How to Afford GA
Potential is not defined by financial status — opportunity should be no different. At General Assembly, we believe everyone should be able to access a high-growth tech career. Investing in education is a big step, that’s why we offer a range of financing.
Options at a Glance
Financing should never prevent you from starting a fulfilling career. Regardless of where you are in your education journey, our financing options were designed with you in mind. Here is a breakdown of our options:
Income Share Agreement (ISA)
Defer tuition payment and repay once you land a job earning at least $40,000.
Installment Plan
Spread out your tuition payments over the duration of your course with installments.
Loans
Apply for a loan with one of our industry-best lending partners.
GI Bill® Benefit
Veterans can use their GI Bill® benefit to learn at select U.S. campuses.
Scholarships
Social impact programs and tuition discounts level the field for underrepresented communities.
Employer Sponsorship
Have your employer cover the cost of your program with workplace education benefits.
Which Financing Option Fits Your Goals?
We want to give you a fair start. Traditional upfront education costs bar many from taking that first critical step — and the benefits that learning unlocks. We’re disrupting that model with a variety of programs that accommodate different learning paths.
Catalyst Program
Learn now, pay later.
How it works: Our Catalyst ISA Program lets you take an Immersive course with little upfront cost. Make no tuition payments until you land a job earning $40,000 or more, capping at 1.5x.
Best if you want to: Reduce upfront costs and defer payments until after you’re hired.
Availability: U.S. only; Immersive courses only.
0%-Interest Loan
Make manageable monthly payments.
How it works: We work with industry-leading partners to help you secure an education loan. Approved applicants are eligible for zero interest for 18 months for Part-Time courses and 24 months for Immersive courses!
Best if you want to: Make monthly payments with no interest.
Availability: U.S. borrowers/cosigners; Immersive, Part-Time, 1-Week courses.
Employer Sponsorship
Have your boss pay.
How it works: Does your company have a dedicated budget for professional development? If so, you might be eligible to learn and get reimbursed by your employer! In fact, over 45% of our part-time students are employer sponsored.
Best if you want to: Receive partial to full reimbursement from your employer for job-relevant skills.
Availability: Full-Time, Part-Time, and 1-Week courses.
Full Tuition Payment
Pay early, pay less.
How it works: Covering your education upfront is a big investment, but it pays off in the long run. We offer students a $450 discount when they pay full tuition upfront for any Immersive course, and a $250 discount for any Part-Time or 1-Week program.
Best if you want to: Use savings and minimize overall tuition.
Availability: Select U.S. markets only; eligible for all programs.
Installment Payment Plan
Pay as you learn.
How it works: With a payment plan, you can spread tuition payments over the duration of your course, conveniently split into two, three, or four installments. This is one of the most popular financing options at GA.
Best if you want to: Pay with installments and avoid fees or interest.
Availability: Select U.S. markets only; eligible for all program types.
Loan Providers
Student loans from industry-leading lenders.
How it works: We work with some of the top lending partners in the industry to help you secure education loans at affordable rates. Qualified borrowers can pay interest only or defer payments while in class.
Best if you want to: Make smaller monthly payments.
Availability: Varies per region. Apply to Ascent (U.S.), Climb Credit (U.S.), Meritize (U.S.), zipMoney (Australia), Study Loans (Australia) or EdAid (UK) to learn more.
GI Bill® Benefit
We proudly accept GI Bill® funding.
How it works: GA helps veterans put their GI Bill® benefit to work to gain skills in today’s high-growth career sectors.
Best if you want to: Apply your GI Bill® benefits toward an Immersive course.
Availability: U.S. only; Immersive courses only.
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 https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Scholarship Programs
Breaking barriers, building pathways.
How it works: We’ve partnered with nonprofits, governments, and companies to provide access to GA courses for over 78,000 students with low income or insufficient representation in tech.
Best if you want to: Overcome barriers to education.
Availability: Connect with our Social Impact team to learn more.
Break the Glass Tuition Discount
Receive a tuition discount.
How it works: GA’s Break the Glass program is geared toward opening new opportunities to underrepresented groups pursuing careers in software engineering or data science. Eligible individuals can apply to receive $1,500 USD, £1,500 GBP, 1,500€ EUR, $1,500 AUD, $1,500 SGD, or $1,500 CAD toward select courses.
Best if you want to: Save money while diversifying the tech talent of tomorrow.
Availability: Software Engineering Immersive, Data Science Immersive or Data Analytics Immersive.
Study Pay Deferred Payment Plan
Learn now, pay later.
How it works: Offered in partnership with Study Loans, our Study Pay Deferred Payment Plan lets students in Australia take a course with little upfront payment.
Best if you want to: Reduce upfront costs and make manageable monthly installments.
Availability: AUS only; Immersive courses only.
Skills Checkpoint Contribution Matching
Receive up to $2,200 AUD to learn at GA.
How it works: Eligible workers in Australia 45–70 years old can receive up to $2,200 AUD toward their GA course with help from the Skills Checkpoint contribution-matching program.
Best if you want to: Save money while making a late-career change.
Availability: AUS only; Immersive courses only..
*The Skills Checkpoint Program is an initiative of the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business. More information is available here.
“GA gave me an opportunity to change my life… I couldn’t afford going to college or attending GA on my own — the Opportunity Fund was the only way that I would be able to afford coming to GA.”
Dominic Prescod, Opportunity Fund recipient and Web Development Immersive graduate
How Do GA’s Financing Options Compare?
GA Financing: In Depth, in the Real World
How GA’s Social Impact Programs Pave a Path to a Diverse, Vibrant Tech Community
In 2017, we expanded social impact programs to break down barriers for underrepresented groups to pursue careers in tech. Read about their stories here.
Opportunity@Work and GA: Piloting the Learn and Earn Program
We launched a 14-week web development bootcamp program for students who are typically underrepresented in the tech community and otherwise unable to afford education.
An Employer Guide to Investing in Talent
Prepare workers to adapt to the shifting demands of our digital world. Learn to leverage federal policy in order to gain funding to upskill and retain employees.