialization courses in Fullstack Web Development, Machine Learning, AR/VR and Low Level. The school's mission is to train the next generation of software developers through 100% hands-on learning. 

The curriculum adopts a project-based, peer-learning approach. As an alternative to college and in lieu of formal classes, students solve increasingly complicated programming challenges with minimal instruction. Students will develop resourcefulness as they search for the tools they need to solve these challenges while working with their peers. Rather than focusing on tools and programming languages, students at Holberton have a framework that teaches them the mindset of "learn to learn" and develop problem-solving skills. Throughout the course of the program, students work on industry-level projects and build their own applications. Holberton School mentors ensure that the Holberton curriculum stays up to date. Holberton mentors work for rising startups and top-tier Silicon Valley companies such as Google, Apple, LinkedIn, Tesla and Airbnb.

No programming experience is required. Admission to Holberton School is based only on talent and motivation, with no consideration given to gender, nationality, ethnicity, age or social status.

Reviews

80 reviews of Holberton School

Schools can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Course Report never suppresses negative reviews.
  • Liz Verified via LinkedIn
    Student · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum · Graduation year 2018

    Holberton School is awesome!

    Holberton School is an amazing place to learn full stack software engineering - from the fundamentals and low level software engineering to higher level programming. All assignments are project based and there are no traditional teachers. The students are e...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag Submitted December 16, 2017
  • Philip Yoo Verified via LinkedIn
    Software Engineer · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum

    Student from second Batch (Batch 1)

    I'm a student from Batch 1, which is the second batch from Holberton (since we go by zero index in programming). Also, I'm currently in the second phase of the program, where you get 6 months to either find a job/internship to work in the industry or you ca...
    Overall
    4.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag Submitted December 14, 2017
  • Siphan Bou Verified via LinkedIn
    Software Engineer · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum

    Student

    Pros Peer learning Project-based, hands-on Full-stack curriculum Network of industry experts Staff and mentors care about students Projects prepare you well for professional life Cons Inaugural batch faced a trial and error approach Being lucky enough to be...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag Submitted November 4, 2017
  • Chandler Mayo Verified via LinkedIn
    Full-Stack Software Engineer · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum · Graduated 2018

    An Excellent Choice

    Holberton is setting the standard for training new software engineers with a two-year program that can take anyone, no experience required, and make them an impeccable Full-Stack Software Engineer. I was coding and working with peers on the first day at Hol...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag Submitted October 17, 2017
  • Steven Garcia
    Steven Garcia Verified via GitHub
    Student · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum · Graduation year 2017

    Amazing School

    Holberton School is unparalleled in it's curriculum which is focused on prepping it's students to learn the full scope of coding to fully prepare them for a career in the software engineering field. The entire program consists of a two year dual-sided commi...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag Submitted October 13, 2017
  • Electra Chong
    Electra Chong Verified via GitHub
    Software Engineer · Graduation year 2018

    Practical, strong foundation for a software engineering career

    Full disclosure: I was part of the first experimental batch at Holberton School, which was granted full reprieve from the tuition model. Overview (lengthy, skip to get to my subjective review if you're more interested in my personal experience than a discus...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag Submitted September 17, 2017
  • Alejandra
    Student · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum

    ABUSIVE contract, money SCAM, poor content, ZERO support

    READ THIS BEFORE YOU TAKE THE WORST DECISION IN YOUR LIFE!! I enrolled in Holberton school Bogota last year, everything was ok when I wanted to start doing the advanced program, they suddenly issue an addendum (a document to modify the original contract); s...
    Overall
    1.0
    Curriculum
    1.0
    Job support
    1.0
    Instructors
    1.0
    Flag Submitted January 8, 2021
  • Geoffrey Zoref
    Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum · Graduation year 2020

    Two trimesters in, would recommend

    Holberton is not for everybody. It is rigorous and fast-paced. I began in September 19 with around 22 others in my cohort. In March 20 we are 12. The curriculum weeds out those who can't or won't keep up with the grueling schedule. I say this so that you ta...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    N/A
    Instructors
    1.0
    Flag Submitted March 21, 2020
  • Diego Fernando Rodríguez Orejuela
    Ruby on Rails Software Developer · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum

    One of the best decisions of my life

    Holberton School is the best programming bootcamp in Latin America. In my experience, I studied at the site in Bogotá, the first in all of Latin America. "Project-based learning is a proven, alternative learning methodology to the traditional teacher-led re...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag Submitted November 24, 2019
  • Rodrigo Sierra
    Python Developer · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum · Graduated 2019

    Self and Peer Learning

    Holberton change the scenario of education, first of all, you don't have to pay in advance you pay later when you have a job in the tech industry, second, there are no instructors or professors you learn by yourself or from your peers as it is in the real w...
    Overall
    4.0
    Curriculum
    4.0
    Job support
    4.0
    Instructors
    1.0
    Flag Submitted November 21, 2019
  • Marc C
    Student · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum · Graduation year 2019

    New Way to Educate!

    I'm more than halfway through my first year at Holberton and so far am very pleased with my experience. I enjoy the style of learning Holberton provides, specifically the self-motivated peer-learning. This type of learning might not work for everyone though...
    Overall
    4.0
    Curriculum
    4.0
    Job support
    3.0
    Instructors
    3.0
    Flag Submitted August 9, 2019
  • Geraldinne Bohórquez
    Software engineer · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum · Graduation year 2020

    Best and hardest experience ever!

    Holberton School is not the easy way to learn to code but nowadays I think it is actually the best option. The most valuable there is that they are teaching you not just how to code but how to learn whatever you want. The hardest is not the curriculum or th...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    N/A
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag Submitted August 1, 2019
  • Heindrick
    Systems Software Engineer · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum · Graduation year 2019

    Fast pace but thorough learning

    First-year was a memorable experience. I got to meet really cool people at a nice new location. The curriculum requires you to complete 24 hours to a couple of days projects. I really loved the program because it was designed for you to learn, think and sol...
    Overall
    4.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    2.0
    Instructors
    4.0
    Flag Submitted July 28, 2019
  • Emma Gachancipá
    Student · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum · Graduation year 2021

    The best decision of my life

    The peers are awesome, you learn from everyone, and the most important you learn is how to learn. Also you improve your soft skills while learning english everyday.

    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    N/A
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag Submitted July 26, 2019
  • Alvaro A
    Contreras · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum

    I am Holberton

    In holberton you define your future. Suitable only for the best.

    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    4.0
    Instructors
    4.0
    Flag Submitted July 26, 2019
  • Koome Mwiti
    Full Stack SE Student · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum · Graduation year 2019

    Full Stack software engineer

    Pros: - Convenient - Accessible easily from the Bart Station in SF - Affordable - Getting trained to become a full stack software engineer and no down payment needed - Amazing! - Great facilities accessible 24 Hours a day with state-of-the-art equipment - T...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag Submitted June 17, 2019
  • Rene
    Student · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum · Graduation year 2020

    Peer Learning At It's Finest

    Figured this would be a wonderful platform in which to speak on my current school Holberton. Personally I identify as someone who always loved to learn but was never a fan of rote memorization in classrooms simply for the sake of test taking or sitting in a...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    3.0
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag Submitted May 16, 2019
  • Lucía Rodríguez
    Student · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum

    Great option for start coding, even if it's your first time.

    I've been at Holberton School three months and a few weeks at cohort 8 and I'm glad to be here. We're the first cohort in Bogotá, also, and my impressions of Holberton School are mostly positive. The routine here helps to catch up with the common workflow f...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    N/A
    Instructors
    4.0
    Flag Submitted May 7, 2019
  • Miguel Cortes
    Student

    Best coding bootcamp experience.

    Holberton is one of a kind bootcamp. With an emphasis on peer learning, there are no teachers, but students learn from each other and learn how to both learn and teach difficult concepts. There are PLDs or peer learning days, mandatory days where you can le...
    Overall
    4.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    4.0
    Flag Submitted May 6, 2019
  • Haroldo
    Student · Full-Stack | Project-based curriculum

    It lets you be free enough to develop your creativity and you are guided enough to become a great software engineer.

    I have been here for two months (first cohort in Colombia) and all I have to say is that I consider a precious gem all the knowledge I have acquired. It is a really hard and intensive program, there is no doubt of it. Since first day, you will be told that ...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    N/A
    Instructors
    5.0
    Flag Submitted May 6, 2019
Course Report Awards

Recognized in 1 Best Of List

News

Recent Holberton School News

Imogen Crispe
Imogen Crispe
Updated September 17, 2026
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...
Lauren Stewart
Lauren Stewart
Updated September 17, 2026
Steven Garcia has had an interest in coding since he was deconstructing his PlayStation at age 14, so when he saw Holberton School in the news, he knew that the two-year program was the next step for him. See why Steven opted out of the traditional computer science degree to attend Holberton School’s two-year program, how he stays motivated while coding 10 hours per day, and learn about his sof...
Imogen Crispe
Imogen Crispe
Updated September 17, 2026
Rona Chong studied sociology at college, and enjoyed interning in the IT department, but when she graduated she wasn’t sure what career she wanted. Rona had enjoyed dabbling with code as a child, so when her twin sister told her about Holberton School’s two-year program in San Francisco, they both applied and were accepted. Rona has finished the first nine-month on-site learning curriculum, and...
Imogen Crispe
Imogen Crispe
Updated February 07, 2020
Should I do a coding bootcamp? This is a question we hear all the time, and for good reason. As more coding bootcamps launch (not to mention the rising media coverage), you’re probably wondering, “should I jump on the bandwagon and learn to code?” A recent TechCrunch article implored you not to learn to code unless you’re ready to put in the work to be great, whereas President Obama wants every...
Liz Eggleston
Liz Eggleston
Updated September 17, 2026
After interviewing Holberton School students, we noticed a trend: they actually enjoyed the application process for the San Francisco-based bootcamp! We wanted to find out what makes the Holberton application special and unbiased, so we sat down with co-founder Julien Barbier to get the scoop. Here, we share what we learned: what to watch out for during the 3-level application process, why it’s...
Lauren Stewart
Lauren Stewart
Updated September 17, 2026
Fresh from high school, Marine decided that the traditional university route was not for her. She took a gap year and found herself at an architectural firm in California. Marine knew that there was more to her professional story once she was introduced to coding, and decided to attend Holberton School’s two-year coding school in San Francisco. Find out how Marine is enjoying her time at Holber...
Imogen Crispe
Imogen Crispe
Updated September 17, 2026
Welcome to the July 2016 Course Report monthly coding bootcamp news roundup! Each month we look at all the happenings from the coding bootcamp world from new bootcamps to big fundraising announcements, to interesting trends. This month the biggest trends are initiatives to increase the diversity in tech, some huge investments in various bootcamps, and more tech giants launching their own coding...
Imogen Crispe
Imogen Crispe
Updated September 17, 2026
At age 18, Josh opted out of university in the UK and moved to San Francisco to learn to code at Holberton School. Now he's five months in and about to launch his own app. We spoke to Josh to find out why he decided to do a two-year intensive coding bootcamp, instead of a four-year computer science degree, how he’s adjusting to a new city, and all about his new company! Q&A What was your educat...
Imogen Crispe
Imogen Crispe
Updated June 07, 2016
As a technical writer for 12 years, Zee Adams had always loved new technology, but when she decided to start her own business she realized she needed to learn to code. Now Zee is four months into the two-year, full-time full stack program at Holberton School in San Francisco, CA. The program is made up of nine months of learning on site, a six-month internship, then another nine months of remot...
FAQ

Holberton School FAQs

Find answers to the most-asked questions.

Is Holberton School worth it?

Holberton School hasn't shared alumni outcomes yet, but one way to determine if a bootcamp is worth it is by reading alumni reviews. 80 Holberton School alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Holberton School on Course Report — you should start there!

How much does Holberton School cost?

Holberton School does not currently share course pricing information.

Where does Holberton School have campuses?

Holberton School has in-person campuses in Barranquilla, Beirut, Bogotá, Bordeaux, Cali, Laval, Lille, Lima, Medellín, Montevideo, Quito, San Juan, Toulouse, and Tunis.

Does Holberton School offer scholarships or accept the GI Bill?

Right now, it doesn't look like Holberton School 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 Holberton School legit?

We let alumni answer that question. 80 Holberton School alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Holberton School and shared their experiences. Their overall rating is 4.27 out of 5.

Can I read Holberton School reviews?

You can read 80 reviews of Holberton School on Course Report! Holberton School alumni, students, and applicants have reviewed Holberton School and shared their experiences. Their overall rating is 4.27 out of 5.

Is Holberton School accredited?

While bootcamps must be approved to operate, accreditation is relatively rare. Holberton School doesn't yet share information about its accreditation status.

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