Upskill your way to becoming a digital marketing guru with these top bootcamps

In fact, according to a Pew Research Center survey, 85% of Americans go online daily, and 31% report going online “almost constantly.”

Because of this, businesses like Fortune Recommends and many others are adapting to new ways of reaching their audience. Digital marketing, from social media advertising to search engine optimization, is the key to tapping into the vast population of active computer, phone, and tablet users. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a digital marketer is in the $63,000–$117,000 range, making it a lucrative career choice.

Companies like Duolingo and Abercrombie and Fitch have exploded overnight by posting simple, iPhone-shot videos—and most likely, a digital marketing expert was behind the decision to post in the first place. Think of a digital marketer as the person tasked with bringing a company, service, or product to the consumer via the internet. 

5 digital marketing bootcamps 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for marketing specialists and market research analysts is expected to grow 13% through 2032. With the help of a boot camp, you can gain the necessary skills to not just get hired but to excel in those fields as a digital marketer in just a matter of months. Note that this list is in alphabetical order. 

BrainStation: Digital Marketing Bootcamp

BrainStation’s digital marketing bootcamp is five units long and offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers branding and strategy, content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, analytics reporting, and professional development. 

This program teaches students how to use Mailchimp, Gmail, and Canva to create advertisements, blog posts, videos, podcasts, and social media on all relevant platforms, from Instagram and X to YouTube, Reddit, and Quora. It also explores the benefits of HTML, Google Ads, and Google Sheets. 

The bootcamp culminates with a demonstration day, where students showcase their new skills to classmates, BrainStation’s hiring partners, and program alums. 

Price: $15,000–$16,440

Time commitment: Three times a week for part-time or Monday through Friday for full-time

Best for: People who want to learn the basics of digital marketing and understand the tools needed to grow brands through interactive virtual classes.  

CareerFoundry: Digital Marketing Bootcamp

CareerFoundry’s online, asynchronous digital marketing program is designed to help students learn how to leverage AI in their marketing strategies effectively. The course is divided into three sections that build upon each other, and students learn from expert mentors. 

The first section introduces students to digital marketing and has them create a social media campaign. In the second section, students are immersed in five capstone projects ranging from email marketing campaigns to collaborating with classmates to develop a brand strategy. 

Finally, the program concludes with a job preparation course, during which students are paired with a career specialist who helps them build a portfolio, search for jobs, and create effective cover letters and job interview skills.

Throughout the program, students learn to use various tools, including Canva, Instagram, Google Suite, WordPress, Facebook, and X. Students must have written and spoken English skills. 

Price: $6,555–$6,900

Time commitment: 15–20 hours per week to complete in 7 months or 30–40 hours a week to complete in 3–4 months

Best for: People looking to become job-ready for junior to mid-level digital marketing roles while learning new technology, such as AI marketing tools.  

edX: Digital Marketing Boot Camp

edX offers part-time bootcamps at various universities, such as the University of California—Davis, the University of Texas—Austin, and Michigan State University. The five modules are as follows: a pre-course marketing fundamentals module, a digital marketing strategy module, a campaign and website optimization module, a digital advertising and automation module, and a post-course portfolio building module. 

The program covers various topics, including branding, organic social media, conversion tracking, paid search, and promotional plan development. While completing the program, students are eligible for a paid, short-term micro-internship at Parker Dewey.

Price: Costs vary by school

Time commitment: 18 weeks; 9 hours per week

Best for: Students looking to earn the core skills of a digital marketer while earning a certificate from a prestigious university. 

Udacity: Digital Marketing Nanodegree Program

Udacity’s digital marketing upskill program is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in building campaigns and is updated monthly to keep up with current industry trends. The program is taught by industry experts, including the former head of market research at Yahoo! and former Amazon project managers, who provide real-world insights to students.

The program consists of ten courses that offer a comprehensive overview of digital marketing and a deep dive into social media marketing, SEO and SEM, digital advertising, and email marketing. 

Students will learn how to create successful campaigns using various tools like Google Ads, Mailchimp, and Facebook Ads. They will also learn to leverage influencers for social media marketing, create keyword lists, and evaluate their target audiences. Before taking this course, it is recommended that students have a basic understanding of acquisition funnels and user personas.

Price: $507–$996

Time commitment: 4–6 months

Best for: People looking for a beginner-level program with customized feedback from performance marketing managers, product leaders, and instructors. 

Thinkful: Digital Marketing Bootcamp

Thinkful’s digital marketing bootcamp is designed to give students the independence to learn independently with part-time options and flexible payment plans. The comprehensive curriculum covers everything from the industry fundamentals to data-driven campaigns, email, social media marketing, and SEO techniques.

Students can participate in live video mentor sessions, attend optional office hours, and build a solid portfolio to showcase their skills to employers.

Price: $5,341 in upfront tuition

Time commitment: 3 months; self-paced; 15–20 hours per week

Best for: People looking for a holistic and comprehensive deep-dive, learning the basics of digital marketing with help nailing interviews.

Are digital marketing bootcamps worth it?

If you’re on the fence about purchasing a digital marketing bootcamp, CareerFoundry offers a free 5-day short course to help you determine what topics, tools, and skills you’ll need as a digital marketer. Bootcamps tend to be more wallet and time-friendly than traditional degrees. 

Can I learn digital marketing in 1 year?

Most programs on this list can be completed on your own time and have time commitments of less than a year. Each bootcamp is designed to help you learn through real-world projects, lectures, and networking opportunities. 

What is a digital marketing bootcamp?

Digital marketing boot camps teach you the fundamentals of social media marketing, influencer marketing, email marketing, pay-per-click, advertisements, data organization, automation, content marketing, brand strategy, and SEO and SEM. Some programs culminate in skill demonstration days, capstone projects, and career mentorships.