Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a part of science fiction movies or books. We can see how AI has become an integral part of our day-to-day lives. Take the example of the bot virtual assistants that answer our queries and even take our food orders in a restaurant. This has increased the demand for AI experts. And if you are thinking about stepping into this new-age domain, the most important decision would be choosing the right university.
Study in USA to be part of prestigious institutes, choose from diverse specializations and find excellent internship opportunities in the dynamic tech industry with numerous AI research labs, startups, and tech giants like Google, Meta, etc. This blog will orient you toward making the right decision as we will list down the top 15 universities in the USA and their best AI programs as well as research opportunities. Students who need guidance to know more about the interesting AI programs offered by US Universities can contact us at Contentholic. Our Study Aboard Consultants can guide you through choosing the right program to apply to the university.
Top 15 US Universities for AI in the USA
1. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
Carnegie’s School of Computer Science offered the US’s first Bachelor’s program in AI in 2018. The curriculum focuses on vision, language, and huge databases. The core courses are in the fields of computer science, math, statistics, computational modeling, machine learning, and symbolic computation. The students also have the option to participate in study projects in areas like healthcare, transportation, and education. This would be a 4-year course with the tuition fee for the first year being USD 63,829.
CMU also offers an MS in Artificial Intelligence and Innovation. In this program students work in teams to to come up with AI systems to cater to market needs. Students receive thorough training in machine learning and language technologies. The students also have to complete internship and capstone project which aims to give students knowledge and experience to be successful in their professional careers. The core courses covered are Artificial Intelligence and Future Markets; Law of Computer Technology; AI Engineering; and AI Innovation. It is a 2-year program and its per-year tuition fee is USD 54,420. There is also a 10-week online program costing USD 2,500. It is designed for professionals to advance their technical AI skills.
The College of Engineering also offers a Master’s in AI Engineering. In this program, students are expected to implement AI in engineering frameworks, including engineering representation, applications within engineered systems, and discipline-specific interpretations of system outcomes. This program makes students learn to invent, tune, and specialize AI algorithms and tools for engineering systems. This is also a 2-year course and costs around USD 91,644 per year.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
MIT’s Schwarzman College of Computing and Sloan School of Management jointly offer an AI course for executives. It is a 10-day course costing USD 23,500. The topics covered in this course are AI business and IT; organizations and leaderships; strategy and innovation. The participants will also benefit from hands-on workshops which would teach them to innovate, experiment, and solve problems with AI. It is designed for senior executives and experienced business leaders in technical and non-technical functions.
MIT Professional Education also offers a Professional Certificate Program in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. The Certificate would be awarded after completing 16 or more days. The core courses include Machine Learning for Big Data and Text Processing: Foundations and Machine Learning for Big Data and Text Processing: Advanced. The application fee is USD 325 and each course has a different fee.
3. University of California, Berkeley (UC, Berkeley)
UC, Berkeley provides AI for Executive program of 3 days. It costs USD 5,900. The key takeaways of this course are leveraging AI for a competitive advantage, critically examining the latest AI innovation, and understanding the ethical implications of AI. The 3-day course will be a blend of insightful case studies, industry leader panels, lively discussions, and pragmatic hands-on exercises. This course is specially designed for senior executives, senior-level managers, engineers, and other professionals.
It also has the Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research Laboratory which consists of over 20 faculty members and more than 100 graduate students. The most popular courses offered by the lab are Computational Imaging and Robotic Manipulation. There is an online Certificate program as well called Artificial Intelligence: Business Strategies and Application. Its duration is 2 months and the program fee is USD 2,714. The course introduces the basic application of AI in business, generative AI’s current capabilities and potential, and deeper knowledge about automation, machine learning, and robotics. Participants would be doing a capstone project throughout the 8 modules of this program.
4. Stanford University
Stanford School of Engineering also offers an online Professional Certificate in Artificial Intelligence. This course covers topics such as Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing and Understanding, Supervised and Unsupervised Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Graph Neural networks (GNN), Multi-task, and Meta-Learning. The prerequisite requirements for this course are proficiency in Python, College Calculus and Linear Algebra; and Probability Theory. Per course would take 10 weeks and per course fee is USD 1,750.
Stanford Institute for Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence (HAI) offers online courses on Generative AI: Technology, Business, and Society Program. Each course takes 9-14 hours and a certificate is earned after completing 34 hours. The per-course fee is USD 995 and the all-access plan is USD 2,985. It covers technical fundamentals, business implications, and societal considerations.
There are other online courses and programs offered by Stanford for AI education. There are courses and programs under AI for Engineers and Technical Professionals such as Artificial Intelligence Professional Programs and Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate; AI for Business Professionals such as Generative AI: Technology, Business and Society, Mastering Generative AI for Product Innovation, Building an AI-enabled Organization; and AI for Professionals in Healthcare such as AI in Healthcare.
5. University of Washington
University of Washington’s Paul G Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering has many programs in AI ranging from undergraduate, and professional to graduate courses. In undergraduate, the School has Introduction to Artificial Intelligence. This course covers LISP; symbol manipulation; knowledge representation; logical and probabilistic reasoning; learning; language understanding; vision; expert systems; and social issues. There is a professional (evening) course too on AI which is an introduction to the tools and techniques in the industries. Utilization of certain tools such as expert systems, natural language interfaces, and machine learning interfaces.
At the Graduate level, there are courses called Artificial Intelligence and Explainable Artificial Intelligence. The former cover topics such as algorithms; data dependencies and truth maintenance systems; approaches to knowledge representation; automated deduction; reasoning under uncertainty; and machine learning. The latter course explores the features of attributions and their evaluation metrics for counterfactual explanations; concept-based explanations; instance explanations; and collaboration between humans and AI.
6. University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
The University offers an AI in Medicine Certificate program designed for healthcare professionals. It focuses on real-world medical cases and how AI can be applied to them through machine learning models. This is an online course divided into six modules: data and decisions; concepts of machine learning; deep learning; extending deep learning; deploying AI in practice; and real-world application of AI in medicine. The course has to be completed in 180 days and costs USD 750.
7. University of Texas-Austin (UT Austin)
UT Austin offers an online Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence. The curriculum of this program prepares students for a variety of industries such as engineering, medicine, finance, project management, etc. It is a 30-hour program that includes 3 hours of required courses and 27 hours of elective courses. The core topics covered are deep learning, ethics in AI, machine learning, planning, search, reasoning under uncertainty, and reinforcement learning. The total tuition fee is USD 10,000 and per course fee is USD 1,000.
8. University of Michigan
University of Michigan-Dearborn offers a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence. The core courses of the program will cover the foundations of computational learning; algorithm analysis and design; and software engineering. Students also have to choose courses from four concentrations consisting of computer vision; intelligent interaction; knowledge management and reasoning; and machine learning. The classes can be attended online, in-person, or a combination of both. The program duration is 1.5 years and the 1st year tuition fee is USD 31,136.
9. Colombia University
The University offers the Colombia Engineering Artificial Intelligence Certificate Program. It is an online executive certificate program that has to be completed in 18 months through 6 rigorous courses. There would be a 3-day in-person immersion experience in New York City consisting of working sessions, presentations, networking opportunities, and community-building events. The applicants must have programming experience with preference given to Java, C, or C++. The approximate cost for this program is USD 22,000.
Students can also learn AI through programs like BS in Computer Science, BS in Computer Engineering, BA in Computer Science and Mathematics, BA in Information Science, Minor in Computer Science, MS in Computer Science, and PhD in Computer Science.
10. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
UCLA’s Samueling School of Engineering offers a Master of Engineering in Artificial Intelligence. The program focuses on building algorithms that are capable of making complicated predictions and solving challenging problems. Students will learn to build smart machines competent in reasoning, learning, acting intelligently, and performing tasks equivalent to human intelligence. This is a 1-year full-time program and its tuition fee is USD 52,920.
11. University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
UPenn offers a BSE in Artificial Engineering jointly administered by the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering (ESE) and Computer and Information Science (CIS). The program provides a foundation in mathematical and algorithmic techniques of AI, hands-on experience in programming, and using AI tools and foundation models. Students also have to choose a concentration in machine learning, vision and language, data and society, robotics, AI, and health systems. The total academic cost for this program would be USD 92,288.
Students who have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field can apply for the MSE-AI online program. Some of the topics covered in this program are machine learning, natural language processing, and GPU programming for AI. Each course typically requires 15-18 hours per week. Per course unit tuition fee for this program is USD 3,500.
12. Harvard University
Harvard provides an Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate online program with on-campus options. It consists of a total of four courses and costs USD 13,360. The program helps students explore natural language processing and deep learning techniques and will understand the legal and ethical considerations of AI. The course has to be completed within three years.
Harvard Kennedy School offers a program called Leading in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technology and Policy. This program is suitable for senior-level leaders in corporate, public, and non-profit sectors involved in AI or ML product development, service delivery, or policymaking. This will be a 1-week course and will cost USD 11,200.
Harvard offers other courses such as Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python; Machine Learning and AI with Python; AI Ethics in Business; Artificial Intelligence in Business; Foundations of Data-Driven Decision Making with AI; Leveraging Multi-sided Platforms with AI for Business Leaders.
13. Duke University
Duke offers a Master of Engineering in Artificial Intelligence for Product Innovation. This degree can be completed online within 2 years or on-campus within 12-16 months. The program includes 4 technical AI/ML courses, 3 product development courses, and 3 technical electives. The students have to complete one industry project and an option between doing a summer internship or another industry project. The per year cost of attendance for the on-campus option would be USD 113,892 and for the online option, it would be USD 99,734.
Pratt School of Engineering offers another MEng. program in Artificial Intelligence. This also has on-campus and online options. It can be completed within 12 months. It includes a capstone project for real-world experience and making your own AI project portfolio. The core courses include Business Fundamentals for Engineers; Deep Learning Applications; Legal, Societal, and Ethical Implications of AI; Management of High-tech Industries; Modelling Process and Algorithms; Operationalizing AI; and Sourcing Data for Analytics.
14. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins’ Carey Business School offers an MS in Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence for Business. It is a STEM-designated 1-year program. It covers topics like machine learning; deep learning; generative AI; responsible AI; human-AI fusion; and AI development and business applications. The tuition fee for this program is USD 88,000.
The Whiting School of Engineering offers an MS in Artificial Intelligence which needs to be completed within 5 years. Its core courses are Introduction to Algorithms; algorithms for data science; applied machine learning; creating AI-enabled systems; and artificial intelligence. The annual tuition fee of this program is USD 64,730.
15. University of Southern California
The Department of Computer Science offers an MS in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) which provides rigorous training in machine learning, statistics, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics. It requires 32 units of coursework. The total tuition fee for this 2-year program is USD 84,923.
Application Requirements
Aspiring students often face problems when applying for AI programs in US universities. They often find it difficult to navigate through the complex application process and the competitive admission process of top universities. The admission requirements may vary slightly, but all the top AI programs demand strong academic credentials and other mandatory documents.
- For a Master’s, a bachelor’s degree in the STEM field is essential. In most of the Bachelor’s in AI degrees, basic science subjects in high school are required.
- Most universities require a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Some universities ask for GRE scores as well. English proficiency exams are compulsory for non-native English speakers in all US universities.
- Generally, 2-3 letters of recommendation (LOR) are required to support your application.
- A personal statement/statement of purpose (SOP)/essay explaining your motivation behind choosing the course and future goals is also asked by every US university.
- Lastly, you have to provide a comprehensive resume/CV.
Conclusion
Hope this blog has helped you in narrowing down your list of universities that could best fit your study abroad experience. To study in USA for AI specialization would be like an investment in the future of our world. The most renowned universities, with the most high-tech research facilities and strong industry connections, make the USA the best place for those whose goal is to be part of the future of AI. Taking help from professional study abroad consultants can ease your pathway to your dream. Contentholic’s study abroad consultants will be in every step of your admission process. If you need help with some other important documents such as SOP, LOR, or essays then our SOP Writing Services will guide you through the formats and content followed in these documents by the US universities. Our professional SOP writers have expertise in US university guidelines and can help you write tailored documents according to your needs. By taking the help of professionals you can increase your chances of getting an acceptance letter from your dream university.
