Best Online Master's in Artificial Intelligence: 2026 Rankings & Career Guide
Best online master's in artificial intelligence and machine learning for working professionals.
Updated
The best online master's in artificial intelligence programs on our 2026 list are at Concordia University, St. Paul, Maryville University, and Georgia Institute of Technology. Concordia University, St. Paul's MS in Artificial Intelligence lists an estimated total tuition of $15,750, Maryville University comes in near $25,245 for 33 credits, and Georgia Institute of Technology lists $6,810. Across our top 10, published totals run from $6,810 to $29,850, with a median near $15,750.
10 Best Online Master's in Artificial Intelligence Programs
Rank
School
Location
1
Concordia University, St. Paul
St. Paul, MN
2
Maryville University
St. Louis, MO
3
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
4
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
5
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO
6
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA
7
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
8
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
9
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT
10
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA
The table is for quick comparison. School write-ups below cover program name, format, and tuition—always confirm on the school site. More programs to compare appear after the write-ups when we have additional schools outside this top list.
How we ranked this list
We order schools on this page using our ranking method, with more weight on affordability (40%), student outcomes (30%), curriculum (20%). Figures draw from published school tuition and U.S. Department of Education outcomes data when available. Schools cannot pay for a higher rank. About 77% of programs on this list have full scoring data. Read the full ranking methodology.
Tuition Snapshot
Among 10 programs on this page with an estimated tuition total, the median is about $15,750 and the mean is about $16,838. These are published list-price estimates—not what students usually pay after aid (net price). Confirm current rates on each school site.
Online AI Master's Programs: The Latest Data
This guide ranks 10 programs after scoring and keeping one listing per school. Use the tuition snapshot with curriculum fit and accreditation notes before you apply.
How To Choose an Online Master's in Artificial Intelligence
Use these criteria when you shortlist—then confirm details on each school’s program page.
Curriculum focus
Read the required core—not just the major title. Match electives to the role you want.
Costs
Compare published totals where available, then confirm current rates and fees on each school site.
Accreditation and fit
Prefer regionally accredited schools. Check format, any campus visits, and required courses before you start before you apply.
Career outcomes
Look for labs, projects, internships, and cert prep that map to hiring—not marketing slogans alone.
1
Concordia University, St. Paul
St. Paul, MN
MS in Artificial Intelligence
Overview
Availability: Online
Estimated tuition total: $15,750 (~$525/credit)
Credits: 30
Best for: Learners seeking a dedicated AI master's
Accreditation: HLC
Program summary
Concordia University, St. Paul anchors this ranking slot. Positioned as an AI/ML program on paper; verify labs, final projects, and math required courses match the intensity you want. Delivery is fully online—confirm live vs recorded sessions and any intensives. Plan on roughly 1.5 years. Dedicated AI master's—not an add-on to another degree.
Online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence
Overview
Availability: Online
Estimated tuition total: $25,245 (~$765/credit)
Credits: 33
Best for: Learners seeking a dedicated AI master's (Standalone AI degree)
Accreditation: HLC
NSA CAE: NSA CAE (CAE-CD)
Program summary
Students looking at St. Louis will find Maryville University on this list. Named as an AI or ML degree—use the course list to separate theory-heavy terms from tool-focused applied semesters. Delivery is fully online—confirm live vs recorded sessions and any intensives. Plan on roughly 2 years. Dedicated AI master's—not an add-on to another degree.
Best for: Cost-conscious CS students seeking an AI specialization
Program summary
Students looking at Atlanta will find Georgia Tech on this list. Expect the parent degree’s core plus an AI-focused set of electives—confirm how many credits must be AI-labeled before you treat it as an AI credential. Delivery is fully online—confirm live vs recorded sessions and any intensives. AI is an MSCS specialization—not a standalone AI master's.
Online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI)
Overview
Availability: Online
Estimated tuition total: $10,000 (~$333/credit)
Credits: 30
Best for: Learners seeking a dedicated AI master's (The University of Texas at Austin)
Program summary
The title reads AI/ML-first; still open the curriculum map to see how much is core AI versus borrowed CS, stats, or engineering electives. Delivery is fully online—confirm live vs recorded sessions and any intensives. Plan on roughly 18-36 months. Dedicated AI master's—not an add-on to another degree.
Best for: Learners seeking a dedicated AI master's (University of Colorado Boulder)
Accreditation: HLC
Program summary
University of Colorado Boulder anchors this ranking slot. Positioned as an AI/ML program on paper; verify labs, final projects, and math required courses match the intensity you want. Delivery is fully online—confirm live vs recorded sessions and any intensives. Plan on roughly 1-2 years. Dedicated AI master's—not an add-on to another degree.
Best for: Practitioners who want applied AI over research-heavy CS
Accreditation: WSCUC
NSA CAE: NSA CAE (CAE-CD)
Program summary
Positioned as an AI/ML program on paper; verify labs, final projects, and math required courses match the intensity you want. Delivery is fully online—confirm live vs recorded sessions and any intensives. Plan on roughly 20 months.
Online Master of Science in Computer Engineering (MSCE) — Applied Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence
Overview
Availability: Online
Estimated tuition total: $17,000 (~$548/credit)
Credits: 31
Best for: ML-focused engineers who want applied AI coursework
NSA CAE: NSA CAE (CAE-R)
Program summary
Students looking at Albuquerque will find University of New Mexico on this list. Positioned as an AI/ML program on paper; verify labs, final projects, and math required courses match the intensity you want. Delivery is fully online—confirm live vs recorded sessions and any intensives. ML/AI sits inside an engineering master's—not a standalone AI degree.
Best for: Learners seeking a dedicated AI master's (Purdue University)
Accreditation: HLC
NSA CAE: NSA CAE (CAE-R)
Program summary
Purdue is based in West Lafayette. The title reads AI/ML-first; still open the curriculum map to see how much is core AI versus borrowed CS, stats, or engineering electives. Delivery is fully online—confirm live vs recorded sessions and any intensives. Plan on roughly 2 years. Dedicated AI master's—not an add-on to another degree.
MS in Computer Science — AI and Machine Learning Specialization
Overview
Availability: Online
Estimated tuition total: $8,770
Credits: 30
Best for: Self-paced CS students specializing in AI/ML while working
NSA CAE: NSA CAE (CAE-CD)
Program summary
Western Governors University is based in Salt Lake City. Expect the parent degree’s core plus an AI-focused set of electives—confirm how many credits must be AI-labeled before you treat it as an AI credential. Delivery is fully online—confirm live vs recorded sessions and any intensives. AI is an MSCS specialization—not a standalone AI master's.
MS in Data Science and Analytics — Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Concentration
Overview
Availability: Online
Estimated tuition total: $11,212 (in-state)
Credits: Confirm on school site
Best for: In-state data professionals adding an AI/ML concentration
NSA CAE: NSA CAE (CAE-CO, CAE-CD, CAE-R)
Program summary
Old Dominion University is based in Norfolk. AI/ML sits as a concentration or track inside a broader degree—scan required vs elective AI courses so you know how deep the path actually goes. Delivery is fully online—confirm live vs recorded sessions and any intensives. AI/ML is a concentration on a data science or analytics master's—not a standalone AI degree.
These schools also offer online AI master's programs. They are not numbered in the ranking above—either they sat outside the top list, or we do not yet have a defensible tuition estimate to score them fairly on cost. Confirm current tuition and admissions on each school site.
What is the best online master's in artificial intelligence?
On this Best Overall online AI master's list, Concordia University, St. Paul; Maryville University; and Georgia Institute of Technology lead for cost, curriculum, and outcomes. Compare credit load and any required campus visits before you enroll.
How much does an online AI master's cost?
Published tuition totals are available for 10 of the 10 programs with published totals here, running $6,810 to $29,850 with a median near $15,750.
Is an online AI master's worth it vs. a campus program?
Online programs fit working professionals and often cut housing and commuting costs. Campus programs may offer denser research labs—match format to your career timeline and learning style.
Do I need a computer science bachelor's or GRE scores?
Many programs accept related STEM or quantitative backgrounds; bridge courses and GRE policies vary. Check required courses and test-optional notes on each school’s admissions page.
How is an online AI master's different from a machine learning master's?
Titles overlap. Check core ML coursework, electives in NLP or computer vision, and whether the degree is CS, AI, or applied data science.
How does AIDegrees rank these programs?
We order schools on this page using our ranking method, with more weight on affordability (40%), student outcomes (30%), curriculum (20%). Figures draw from published school tuition and U.S. Department of Education outcomes data when available. Schools cannot pay for a higher rank. About 77% of programs on this list have full scoring data. Full details are on our ranking methodology page.
