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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 · July 2023

    An experience you cannot get anywhere else!

    Choosing Actualize as my boot camp was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was brand new to the coding world and was only learning the very basics before I applied. Actualize emphasizes the importance of how languages and technologies should...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · June 2023

    Choose Actualize!!

    Actualize provides a positive learning environment that effectively taught me how to code. This program was amazing to be apart of and I truly feel they have set me up to be successful in my career. Not only are the instructors super supportive and...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · June 2023

    Great Experience

    The instructor and teaching assistants were very useful. The career advisors were very reliable and helped whenever it was needed. I highly recommend this boot camp to anyone. The workload was a lot but will be for any boot camp. However, this school...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · May 2023

    Great Program

    I just finished my cohort and my first feeling is that it was a great program and I don't have any regrets. The pre-work was perfect for a total beginner and I felt comfortable when we started the live lessons. Starting with Ruby and its simple syntax...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    4.0
    Job support
    4.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · March 2023

    Got what I needed!

    I went into the bootcamp knowing only what I was able to teach myself a few weeks prior and I was a it intimidated by that fact. The pre-work they have for you before actual classes start was perfect to get me started and I never felt like I was...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · March 2023

    Extremely Rewarding Experience

    A very small class size for almost one-on-one teaching and collaborating gave me the ability to learn and understand very hard concepts relatively quickly. Most importantly I was trained in the art of learning. By the time the course was over I could...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · February 2023

    Great Experience!

    I really enjoyed my experience at Actualize. The instructors, TAs, and career advisors all care about your success and provide you with the opportunities and resources to succeed. The class is live and you are able to interact and ask questions on the...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Student · AI + Fullstack Engineering · February 2023

    Great :)

    I really enjoyed my time here! Learned a lot about coding and there's a lot of help post graduation to keep you on task to improve your portfolio/skill while applying to jobs. Actualize provides A LOT of resources to help you with coding from...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    4.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · January 2023

    Fast Track to Full Stack

    Instructor was excellent! She is knowledgeable, passionate, and had 0 issues explaining a pretty complicated subject in a very digestible way. Loved the emphasis on community and team building, as well as a lot of emphasis being on post-bootcamp,...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    4.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · January 2023

    Solid Learning Experience

    I loved the learning community and my instructor Amanda. I feel like it taught me how to learn again and built up my confidence a lot. I feel ready and prepared for the future job search. Definitely worth it.
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Full Stack Software Developer · AI + Fullstack Engineering · November 2022

    Fun, Encouraging, Effective

    At first I was a little hesitant to sign up for a fully remote instructional program, but I quickly learned that I made a wise choice in going with Actualize's online program. The group is very organized and are more than willing to make sure you stay...
    Overall
    4.0
    Curriculum
    4.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · November 2022

    Personalized experience

    This is the bootcamp for anybody who wants a personal, intimate learning experience. The cohort size is ideal and the instructors work to make you feel welcome and cater to your needs. There are two TA's for each cohort as well that help you through...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · November 2022

    BEST CODING BOOTCAMP EVER!

    Although I didn't try other bootcamps now I don't have to look any further! I came to Actualize not knowing anything about programming and now I am impressed with how much I have gained.I  feel they have prepared me with the tools to grow further and...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    4.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · November 2022

    Best programming bootcamp ever!!!

    I found Actualize through word of mouth and it really spoke to me because of the live classes. I had a great experience not only did I thoroughly enjoy the classes I really feel like I learned so much. I would recommend Actualize to anyone considering...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · November 2022

    Intense but worth it

    Great course. Very informative. Lots of hands-on practice. Lots of support once you graduate to help you find your first job. The course went over more than what was presented on the website which was nice. The curriculum is current to what is going on...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · November 2022

    Educational, Engaging, Friendly

    Actualize was recommended to me by 2 friends who had finished the program and got jobs. I worked a full time job (Non-tech) while doing the evening cohort. I worried a lot about the workload and being able to balance both; however, my instructor...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · October 2022

    Great, supportive learning experience

    Actualize does a great job teaching its curriculum in a way that is comprehensive and easy to understand, paired with exercises to practice everything you learn first hand. There is an endless amount of support from the instructors and career advisors...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · October 2022

    Highly Recommend

    Everything has been explained very well,  It was a successful decision for me,
    Actualize was so helpful and a good starting point of my software development journey.                                                                                   ...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    4.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    Graduate · AI + Fullstack Engineering · July 2022

    Review

    Just finished the bootcamp. Had a great time going through the whole bootcamp. More than I thought I would. Our cohorts instructor made each class session fun and taught very well. Learned more than I thought I would within those 12 weeks. You really...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    Instructors
    5.0
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  • A
    Anonymous
    AI + Fullstack Engineering · July 2022

    Bootcamp

    I chose actualize because of the part-time evening schedule that it offered for live instruction as well as the overall emphasis on educational principles. This was a great experience! The pre-work aspect of the program allowed you to self pace through...
    Overall
    5.0
    Curriculum
    5.0
    Job support
    5.0
    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 campuse...
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 la...
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 on...
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 ...
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 onli...
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 ...
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 th...
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 Ca...
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 A...
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 ...
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 Th...
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 b...
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 care...
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 a...
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 ...
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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