Hack Reactor is a full-time coding bootcamp that teaches JavaScript, React, and full-stack web development over 12 or 17 weeks
Hack Reactor runs two program lengths: a 12-week immersive track and a 17-week part-time track. Both focus on JavaScript as the primary language, with heavy emphasis on React for front-end work and Node.js for back-end work. The bootcamp is structured around projects and pair programming rather than lectures — you spend most of your time writing code alongside other students, with instructors available to unblock you when you get stuck.
The bootcamp operates in-person at a physical campus (currently in Austin, Texas) and also offers a remote option. Classes run Monday through Friday during business hours for the full-time track, and evenings and weekends for the part-time track. Hack Reactor is owned by Galvanize, which also runs other bootcamps, but Hack Reactor maintains its own curriculum and hiring partnerships.
Key Takeaways
- Hack Reactor teaches JavaScript, React, and full-stack web development in either 12 weeks full-time or 17 weeks part-time, with both in-person and remote options available.
- The program costs between $17,980 and $19,980 depending on the track and location, and does not include housing, meals, or other living expenses.
- You do not need prior coding experience to enroll, but the bootcamp moves quickly and expects you to spend 60+ hours per week on coursework during the full-time track.
- Hack Reactor publishes employment outcomes on its website, showing the percentage of graduates who found jobs and the average starting salary, though these figures come from the bootcamp itself and not an independent source.
- After graduation, you receive a certificate of completion, but this is not a degree and does not may provide a job — employers hire based on your portfolio and technical skills.
What the curriculum covers and how it is structured
The first phase of Hack Reactor focuses on JavaScript fundamentals: variables, functions, objects, arrays, and how to manipulate the DOM (the structure of a web page). You write small programs to practice these concepts, usually working in pairs with another student. Instructors circulate and answer questions, but they do not lecture for hours at a time.
The second phase introduces React, a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. You learn how React components work, how to manage state (data that changes), and how to connect a front-end interface to a back-end server. By the end of this phase, you have built a multi-page process that stores and retrieves data.
The third phase covers back-end development: how to build a server using Node.js and Express, how to design a database, and how to write code that handles user requests. You learn SQL (a language for querying databases) and practice building APIs — the connections between a front-end and a back-end.
The final weeks are devoted to a capstone project: a full process you design and build from scratch, usually in a small team. This project becomes part of your portfolio and is what you show to employers during job interviews.
Cost, payment options, and what is not included
Tuition ranges from $17,980 to $19,980 depending on whether you choose the 12-week or 17-week track and whether you attend in-person or remotely. This price covers instruction, access to the curriculum, and use of the bootcamp's facilities or platform. It does not cover housing, meals, transportation, a computer, or internet service.
Hack Reactor offers income-share agreements (ISAs) through third-party lenders: you pay nothing upfront, and after graduation you pay a percentage of your salary (typically 15 to 17 percent) for a fixed period (usually 24 to 36 months) or until you reach a cap, whichever comes first. If you do not land a job within a certain timeframe after graduation, the payments pause or stop. ISAs are not loans — they are contracts, and the terms vary by lender.
The bootcamp also works with some lenders that offer traditional loans, and some students use personal savings or employer sponsorship. There is no federal financial aid (Pell Grants, federal student loans) because Hack Reactor is not an accredited degree-granting institution.
Who can enroll and what preparation looks like
Hack Reactor does not require a computer science degree or prior coding experience. You do need to pass an admissions process: a coding challenge (usually a timed problem-solving exercise), a technical interview, and sometimes a behavioral interview. The coding challenge is designed to test logical thinking, not existing knowledge, so many people without prior experience pass it.
Before you start the bootcamp, Hack Reactor provides a pre-course curriculum (usually 4 to 8 weeks of self-paced work) that covers JavaScript basics. You are expected to complete this before day one. During the bootcamp itself, the pace is intense: full-time students typically spend 60 to 70 hours per week on coursework, including time in class, pair programming, and solo study.
The bootcamp is designed for people who can commit to this schedule. If you are working a full-time job, the full-time track is not realistic. The part-time track is intended for people who can dedicate 20 to 30 hours per week over 17 weeks.
Employment outcomes and what happens after graduation
Hack Reactor publishes employment data on its website: the percentage of graduates who found jobs within a certain timeframe and the average starting salary. These figures come from surveys of graduates and are not independently verified. You should read the fine print carefully — the definitions of "employed," "job-related," and "starting salary" matter, and different bootcamps measure these differently.
After graduation, you receive a certificate of completion. This is not a degree and does not carry the same weight with employers. What matters is your portfolio: the projects you built during the bootcamp and any projects you build afterward. Employers want to see code you have written, not a certificate.
Hack Reactor offers career services: resume review, interview coaching, and introductions to hiring partners. The quality and intensity of this support varies. Some graduates land jobs quickly; others take months. The bootcamp does not may provide employment, and the job market for junior developers changes based on the economy and the number of bootcamp graduates competing for the same roles.
How Hack Reactor compares to other bootcamps
Hack Reactor is one of the oldest and most established coding bootcamps in the United States. It has a strong reputation among employers in certain tech hubs (particularly San Francisco and New York), though this reputation is not universal and varies by company and region. Other well-known bootcamps include General Assembly, Flatiron School, Springboard, and App Academy.
The differences between bootcamps often come down to curriculum focus (some emphasize front-end, others full-stack), teaching style (some use lectures, others use projects), and job placement support. Hack Reactor's strength is its project-based learning and its network of hiring partners. Its weakness, like all bootcamps, is that it cannot may provide a job and the outcomes depend heavily on the individual student's effort and prior background.
Before choosing any bootcamp, compare the curriculum, the cost, the payment options, the employment outcomes, and the reviews from recent graduates. Talk to people who have attended, not just people who work there.
Red flags and questions to ask before enrolling
Be cautious of any bootcamp that guarantees a job or promises a specific salary. No bootcamp can may provide employment. Be cautious of income-share agreements that do not clearly state the percentage, the duration, the salary cap, or what happens if you do not find a job. Read the fine print or have a lawyer review it.
Ask Hack Reactor directly: What is the average time to employment after graduation? What percentage of graduates are still looking for jobs six months after graduation? What is the average starting salary, and how is that measured? Can you speak to recent graduates? What is the refund policy if you drop out? What happens if you do not pass the program?
Ask yourself: Can I afford to spend 12 to 17 weeks not working? Do I have the time and mental energy to learn at this pace? Am I prepared to keep learning after the bootcamp ends, because the bootcamp teaches you the basics but not everything you need to know? Do I have a financial cushion if it takes me three months to find a job?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a computer science background to get into Hack Reactor?
No. Hack Reactor accepts people with no prior coding experience. You do need to pass the admissions process — a coding challenge and an interview — but these test your ability to think logically and solve problems, not your existing knowledge. Most people who are admitted have little or no background in tech.
What is the difference between the 12-week and 17-week tracks?
The 12-week track is full-time (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or similar). The 17-week track is part-time (evenings and weekends). Both cover the same material, but the part-time track spreads it over a longer period so you can work or manage other commitments. The part-time track costs slightly less but requires more discipline because you are balancing the bootcamp with other responsibilities.
Will Hack Reactor help me find a job after I graduate?
Hack Reactor offers career services including resume review, interview coaching, and introductions to hiring partners. However, the bootcamp does not may provide a job. Your success depends on your portfolio, your interview skills, your networking, and the job market at the time you graduate. Some graduates find jobs within weeks; others take months.
Can I do Hack Reactor while working full-time?
The 12-week full-time track is not realistic if you are working full-time. The part-time 17-week track is designed for working professionals, but it still requires 20 to 30 hours per week. If your job is demanding or inflexible, even the part-time track may be difficult. Be honest with yourself about your capacity before enrolling.
What if I do not finish the bootcamp?
Refund policies vary. Some bootcamps offer a full refund if you drop out within the first week or two; others do not. If you financed the bootcamp with an income-share agreement, you may still owe money depending on the terms of the contract. Read the refund and cancellation policy before you enroll, and ask what happens if you fall behind or struggle with the material.