How the Trajectory Index is built.
A transparent, independently reproducible rating system for coding bootcamps, career placement programs, and tech-skills platforms. Six public data sources. Five weighted subscores. Quarterly refresh. Programs cannot pay to improve their grade — methodology and source data are published in full.
Guiding Principles.
The Career Trajectory Index exists to answer a single question: will joining this program multiply the career switcher's trajectory — or stall it?
- Public records only. Every input sourced from CIRR (Council on Integrity in Results Reporting) reports, state Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education filings, PACER federal court filings, FTC consumer complaints, public alumni testimonials, or Launchpad's proprietary alumni survey.
- Programs cannot pay. No rated program has paid, can pay, or has been offered the opportunity to pay for inclusion, exclusion, or modification of their grade.
- Quarterly refresh. Grades update every 90 days; material changes timestamped.
- Subscore transparency. Every grade decomposes into five public subscores.
- Right of correction. Programs may submit documented corrections via published Appeals process.
The Six Data Sources.
The Index is constructed from six independent public-record sources. No single source can move a grade by more than 35%.
CIRR Outcomes Reports
Council on Integrity in Results Reporting — standardized bootcamp outcomes data including placement rates, median salaries, and cohort survival. Used for CIRR-member programs.
State BPPE Filings
State Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education regulatory filings. Includes program approvals, suspensions, cease-and-desist orders, and ISA-term disclosures.
PACER Federal Court Filings
Federal class actions, ISA disputes, placement-rate misrepresentation lawsuits, and predatory-terms cases filed against rated programs.
FTC Consumer Complaints
Federal Trade Commission complaints filed against bootcamp programs by alumni, particularly relevant for placement-rate marketing and ISA dispute claims.
Public Alumni Testimonials
Alumni Twitter, blog posts, podcast interviews, Reddit r/codingbootcamp, and other public statements. Cross-validated against CIRR data to remove single-source bias.
Launchpad Alumni Survey
Anonymized opt-in survey of alumni who have completed rated programs. Methodology and response rates published in the Annual Report.
The Five Subscores.
Placement Outcomes
Documented post-program placement: % of graduates in technical roles within 6 months, median graduate salary, and 1-year-out salary growth. Sourced from CIRR reports and SEC-equivalent state filings.
Curriculum Currency
How current the curriculum is relative to current industry hiring requirements. Includes framework currency (e.g., React 18+ vs. legacy), AI-coding tool integration, and senior-engineer feedback on graduate technical depth.
Instructor Quality
The caliber and depth of instructor staffing. Includes instructor tenure, industry experience, instructor-to-student ratios, and continuity. Cross-validated against alumni testimonials.
Cost Transparency
The clarity and fairness of program fees and ISA terms. Includes upfront tuition disclosure, ISA cap structure, deferred-payment terms, and any non-tuition fees. Programs with documented ISA disputes receive penalty.
Career Services
The depth and effectiveness of post-program placement support. Includes interview prep, employer-partner network, resume and portfolio review, and ongoing alumni support post-employment.
Weighting & Scoring.
Why these weights? Placement Outcomes is heaviest because it's the singular measure of program value delivered. Career Services and Curriculum Currency tie for second because they directly determine whether placement outcomes are sustainable. Cost Transparency and Instructor Quality complete the composite.