Best PhD in Artificial Intelligence Programs: 2026 Rankings
Doctoral programs in artificial intelligence and machine learning, ranked with research weighted most.
Updated
Princeton University, Arizona State University, and UC Berkeley lead our ranking of PhD programs in artificial intelligence. Few universities award a doctorate under the AI name itself: federal data show 5 colleges conferred 53 doctorates in the artificial intelligence field in 2023–24, compared with 1,669 computer science doctorates from 123 colleges. That is why 7 of our top 10 are computer science PhDs with strong AI research, and 4 carry an AI or machine learning name.
Top 10 PhD in artificial intelligence programs
Rank
School
Location
1
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
2
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ
3
UC Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
4
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
5
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
6
Columbia University
New York, NY
7
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
8
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
9
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
10
MIT
Cambridge, MA
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 (10%), student outcomes (15%), 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. Doctoral lists weight research environment more heavily when tuition and outcomes data are sparse. About 85% of programs on this list have full scoring data. Read the full ranking methodology.
How To Choose an AI PhD Program
Use these criteria when you shortlist—then confirm details on each school’s program page.
AI-named PhD or computer science PhD
A few schools offer a doctorate in artificial intelligence or machine learning. Most AI researchers earn a computer science, electrical engineering or robotics PhD and write an AI dissertation. The lab you join matters more than the degree title.
Advisor and lab fit
Your advisor shapes your research topic, funding and first job. Read recent papers from two or three faculty before you apply, and ask current students how often they meet with their advisor.
Funding package
Full-time research PhDs commonly pay a stipend and waive tuition through research or teaching assistantships. Ask for the funding terms in writing and how many years they cover.
Computing resources
Machine learning research depends on GPU time. Ask what shared computing clusters students can use and whether labs pay for their own.
Qualifying milestones
Compare coursework, qualifying exams, the proposal defense and publication expectations on each program page. These set your real timeline.
Where an AI PhD leads
Computer and information research scientists earned a median $140,300 in May 2025, and BLS projects the field to grow 21.8% from 2025 to 2035. BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education, so a doctorate pays off mainly in research labs, government research centers and faculty jobs that ask for original research.
Computer science teachers, postsecondary earned a median $96,980 in May 2025, and BLS projects the field to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035. Most tenure-track faculty jobs require a doctorate.
Data scientists earned a median $120,230 in May 2025, and BLS projects the field to grow 34.6% from 2025 to 2035. Some AI doctoral graduates move into applied data science and machine learning roles in industry.
How many colleges award AI doctorates?
In 2020–21, 3 U.S. colleges reported doctorates in the artificial intelligence field (29 degrees). By 2023–24 that had grown to 5 colleges and 53 degrees, according to U.S. Department of Education completions data. Computer science remains the main route: 123 colleges awarded 1,669 computer science doctorates the same year. See our AI degree report for every level.
Program summaries for these PhD in artificial intelligence
Each school lists a quick overview (program, estimated cost, format) plus a short program summary with links to official school pages and related program paths. Tuition figures are published estimates—confirm current totals on the school’s program page before you apply.
1
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
PhD in Computer Science
Overview
Availability: Varies
Estimated tuition total: Confirm on school site
Credits: Confirm on school site
Best for: elite faculty and facilities
Program summary
Princeton University anchors this ranking slot. Princeton University's program is worth a close look; confirm delivery mode on the school’s program page. Plan on roughly 5 years. This is a broader degree, not a standalone AI program.
Students looking at Tempe will find ASU on this list. Named as an AI or ML degree—use the course list to separate theory-heavy terms from tool-focused applied semesters.
Best for: CS students specializing in AI/ML within an MSCS
Program summary
This is a CS master’s with an AI/ML lane—compare specialization coursework against a dedicated AI M.S. if you want the diploma title to say artificial intelligence.
Carnegie Mellon is based in Pittsburgh. Named as an AI or ML degree—use the course list to separate theory-heavy terms from tool-focused applied semesters.
Best for: immediate AI and ML focus (no generic CS coursework)
Program summary
Students looking at Atlanta will find Georgia Tech on this list. Named as an AI or ML degree—use the course list to separate theory-heavy terms from tool-focused applied semesters.
Cornell University sits in Ithaca. Cornell University's program is worth a close look; confirm delivery mode on the school’s program page. This is a broader degree, not a standalone AI program.
Harvard's program is worth a close look; confirm delivery mode on the school’s program page. Plan on roughly 5 years. This is a broader degree, not a standalone AI program.
Johns Hopkins sits in Baltimore. Johns Hopkins' program is worth a close look; confirm delivery mode on the school’s program page. This is a broader degree, not a standalone AI program.
PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Overview
Availability: Varies
Estimated tuition total: Confirm on school site
Credits: Confirm on school site
Best for: Engineers applying ML/AI inside computer engineering
NSA CAE: NSA CAE (CAE-R)
Program summary
Students looking at Cambridge will find MIT on this list. MIT's program is worth a close look; confirm delivery mode on the school’s program page. This is a broader degree, not a standalone AI program.
More PhD in Artificial Intelligence Programs to Compare
These schools also offer PhD in artificial intelligence. 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.
Princeton University, Arizona State University, and UC Berkeley lead our ranking. The best fit depends on your research area, so compare faculty and labs before you compare rank.
Can you get a PhD in artificial intelligence?
Yes, but few schools award one under that name. Federal data show 5 U.S. colleges conferred doctorates in the artificial intelligence field in 2023–24. Most AI researchers earn a computer science or related PhD with an AI dissertation.
Can you get a PhD in machine learning?
A few universities award a doctorate named for machine learning. Most machine learning researchers earn a PhD in computer science, statistics or electrical engineering and write a machine learning dissertation, so the programs on this list are a good place to start.
Are AI PhD programs funded?
Full-time research PhDs commonly come with a tuition waiver and stipend through research or teaching assistantships. Terms vary, so ask each program for its funding policy in writing.
Do I need a master's degree to apply?
Many programs admit strong applicants straight from a bachelor's, often awarding a master's along the way. Check the admission requirements on each program page.
What can you do with a PhD in AI?
Computer and information research scientists earned a median $140,300 in May 2025, and BLS projects the field to grow 21.8% from 2025 to 2035. Faculty, government research and industry research lab jobs are the roles most likely to ask for a doctorate.
How is this list built?
We order schools on this page using our ranking method, with more weight on affordability (10%), student outcomes (15%), 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. Doctoral lists weight research environment more heavily when tuition and outcomes data are sparse. About 85% of programs on this list have full scoring data. See the full ranking methodology for weights and data sources.
