Apple's Developer Academy: 71 percent find jobs – not always as developers

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It was intended to promote underrepresented populations and give them access to the tech world. But after four years of the Apple Developer Academy in Detroit (USA), the picture is mixed: according to research by the US magazine Wired, 71 percent of graduates find full-time jobs, but not always in software development. The free ten-month program has so far admitted over 1700 participants, with around 600 having completed it.

The academy, launched by Apple in 2021, is part of a $200 million package and is specifically aimed at people from Detroit, the poorest major city in the USA, and aims to promote diversity in the tech industry.

The financing is a joint effort: around 30 million US dollars flowed in over four years. Apple contributed 11.6 million US dollars, the Gilbert Family Foundation and MSU Credit Union more than 9.4 million US dollars. Taxpayers and tuition fees contributed 2.6 million US dollars, plus 6 million US dollars in state scholarships. The cost per participant is around $20,000 – including devices like iPhones and MacBooks.

Ten Months of iOS Development and AI

The program runs from August to June, with 20 hours per week to be completed in person. Participants learn Swift programming, UI/UX design, project management, and marketing. Particularly noteworthy: the Academy now integrates generative AI tools. Participants are allowed to use code generators but must understand and be able to explain the generated code. Workshops on Vision Pro and Apple TV are also part of the curriculum.

According to Sarah Gretter, head of the Academy at Michigan State University, the graduation rate of 70 percent is above the average for adult education. The average age of participants is 30 years, with a range from 18 to over 70. However, thousands of applications only result in a few hundred acceptances.

Success Stories and Disillusionment

But even those who get one of the spots don't necessarily end up in the tech industry. Wired reports on graduates who now work at the Genius Bar in the Apple Store, as QA testers at a startup, or as freelance developers. But there are also cases like that of 25-year-old Lizmary Fernandez, who didn't find a job in software development and now works as a flight attendant.

She reports that some participants had to apply for food stamps because they couldn't make ends meet with the monthly scholarship of $800 to $1500. Others had one or more additional jobs alongside their training.

The strong focus on iOS development is a disadvantage, according to some interviewees. Graduates report that a lack of Android knowledge makes it difficult to find jobs. In addition, the job market for entry-level software developers is currently struggling with problems anyway. This is partly due to the increasing use of AI tools in development.

Manufacturing Academy as a New Pillar

In August 2025, Apple launched a second academy in Detroit: the Apple Manufacturing Academy is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises. The focus is on AI-supported intelligent manufacturing – machine learning, deep learning, automation, and data analysis. The program is part of Apple's $500 billion investment in US manufacturing.

The Developer Academy is significantly different: it trains individuals in app development and design, while the Manufacturing Academy helps companies with production optimization. Both programs are supported by Michigan State University.

Comparison with Coding Bootcamps

With its success rate, Apple's academy ranks in the upper middle field, according to experts: researcher Quinn Burke attests the Apple Academy higher quality than many commercial coding bootcamps. The subsidized, in-person training with high-quality devices sets it apart from three-month crash courses. However, the 71 percent job placement rate is below the 95 percent that Amy J. Ko from the University of Washington, for example, reports for her undergraduate program. Typical coding schools achieve less than 80 percent, according to Ko.

Since the academy's launch in 2021, the proportion of Black employees in Apple's US tech team has paradoxically fallen from 6 to 3 percent – despite the $200 million initiative.

Gordon Shukwit, Senior Director at Apple, emphasizes that the primary goal is not solely job placement, but the development of teamwork, research, and tech skills. Susan Prescott, Vice President Worldwide Developer Relations at Apple, points to 62 developed apps and 13 founded companies. The partnership with Michigan State University is set to continue.

(mki)