Top 5 Best AI Bootcamps in St Petersburg in 2025

St. Petersburg, Florida is experiencing a transformative surge in AI innovation, establishing itself as the state's premier hub for artificial intelligence and tech-driven careers.

With more than 97 active AI startups - a 42% rise since 2020 - and over $600 million in funding raised in 2023, the city stands out for its dynamic tech ecosystem and thriving job market, where average salaries reach $87,980 and a projected 13.4% growth in computer and math roles by 2026 showing how local innovation is fueling opportunity.

Educational institutions like the University of South Florida and St. Petersburg College are leading the charge, launching the nation's first college dedicated to AI and cybersecurity, alongside new certificate programs focused on practical skills in machine learning, NLP, and computer vision designed to directly meet workforce needs.

Local employers emphasize skills and real-world experience, making coding bootcamps and practical training a highly recommended entry point for breaking into the field, as St. Petersburg continues to outpace other cities in both job growth and tech innovation making AI education more relevant than ever.

To identify the top five AI bootcamps in St. Petersburg, Florida for 2025, we employed a rigorous methodology that emphasizes practical, career-focused outcomes tailored to the needs of Florida's growing tech workforce.

We considered program length (typically ranging from 6 weeks to 9 months), tuition cost, and accessibility - prioritizing options offering flexible formats and robust payment support, such as scholarships or employer reimbursement initiatives.

Key evaluation criteria included hands-on, project-based curriculum; up-to-date instruction on essential technologies like Python, machine learning, and generative AI; and strong job preparation resources, such as mentorship and employer partnerships.

In line with recommendations from workforce policy experts, programs with clear stackable credentials and close ties to local employers were rated highly, ensuring graduates gain both work-based learning and real industry alignment (Nucamp's essential bootcamp selection criteria, AI certificate program quality standards by New America).

As the St. Petersburg tech market continues to expand and outpace other Florida cities, selecting programs with proven job placement records, practical skill-building, and lasting employer connections provides the strongest pathway to local tech careers in AI and machine learning (complete guide to St. Petersburg's tech hub status).

Code Labs Academy stands out in St. Petersburg, Florida as an intensive online Data Science and AI bootcamp designed for both beginners and career-changers looking to break into the tech industry.

The program offers a comprehensive, 12-week full-time curriculum with hands-on training in Python, SQL, machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing.

Participants receive a blend of live lectures, guided practice, and portfolio-building projects - such as curve fitting and machine learning model development - supported by real-time instructors and active peer engagement.

Code Labs Academy's methodology emphasizes a flipped classroom and personalized career coaching, featuring resume workshops, mock interviews, and direct job placement support.

With a competitive tuition starting at $5,499 and flexible payment options, it is notably one of the most affordable bootcamp choices in Tampa Bay's rapidly expanding tech scene, where over 3,700 new tech jobs are projected by 2027.

The bootcamp holds a stellar 5.0/5.0 rating on Course Report and boasts more than 2,200 community members, making it a recognized choice for success in Florida.

As one alum shared,

“Balance between theory and practice is perfect with real projects reviewed by TAs.”

For full details on topics, schedules, and their career support network, visit the official Code Labs Academy Data Science & AI Bootcamp page, check out their affordability profile among Tampa's top bootcamps, or see more program features and reviews here.

Fullstack Academy's AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp offers a comprehensive, 26-week online program designed for rapid skill acquisition and career advancement, making it a compelling choice for aspiring AI professionals in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The curriculum focuses on hands-on experience using leading tools like ChatGPT, Keras, and TensorFlow, and emphasizes practical skills such as data science, Python, and machine learning algorithms.

Students engage in real-world capstone projects, including work on recommender systems and autonomous driving vehicles, helping bridge academic learning and workplace application.

The bootcamp boasts a high student satisfaction rating - 4.8 out of 5 stars - and offers flexible part-time formats to suit various schedules, with the added benefit of tuition discounts for early applicants.

Graduates benefit from Fullstack Academy's robust career support, including personalized coaching, resume assistance, and a strong employer network spanning 1,500+ companies such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook, resulting in strong job placement outcomes.

"The support I've received throughout the bootcamp has been excellent,"

noted one recent graduate. For a detailed breakdown of what this program offers compared to others, see the following table:

To learn more about this nationally recognized program and explore specifics relevant to Florida residents, visit the Fullstack Academy AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp page, discover student outcomes and detailed testimonials on their official website, and find insights regarding practical skills and career transformations in their AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp student stories.

The University of North Florida's AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp stands out in Florida as an accessible pathway to high-demand careers, offering a comprehensive 26-week curriculum taught online in partnership with Fullstack Academy.

Students gain real-world expertise in data science, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing (NLP), and generative AI - all using in-demand tools like Python, NumPy, Pandas, Keras, and TensorFlow.

The bootcamp's flexible part-time schedule is ideal for working professionals or career switchers, and the program delivers practical, immersive instruction paired with 1:1 career coaching and access to a network of over 1,500 hiring employers.

As highlighted in Nucamp's curated bootcamp review, “UNF offers deep dives into applied data science & generative AI” - skills that align with the booming tech economy along Florida's west coast, where starting salaries now range from $78,000 to $200,000+ and job placement rates top 80% within six months explore UNF's AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp curriculum.

A standout quote from a participant notes:

“Universities must engage with AI technology...”

illustrating the bootcamp's commitment to preparing students for future-facing roles.

With a stellar 4.8 out of 5 student rating and hybrid online formats that ensure both convenience and depth, UNF's program is a leading choice for those seeking to launch or upskill into AI roles in St Petersburg and across Florida see Nucamp's 2025 bootcamp rankings.

Flexible application steps and a broad selection of tech offerings make this program especially attractive for individuals and companies alike, affirming its position in the region's technology pipeline get more details about UNF online tech bootcamps.

For those in St. Petersburg, Florida seeking an accessible and beginner-friendly entry into artificial intelligence, nocode.ai's free, self-paced AI Bootcamp stands out in 2025.

The program covers core AI concepts such as data, modeling techniques, and deep learning, with hands-on labs building chatbots and AI-generated images - all without requiring any coding background.

According to a Fortune comparison of top AI bootcamps, nocode.ai's bootcamp comprises 10 modules delivered over approximately 10 weeks (or 20–40 hours total), balancing flexibility and foundational skill-building.

Participants gain access to a private peer group and earn a certificate upon passing the final exam, supporting both upskilling and career change ambitions. The nocode.ai community welcomes both beginners and intermediate learners from non-technical backgrounds, a fact emphasized in their forum -

“From Zero to Hero, Learn the Fundamentals of AI. This Free Course is perfect for beginner to intermediate level professionals that want to break into AI.”

The curriculum leverages leading no-code tools (such as Rapid Miner, Teachable Machine, and KNIME) to ensure practical application without programming barriers, as detailed in MIT Professional Education's No Code AI and Machine Learning program.

For a broader view of essential no-code AI platforms and their transformative potential in business and tech, consult this comprehensive 2025 guide to top no-code AI tools.

Together, these resources make nocode.ai an excellent zero-cost launch pad for Floridians eager to harness AI for professional growth in the emerging tech hub of St. Pete.

The Workforce Institute's AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp stands out as a flexible, fully online 18-week program that equips students in St. Petersburg, Florida, with foundational and advanced AI skills, all without requiring prior experience.

Led by industry experts such as Dinesh Karki, participants engage in live, instructor-led sessions, team-based projects, and access to a vibrant online community - a vital support system for mastering topics from Python and neural networks to cloud-based AI deployment on AWS and Azure.

Students benefit from comprehensive career coaching, one-on-one mentoring, and a 15-day tuition guarantee, offering peace of mind and personalized support for job transition.

Recent reviews highlight the institute's hands-on, collaborative learning:

“The hands-on approach, expert instructors, and real-world projects equipped me with the skills and confidence to excel in the fast-paced digital landscape. I highly recommend this bootcamp to anyone looking to elevate their expertise!”

Notably, Workforce Institute's bootcamp is among the most affordable certified options in Florida, with tuition starting at $4,250 and flexible payment plans.

Graduates report job placement at top companies like Google and Cloudflare and can expect to qualify for well-compensated AI roles, as shown below:

As highlighted by Fortune's ranking of top programs, this bootcamp balances practical learning with robust career support, making it a compelling option for Floridians seeking to transition into the AI field in 2025.

To learn more about the curriculum and student outcomes, visit the official Workforce Institute AI & Machine Learning Bootcamp page and consult a detailed comparison of leading AI bootcamps; you can also read authentic participant perspectives on the Workforce Institute's testimonials page.

Choosing the right AI bootcamp in St. Petersburg for 2025 comes down to your career ambitions, budget, and preferred learning style - whether you're aiming for rapid job-readiness or building advanced, portfolio-worthy expertise.

Florida's premier tech hub is experiencing 13.4% tech job growth by 2026, driven by major employers and a vibrant startup scene in AI, fintech, and cybersecurity, with average tech salaries at $87,980 and entry points starting near $60,000 according to Nucamp's guide to tech careers in St. Petersburg.

Bootcamps like Nucamp offer affordable, flexible entryways to AI, full-stack development, and entrepreneurship, often featuring part-time options, financing, and scholarships for women, high school grads, and veterans.

For those seeking cutting-edge, hands-on programs, nationally ranked options spotlight skills in Python, machine learning, and generative AI, and many provide job placement services and partner with tech leaders such as Google Cloud as reviewed by Course Report's best AI and machine learning bootcamps.

While an intensive bootcamp can accelerate your transition into high-demand AI roles, industry experts emphasize aligning curriculum, mentorship, and portfolio-building opportunities with evolving employer needs and local job market trends as detailed in the Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp guide by University of San Diego.

Ultimately, your best choice will combine mentorship, practical projects, and career support - setting you up to thrive in St. Pete's booming tech sector in 2025 and beyond.