Apple Opens First US Developer Academy in Detroit

In partnership with Michigan State University (MSU), Apple is opening its first American Developer Academy in the city of Detroit to provide resources and education to the local community.

Apple said the academy will teach classes on coding, product design, project management, and more. It also will place an emphasis on inclusivity, as it's part of the company’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, which seeks to address systemic racism and expand opportunities across the nation.

The inaugural class is made up of 100 students, with ages ranging from 18 to 60. Each student will get 10 months of training in app development and entrepreneurship, and enrollment is free. No prior coding experience is required, although students do have to be 18 or older.

The school’s curriculum strives to give graduates a wide range of skills to find or create jobs within the smart device industry. Apple states its iOS economy supports over 2.1 million jobs across the United States and continues to grow.

According to a page on the MSU website, applications for this year’s class are closed. Students will have to check next spring for openings in the 2022-2023 class.

Apple’s Developer Academies are located all around the world, with sites in Brazil, Indonesia, and Italy. The next site will open in South Korea next year at Pohang University of Science and Technology. It’s unknown at this time if Apple has plans to open additional sites in the US.