You have probably considered a coding bootcamp but balked at the price, and you are right to be careful. Bootcamps can still work, but they are no longer the only path.
The value is intensity and structure. A good bootcamp compresses a year of learning into months, with mentorship and a hiring network. For career changers, that structure is often the whole point.
The risk is real too. Graduates vary widely, and some bootcamps oversell outcomes. Research placement rates carefully and talk to alumni before paying anything.
Cheaper self-study has never been better, but it demands discipline most people do not have. If you need the push and can afford it, a reputable bootcamp earns its cost. If you are self-driven, the same money funds a year of focused solo learning.