Paying for Prime
We have solutions to make Prime accessible for all learners.
Prime is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse tech community. We aim to ensure that all students have access to our programs and their proven outcomes in helping individuals start careers in high growth, high demand roles in tech.
Because of the historic makeup of the tech industry we want to strongly encourage women, non-binary, and BIPOC individuals and veterans to join the tech workforce to help ensure that the people responsible for designing and developing the future are representative of the wide range of users that will benefit from that work.
Tuition
Tuition for Prime Academy is $17,000. For students, this represents a significant investment and we are proud to say that the average graduate of Prime is making 75% more in their first job after the program than they were before their studies with us. That means the average student can pay back the cost of their education in their first 8 months at their new job.
The first $1,500 of tuition (your down payment) is due upon signing your student contract and confirms your spot in the cohort! The balance of your tuition is payable upon the start of Tier 2.
Other Costs and Considerations
Tuition is the major expense for most students, but keep in mind that you’ll need a compatible computer for the program. If you are buying a brand new computer specifically for Prime you’ll probably be paying at least $900 for your system.
If you’re considering the UX program you’ll also want to have about $150 set aside for hosting and software licenses not covered under tuition. If you're considering the Full Stack Software Engineering program you'll want to have about $80 set aside for hosting and software licenses not covered under tuition.
Keep in mind that the average graduate starts their first tech position three months after graduation, so we encourage you to plan for living expenses not just for the time you’ll spend in the program but for an additional six months to account for your job search.
Prepayment Discount
Students that are able to make tuition payments from a source other than our flexible loan partners are eligible for a $500 prepayment discount. Be sure to consider this when comparing options between a bank or credit union versus a loan from one of the flexible loan partners.
Paying for Prime Step-by-Step
Financing can often represent a barrier that prevents students from exploring their options - we talk to students and graduates every day that tell us they wished they would have gotten started earlier once they learn how simple the process of securing funding can be.
We'll help you figure out financing when the time is right - for now, just focus on if the program is right for you! Almost everyone has an option to attend Prime with little or no investment out of pocket. If you’re just getting started figuring out if Prime is right for you, focus on that first: start an application, talk to friends who work in tech, or attend a meetup group. You can dig into your research secure in the knowledge that Prime will have funding options to support you regardless of your circumstances. Once you know that Prime is your path to a new career in tech, submit your application and then we can help you walk through the steps below!
Prime provides some scholarships focusing on increasing representation of various groups in the tech industry and we partner with a number of organizations, non-profits, and government agencies with similar goals. Review the currently available scholarships to see if you may qualify for support (we’ll let you know of any opportunities that we can tell you’re eligible for during the admissions process as well).
If, after scholarship support, you still require additional funds to pay for Prime, the next step is seeing if you can qualify for a personal loan. Educate yourself on how personal loans work and use a site like Lending Tree to compare rates using your estimated credit score. This will help you get a feel for your monthly payments and total tuition cost. Since you’re technically paying your Prime tuition in full when you use a personal loan, you qualify for our prepayment discount with this option! Note that because of Prime’s nimble and employer-focused curriculum, Prime students don’t qualify for traditional federal student loans.
If your credit score/financial history prevents you from getting approved for a personal loan, or you’re looking for more flexible terms like low, interest-only payments for an initial period, explore loan options with our specialized lenders. Over 25% of our students use these flexible and accessible options!
Study your options to understand how financing could work for you, but remember that you don’t need to actually apply for a loan or have these details finalized when you submit your application to Prime. Financing can happen very quickly once you’re accepted into the program. For example, applying for a loan often takes only ten minutes and you can be approved within 24 hours after that.
Grants and Scholarships
Prime students may have a variety of options to explore in securing support for their studies. The admissions team works with prospective students to direct them to programs that they may qualify for, but interested applicants can review information about some of our major funding sources below.
If you have questions about your eligibility for grants and scholarships, contact hello@primeacademy.io.
For Scholarship Providers
Prime is always happy to explore opportunities to partner with other donors, funders, nonprofits, and government entities to create additional funding support for individuals underrepresented in the technology industry. If you are interested in partnering, please contact: hello@primeacademy.io
Available Scholarships
Submit the form above to see scholarships you may be eligible for highlighted here.
Prime Diversity Scholarship
from Prime Digital Academy ($500)
To encourage historically under-represented people to pursue tech careers, Prime offers a $500 scholarship to each BIPOC and/or female-identifying individual accepted into the program. The application screens for your eligibility and we will automatically deduct this from your tuition.
Black Lives Matter in Tech
from Prime Digital Academy ($1000)
Prime is offering a $1000 scholarship for prospective students who identify as Black or African American. This scholarship can be used in conjunction with Prime’s broader diversity scholarship. By offering this scholarship, we hope to reduce barriers to entering the tech industry for Black students.
MSP TechHire
from Minneapolis and Saint Paul (Up to 100% Tuition)
We're proud to partner with The Minneapolis/St. Paul Tech Hire initiative to bring Prime to Minneapolis and St. Paul residents who would be otherwise unable to afford the program. Funds are available on a first come, first served basis and are targeted towards low income, BIPOC, and female-identifying individuals. To apply for this support you must first be accepted into Prime’s program and then your eligibility will be confirmed by MSP Tech Hire.
Dislocated Worker Benefits
from State of Minnesota (Up to $5,000)
If you are receiving unemployment benefits, it’s likely you’re eligible for partial tuition funding! Prime is a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) approved program, meaning state and federal funding may support your study with us. If you’re currently receiving unemployment benefits, ask your employment services provider about how to get support for WIOA approved job training!
Pathways to Prosperity
from MN Department of Employment and Economic Development (Up to $10,000)
The program focuses on members of communities traditionally underrepresented in the IT field, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) populations, plus women and people with disabilities, individuals lacking stable housing, individuals with criminal records, individuals who have been jobless for more than 6 months, and low income individuals.
Tech Forward
from MN Department of Employment and Economic Development (Up to 100% Tuition)
You must be eligible for unemployment insurance in Minnesota, you don’t need to be actively receiving unemployment insurance. You need to live in the state of MN and have worked in MN for one month.
Borrowing for Tuition and Living Expenses
If your credit score or financial history prevents you from getting approved for a personal loan to pay for Prime tuition, or you’re looking for more flexible terms like low, interest-only payments for the first six months, explore loan options with our specialized lenders! Over 25% of our students use these flexible and accessible options. We recommend exploring both of these lenders to find the best terms for you.
Tuition (less your down payment) is due two weeks before Tier 2. If you can pay the deposit without funds from a loan, your loan simply needs to be approved prior to the start of Tier 2. This means plenty of time to apply and get funding from a loan, especially if you’ve done your homework. If you need to finance your down payment, you’ll need to get things ready sooner - make sure your lender supports that option and that you finalize your loan at least 2 weeks before the start of Tier 1.
Ascent + Prime
- Borrow up to $17,000 for tuition & $5,000 for living expenses
- Make low interest-only payments for the first 6 months
- 36-Month Fixed Rate at 8.99%, 60-Month Fixed Rate at 10.99%
Climb + Prime
- Borrow up to $15,500 for tuition & $5,000 for living expenses
- Make low interest-only payments for the first 3 or 6 months, determined after applying
- 36-month loans, interest rates determined after applying (between ~7-12%)
Meritize + Prime
- Borrow up to $17,000 for tuition
- 36-month loans, interest rates determined after applying (between ~4-23%)
Veterans’ Programs
Prime is proud to have helped a wide variety of veterans to break into careers in technology. Whether you’re just finishing up your service career or you’ve been a civilian for a while, we can help you navigate the programs available to help support your studies at Prime.
At present veteran support is available for all of Prime’s courses.
Vet Tec*
*As of November 20th 2023, VETTEC funds have been depleted. This means, you will not be able to use VET TEC funds to finance your Prime experience. We are not eligible to accept GI Bill benefits.
Vet Tec is a pilot program that aims to support veterans pursuing careers in technology. Vet Tec eligibility is coupled to GI Bill eligibility, so if you have at least 1 day of GI Bill eligibility you are able to apply for Vet Tec. As a pilot program, Vet Tec does not consume your GI Bill benefits. Veterans are eligible for full tuition support as well as a housing allowance provided by the VA. Vet Tec is funded annually with a finite budget so be aware that funding at any given time is not guaranteed.
If you have questions about Vet Tec at Prime, email us at hello@primeacademy.io.
Refund Policy
If your application is rejected, you will receive a full refund of all tuition, fees, and other charges. You will be entitled to a full refund of tuition, fees, and other charges if you give notice that you are canceling your contract within 5 business days after the contract or enrollment agreement is considered effective. A contract or enrollment agreement will be presumed to be effective on the date that the school notifies you that you have been accepted into the school and you have signed the contract or enrollment agreement. If the notification of acceptance into the school is sent by mail, then the effective day of being accepted is the postmark on the acceptance letter.This five-day refund policy applies regardless of when the program starts. If you give notice more than 5 days after you signed the contract, but before the start of the program (or first lesson for an online distance education program), you will receive a refund of all tuition, fees, and other charges minus 15%, up to $50, of the total cost of the program.
If you withdraw after the start of your program and it has been more than 5 days after you signed the contract, you will receive a pro-rated refund of the entire cost of your program based on your last day of attendance. You will be provided a prorated tuition, fees, and other charges refund minus your initial application fees, up to $50, and minus the lesser of 25% of the total tuition or $100. Proration is based on whether your program is term-based or clock hours and how much of the program you have completed.The completion rate is the number of clock hours you actually attended divided by the number of clock hours in the program. The completion rate is calculated to the second decimal point (.XX). If you withdraw from your program after 75.00% of the program has completed, you are not entitled to a refund of tuition, fees, and other charges.
You will receive written notice acknowledging your withdrawal request within 10 business days after receipt of the notice and you will receive a refund of any tuition, fees, and other charges within 30 business days of receipt of your withdrawal. Any mailed notice is effective as of the date of the postmark if sent by mail or the day it has been hand-delivered to the school. Notice to withdraw may also be given by email or verbally, including a voicemail, to an instructor or student life team member. If you do not withdraw in writing or contact the school about your absence and you have not attended your program or contacted the school about your absence for 14 consecutive days, you will be considered to have withdrawn from the school as of your last date of attendance. Your school is responsible for sending you a written notice of cancellation if you are withdrawn for failing to attend to your last known address. The confirmation from the school must state that the school has withdrawn your enrollment, and if this action was not the student's intent, the student must contact the school.
Veteran’s Refund Policy
If a veteran or a veteran’s beneficiary enrolls under the provisions of Title38, U.S. Code and discontinues training before completion of the program/course, the school will retain ten dollars ($10) as a bona fide registration cost. All other advance payment of tuition, fees and other charges will be refunded to the trainee on a pro rata basis computed to the date of the discontinuance of training.