Today, we are sharing an important update regarding the future of our Full-time Software Development and Full-time Data Analytics Bootcamps. Over the past three years, we have seen a continual decline in junior tech hiring and student applications, most notably for full-time cohorts. While the erosion in applications has been going on for three years, it took a dramatic dip for our 2026 full-time cohorts.
To understand just how significantly full-time applications have dropped:
Our part-time programs have fared better:
In response to the drop in application to our full-time bootcamps, we will make one final attempt to start full-time programs in January 2027. We will launch these cohorts If students enroll in sufficient numbers. However, if there is not enough student demand, we will officially pause our full-time bootcamps to focus our resources where students are actively applying—our long-standing part-time programs and continuing education classes, which will be open for enrollment for the community soon.
The tech landscape is in a different place than it was a few years ago. We have openly discussed the changing economic conditions and the growing impact of generative AI in our Community Impact Reports since 2023. A prolonged downturn in the junior tech hiring market and economic uncertainty mean fewer people are looking to make a career switch right now. Generative AI has also been stoking this uncertainty.
We’ve heard from applicants about their economic circumstances that makes going all-in on a full-time program feel too risky or even financially impossible. For today's career changers, the flexibility to keep earning an income while training is a top priority. All of these factors have led to fewer applications overall and an overwhelming shift toward our part-time programs.
Fortunately, the demand for the part-time bootcamps has been adequate to support launching those cohorts. Luckily, most of the limited number of full-time applicants have decided to join a part-time cohort after we were forced to cut the full-time class.While we know a part-time schedule doesn't work for everyone, it remains an excellent pathway to gaining job-ready skills.
If you have been thinking about a career change, we encourage you to RSVP for an upcoming virtual information session, take a Jumpstart this fall, or reach out to our admissions team to ask your questions.
Here are our next upcoming bootcamp starts:
Our mission has always been to open doors to tech careers for adults with motivation and aptitude, regardless of their economic circumstances. NSS has played an important role in the growth of Nashville’s tech community and we believe that the community still needs NSS. We want to continue opening doors in the years ahead, but it’s going to take significant financial support from our community to help us weather the current junior tech job slump and economic climate.
The lack of full-time cohorts this year—which have historically been a core part of our program and generated critical financial resources—creates real financial stress for NSS. Our ongoing fundraising campaign is more critical now than ever. If NSS played a part in your journey, or if you want to ensure we can keep supporting tech career changers for years to come, please consider making a donation today. Your support helps us provide ongoing job search support during this slow hiring job market.
Thank you to our students, alumni, and employer partners for standing with us as we evolve to meet today's challenges.