General Assembly vs App Academy

What is General Assembly?

General Assembly provides part-time and full-time classes with both online or campus-based options. With locations around the globe, students have access to an international network. General Assembly provides students with current skills and programs for in-demand careers like data science, software engineering, UX design, and more.

Highlights: Online courses are designed to accommodate a student's schedule, with classes lasting 10-13 weeks. With 30 different campuses and online options, General Assembly supports international networking through an alumni network, connecting graduates across the globe with potential tech careers by working with 19,000+ hiring partners. Course offerings are designed to fulfill best practices and meet market demand. The curriculum is designed by a large team of instructional designers, subject matter experts, and education product managers.

Financing/scholarship options: General Assembly aims to offer payment programs for every type of student. They offer financing options such as installment plans, loans, and a deferred tuition option, and their Social Impact team works with veterans and underrepresented populations to identify potential funding sources and scholarship opportunities.

What makes General Assembly unique?

In addition to coursework, General Assembly offers many networking opportunities such as workshops and events with industry leaders. Big companies that have hired General Assembly graduates include Google, Microsoft, and IBM.

What is App Academy?

App Academy offers both on-campus and online programs. The curriculum is developed with industry leaders from top tech companies, so students learn skills that are valued in the job market. Prospective students can explore coding and if it's right for them through the free resource, App Academy Open.

Highlights: Students may enroll in either a 24-week full-time Software Engineering track online or a 16-week Software Engineering track on campus. Subjects include Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, and React/Redux. As these courses are full-time and cohort-based, accepted students are discouraged from having a job while completing App Academy's program.

Financing/scholarship assistance: App Academy is committed to increasing diversity in the tech industry, so their tuition model is based on income. Graduates are not required to pay tuition until they are hired. Additionally, some candidates from underrepresented populations may be awarded deposit assistance; those who opt for the deferred tuition option are still obligated to pay a deposit upfront.

What makes App Academy unique?

Individuals interested in applying are not required to have previous programming experience. While App Academy requires applicants to pass a coding challenge to be accepted, they also offer a two-week course called JumpStart to help candidates prepare.