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Cohorts

Cohort 26 applications will close May 29th, 2026.

Cohort 27 applications will open Fall 2026.

No open positions right now

Connect with us to stay up to date on new openings.

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Applying to Ada Core

Click here for a short video overview.

Ada Core is an 11-month program that teaches full-stack web development built on community, not competition. You'll learn alongside a supportive cohort, with instructors guiding you through hands-on projects.

After the classroom phase, you'll intern at a tech company for 5 months, where you'll receive a living stipend and real-world experience.

Reminder: Ada Core is not a beginner's intro to coding. You should understand foundational concepts such as loops, lists, and dictionaries before applying and feel ready to build a career in tech.

Admissions Overview

  • 1. Application Stage

    Share your contact information, a copy of your resume, and internship preferences.

    Write three short essays - about 300 words each. We want to hear YOUR story — why tech? Why Ada?

  • 2. Technical Challenge

    Over email, you'll be sent a link to a short Python exercise. You'll have 3 days to complete it.

    We want to see how you think through challenges and solve problems.

  • 3. Interview

    Chat with Ada staff and share your code. This is your chance to shine!

    We want to know: How do you build community? How do you learn, especially when it's hard? How do you want to change the face of tech?

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  • Please note: Applications are reviewed throughout the admissions window, so don't stress if you don't receive a response right away.
  • In addition to each stage's requirements, applicants move forward based on the number of internship seats that we anticipate in each location.
  • If you decide to use Chat GPT or other AI tools to assist in your application, make sure you still capture YOUR unique voice and story.


Frequently Asked Questions

  • To apply to Ada Core, you must:

    • Be 21 years of age or older

    • Live in the United States for the full duration of the program

    • Hold permanent work authorization at the time of application and throughout the program

    • Have reliable internet access and an Apple computer (MacBook or Mac)

    DACA recipients are eligible to apply. OPT and CPT are not eligible. If you require or anticipate requiring sponsorship in the future, you are not eligible for our program.

  • Yes. All Ada Developers Academy programming is tuition-free. 

    You will need to create and pay for your own Amazon Web Services (AWS) account, which you'll use throughout the curriculum. AWS costs can reach up to $100 per month without careful resource management.

    You may also choose to pay for additional tools, supplies, and resources during the program, which would add to your expenses.

    Internship assignments typically have fully in-person office requirements, so you may need to account for relocation or transportation costs. While in internship, students receive a stipend to offset living expenses during the 5 months of Internship ($15,400 total, pre-tax).

    We also encourage you to budget beyond graduation. The average job search in tech takes 6 to 18 months in a strong market. Planning ahead for that period, before you apply, sets you up for a stronger start.

  • We recommend treating Ada Core as a full-time commitment and strongly advise against working another job while in the program. The curriculum moves fast, and your success depends on being fully present.

    In order to ensure student success, we require live attendance at all required elements of the program and completing all assigned work on time. Student report spending 40-60 hours a week on Ada Core between class time, optional elements like office hours, and self-guided independent/group work.

  • The classroom portion of Ada Core is fully virtual, so you'll need a reliable workspace with a stable internet connection.

    Ada Core requires an Apple computer that meets the following specifications:

    • MacBook Air with M1 (2020 or newer) OR MacBook Pro (2019 or newer)

    • 16 GB RAM minimum

    • 64 GB drive space minimum, with 8 GB available

    • macOS version 14 (Sonoma) or higher

    Our curriculum does not run on Windows machines.

    A limited number of loaner MacBooks and Wi-Fi hot spots are available for the classroom portion of the program. If access to a laptop or Wi-Fi would be a barrier to your participation, reach out and we can talk through options.

  • Our community is vibrant. “Adies,” current students and graduates of our programs, are artists, carers, leaders, storytellers, explorers, and so much more. We find that folks who have their own ways of demonstrating the following qualities thrive in the Ada environment:

    1. Interested in Tech and Coding: Adies are technologists. They have a genuine enthusiasm for technology and its role in our lives.

    2. Curiosity: Adies are lifelong learners. They explore, ask questions, fail, practice, seek out feedback, and celebrate when others do the same.

    3. Persistence: Adies are optimistic and realistic. They show up for themselves and for other people regularly.

    4. Community-Oriented: Adies are purposeful in their careers. They believe in our shared vision of claiming economic power for marginalized communities, lifting others as they climb and build for themselves.

    5. Self-Understanding/Self-Awareness: Adies are mindful. They reflect on their connections, their time, and how they stay organized and engaged on their journeys.

  • Our goal is to admit 45-50 students per cohort. Our final number will depend on the number of internships secured for the cohort.

  • Cohort 27 applications will open in Fall 2026.

  • We anticipate very, very few Remote internships based on the overall trend of returning to the office in the tech industry.

    For 2026, we will have internships in Seattle, WA and Nashville, TN. 

    We may also secure a handful of internships in Atlanta, GA, San Francisco, CA, DMV/Washington, DC, or New York City, NY.

  • A limited number of loaner laptops and Wi-Fi Hotspots will be available to use while enrolled in the program.

    Volunteer and mentorship support will be available while enrolled in the program through the Ada community and a partnership with Wevise.

    Ada Developers Academy has partnered with Google to provide free access to obtaining a Google Career Certificate in Project Management. Through this partnership, Adies can apply to a zero percent consumer loan (managed by Ascent).

    No relocation assistance is available.

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