The program’s immersive approach plugs you directly into the most relevant technologies and methodologies and rewires your mind to deftly take on the exciting challenges of a job in development. The relationships formed with your fellow students, industry mentors, and guest speakers provide you an invaluable network of passionate, diverse tech allies to call upon throughout your career. Explore this page to learn more about our Full Stack Engineering program or check out the important dates for our next cohorts below.
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The world’s very best software engineers all have one thing in common: they all started with zero experience. Prime’s accelerated learning program prepares high potential students to begin their careers in software development and provides them with a toolset to keep developing themselves while they develop software to solve real-world problems. Our program is designed to ensure that even if you come to us with no experience, you’re ready for your first job come graduation day. If you’re new to software, our application process includes links to resources you can explore to make sure software engineering is indeed the right future for you.
Here’s what we're looking for in Prime applicants:
Prime's admission process starts with an online application. You'll enter demographic information and answer short-form narrative questions. Once submitted, and if your application meets the requirements, you'll be contacted by Prime to schedule a 1- hour virtual interview where you'll have the chance to sit down with someone from our admissions team to confirm that the program feels like a mutual fit. Generally speaking, you'll know whether you're offered admission within 1 week of completing your application.
Prime’s immersive experience prepares students to join the industry as entry-level software engineers. Using modern technologies like HTML 5, CSS 3, JavaScript, jQuery, React and Node.js to provide foundational concepts, techniques and design patterns essential in all coding environments. Beyond theory, Prime is engineered to quickly build real-world skills through hands-on experiential learning and a focus on toolsets, authentic workplace context and behavioral skills. Hundreds of employers have been wowed by the graduates they’ve hired straight out of Prime and we continually update our curriculum with each new cohort based on insights and feedback from our hiring partners. The curriculum is broken into three main sections or tiers, click on a section below to learn more.
Students come to Prime from different backgrounds with varying levels of technical experience. The Building the Basics portion of the program is a chance for you to learn and begin practicing with the basic tools and technologies used throughout your experience. You'll also spend time getting to know your classmates and instructors, and understanding Prime's expectations in order to be a successful student at Prime.
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This portion of the program you'll focus on fundamental coding concepts through learning and applied practice. Each week, you'll focus on a new concept that builds off the previous week’s focus as you begin developing your skill set. Each day, you'll have opportunities to engage in group work, ask questions from your peers and instructors and apply what you learned through activities and assignments in real-time.
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Software engineers learn by doing—that’s why Prime dedicates the final third of the program to project-based learning. You’ll have the chance to work on a project of your design as well as help a real-world organization solve a real-world problem. You’ll get a chance to dive into a project you’re passionate about and build an app from top to bottom on your own and you’ll learn how to be part of a successful software development team, practicing behaviors and techniques you’ll use every day as a working software engineer.
Your solo project is an incredible opportunity to sharpen your development skills while showcasing your passions. You’ll be working solo, but you’re far from alone. You’ll do daily “standup” meetings where you discuss what you’re tackling and get support where you need it from your peers and your instructors. In the end, this project will be an excellent tool to show prospective employers who you are and what you’re capable of.
For your capstone project, you’ll tackle a real-world project for a local nonprofit, startup or small business. The project begins with a client kickoff where you’ll hear about the organization and their specific challenges and then break out the whiteboards to sketch potential solutions and get real-time client feedback. After the client heads out, you and your group will develop a project scope detailing your objectives for the project you’ll be working on together. The project will culminate with live presentations of your project in front of your classmates, mentors, and industry folks who you'll get a chance to speak with later that afternoon.
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Prime is continuing to adapt our curriculum to industry trends and alumni feedback. We provide recent graduates with a framework to continue collaborating on projects while engaging in the job search.
Prime’s emphasis on communication and collaboration runs through the entire experience. Students take skills assessments and learn how to build on their teammate’s abilities. Sessions on effective team-based communication methods help to set the stage for positive interactions. Weekly public speaking and leadership training will help you find your voice and practice critical but often overlooked skills.
Each week you’ll add to your professional network when Prime hosts a wide variety of friendly speakers from the software development community. Guests share context on the industry and expose you to new, different and sometimes opposing perspectives on the technology, techniques and philosophy shaping modern software. All this will help you to develop your own unique outlook on the field you’re entering informed by the real world.
Prime is always looking to encourage students to apply what they’re learning about programming in different ways. We’ve collected a treasure trove of technologies ranging from microcontrollers to quadcopter drones to virtual reality gear in what we call our “toy box.” The toy box gives interested students a chance to see their code at work in a different context whether it’s blinking LEDs or piloting a drone.
From the start of your program experience, you'll be preparing for your career transition into tech. This includes learning how to establish a productive mentorship relationship, implement effective interviewing strategies, and strategically write a cover letter. Throughout your time at Prime, you will build a resume and a portfolio of work that you can show off with pride. Coaching and feedback opportunities are also integrated so you can get 1:1 insights on your approach!
Success after Prime sometimes depends more on who you know than what you know. At the end of your program, you'll participate in a networking event, a scheduled opportunity to have conversations with multiple individuals who are excited about Prime and eager to speak with you! You'll shake off your networking butterflies and gain confidence in speaking about yourself, your project work, and what you hope to do in your first role post-Prime!
Prime partners help connect students with valuable skills beyond graduation. Improve the inclusive web with free courses from Deque and Frontend Masters, and bolster your resume by pursuing your Digital Accessibility Certification with a partner prep course.
Your tuition supports Prime’s industry-leading instruction staff, excellent student-to-teacher ratio, development of our employer network and ongoing curriculum development. Tuition covers instruction and required software. Students are responsible for their own transportation, meals and living expenses during the program (though there's always snacks in the lunchroom). You'll want to have some ideas about your personal financing plan for tuition and living expenses while working on your application.
Once accepted and upon your confirming your enrollment, you'll need to have a finalized plan for tuition and expenses.
Pay out of pocket or finance on your own.
includes $500 discount
For students paying out of pocket with their own funds or planning to secure a personal loan through their bank or various lender options.
Tuition is $18,000Start learning with a low investment.
per month (based on credit)
We offer flexible financing with Ascent or Climb that can cover your down payment, tuition and living expenses no matter what your credit score.
Tuition is $18,000We’re proud to partner with the city of Minneapolis, the city of St. Paul, Ramsey County, and Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis to bring Prime to diverse Minneapolis and St. Paul residents who would be otherwise unable to afford the program. The application process screens and verifies eligibility for student aid (household income must be "very low" based on the CDBG income table). Eligible students may receive grants to cover up to 100% of tuition. Funds are available on a first come, first served basis so apply today.
Prime provides a number of scholarships to support students seeking to attend our programs. Prime and our partners are committed to building a diverse tech community. To encourage women and people of color pursuing tech careers, Prime Digital Academy grants a $500 scholarship to members of those groups accepted into the program. Additionally, Prime sponsors a Black Lives Matter in Tech scholarship that provides an additional $1,000 towards Black students seeking to study. We are also proud to partner with DEED on a grant supporting study for Minnesota residents of color aged 18-31.
Full-time, on campus study at Prime is eligible for GI Bill support including housing assistance. Check with your VA counselor or connect with Prime if you have questions about what support may be available to you outside of the GI Bill (e.g. VRRAP or vocational rehabilitation programs) as you may be able to receive support thorough those programs as well! GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Having access to a computer you call your own is a critical part of achieving mastery as a tech professional. To provide a consistent experience we've standardized on Apple laptops (running a current version of OS X). If you aren't sure if your computer meets these specifications or want help selecting a laptop for Prime contact us. Prime will provide you with an external monitor for use in the classroom.
Paying for a program like Prime is a big deal. Check out all the resources and options open to you in more detail on our funding page.
Prime is committed to maintaining real relationships with our alumni and providing support and advice that spans your entire career. Whether you’re swinging into Prime to say hello or touch base with friends on Slack, alumni are part of our community forever.
We provide free co-working space for alumni to ensure that no grad goes through their job search alone. We also operate a weekly session for alumni who are currently job searching called the Alum Scrum. These sessions focus on technical interviewing tips and advice on navigating the tricky situations that arise in a development job search.
Beyond job search support, Prime encourages alumni to continue to hone their skills through regular development challenges, coordinated user group attendance and keeping in close contact with your classmates as you all make your marks on the local development industry.
"At some point in life everyone has a moment they can pinpoint as being completely life altering, mine was my acceptance into Prime. I started Prime as a college drop-out floating through life with no idea of what to do. I left a completely different person. I'm strong, confident (most days), independent, and I feel prepared for the future."
"Prime doesn't end when you graduate. The people and relationships you've built will still be there. So will access to the building and the staff. The community manager helps you navigate the job search, offers, and the psychologist will help with worries and anxieties."
"You'll come out the other side of the program stronger. Not only as a professional but as an individual. The staff is supportive in a way that I've only rarely encountered. From helping you work through issues with code to being willing and available to sit down and talk through issues in your home-life."
The following upcoming cohort dates are planned. You are encouraged to apply early (even if your cohort's applications aren't open yet) as you may be asked to complete pre-study work depending on your experience. Each row in the table below represents a cohort at Prime and the dates that they'll enter the various tiers of study within the program.
