College has gotten something of a bad reputation over the last few years.
People have started to realize that putting in four years and racking up tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt only to find yourself out of a job (or working as a barista at Starbucks) is a raw deal.
Some entrepreneurs and academics have decided to do something about it. They're looking to give quality education for free online, or job training in fields that actually pay enough to afford their tuition.
Several of the programs have over 90% of graduates working as software engineers, making an average salary of over $80,000 per year, for instance.
Hack Reactor
What it is: A 12-week program that aims give participants the education they need to become web developers capable in JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Ruby on Rails. 100% of those who have completed the program are employed as software engineers with an average salary of $85,000.
Where: San Francisco
How much it costs: $17,780, with $1,000 scholarships available for women and underrepresented minorities.
edX
What it is: A collaboration between MIT, Harvard, and other partner schools that let you take courses normally offered on-campus online. Students may choose to simply audit classes or they can complete assignments for a grade in order to receive a Certificate of Mastery. Subjects offered include law, history, science, engineering, business, social sciences, computer science, public health, and artificial intelligence.
Where: Online
How much it costs: Free, though some courses require textbooks.
Hackbright Academy
What it is: A 10-week program that gives women training and mentorship with the intent of getting a job in software engineering. Participants learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, Python, and other advanced computing topics.
Where: San Francisco
How much it costs: $12,000, with a $4,500 refund if you are hired by one of Hackbright's partners.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider