How hard is an artificial intelligence degree?

Many students find computer science classes and AI difficult, but whether or not you consider studying AI "hard" will depend on your skills, the classes you previously took, and your specific school.

How many years does it take to study AI?

Generally, studying AI at the undergraduate level will take about four years to finish your degree. However, you will have to study longer to earn an AI-related master's or doctorate.

What is the average salary of an AI graduate?

While AI-specific degrees are too new to have much data about them, the average salary of a computer information and research scientist can be estimated at around $145,080, per the BLS.

What is the highest-paying job in AI?

Salaries vary from job to job, even among jobs with the same title, but one of the highest-paying AI jobs is AI Product Manager, with Glassdoor reporting average salaries over $190,000.

Top Colleges for Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in AI

Updated on May 24, 2024

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Artificial Intelligence is making waves across the field of computer science. Read on to learn how you can study AI at top colleges.

Whether it’s in the world of gaming, art, or even politics, artificial intelligence (AI) has been making a lot of headlines lately. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), working with AI is a hot opportunity, with data science jobs set to grow by 35% over the next decade.

But learning how to work with artificial intelligence is more than just getting good at prompting ChatGPT– which is why more and more colleges are offering opportunities to study it. So, do you want an artificial intelligence degree? And if so, where should you apply? Let’s have a look:

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Is an Artificial Intelligence Degree Worth It?

Artificial intelligence is a field that’s been expanding rapidly, and employers are well aware of it. This means a degree that either focuses on artificial intelligence, or one in a related field — computer science, computer engineering, or data science — where you build and eventually show off your AI skills, will make you highly competitive on the job market.

While it is possible to earn a certificate in AI, having worked with AI in college is more likely to demonstrate a deeper understanding of it.

However, whether the degree is “worth it” is ultimately up to you. Don’t just consider the job market. Consider your personal interest in both studying AI and working with it over your career before you decide on an AI-related bachelor’s degree program. If you’re passionate about technology and its boldest new frontier, this might be the field for you!

Universities With Artificial Intelligence Bachelor’s Degrees

The following tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment data were sourced from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and correspond to the 2021-22 academic year.

Arizona State University at Tempe

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $28,800
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $10,710
Acceptance Rate: 88%
Total Student Enrollment: 78,000

Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University offers a variety of undergraduate degree options with applications relevant to AI through their School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence. In majors like computer science and computer systems engineering, you can pursue AI-related classes as part of your degree. Online study may be available.

Students are also given plenty of opportunities for research through the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program.

California Institute of Technology

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $56,364
Acceptance Rate: 4%
Total Student Enrollment: 2,000

Pasadena, CA

At CalTech, students have considerable flexibility when selecting courses in the computer science major. After taking a series of core classes in programming, algorithms and complexity, and computing systems, students can go down different “tracks” for advanced courses in different topic areas, including robotics or machine learning.

Students are also given plenty of opportunities for research through the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program.

Carnegie Mellon University

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $57,560
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Total Student Enrollment: 15,000

Pittsburgh, PA

The BS in Artificial Intelligence at Carnegie Mellon University, first introduced in 2018, is the first bachelor’s degree in AI in the country. Not only does this program teach you how to convert data into actionable decisions, but it also has a strong emphasis on the ethics and philosophy of AI and how it can be used for good.

Columbia University

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $59,450
Acceptance Rate: 4%
Total Student Enrollment: 34,000

New York, NY

Columbia University’s intensive AI research programs are accessible for undergrad computer science majors through the school’s Department of Computer Science. You can explore which AI research faculty are most relevant to your interest and work with them in classes or labs.

Cornell University

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $60,286
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Total Student Enrollment: 26,000

Ithaca, NY

Cornell University’s Department of Computer Science is a pioneering department for AI research, and the CS faculty has been leading AI studies since the 1990s. As a computer science major at Cornell, you’ll have the opportunity to work with faculty whose specialties include machine learning, language processing, robotics, and more.

Georgia Institute of Technology

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $31,370
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $10,258
Acceptance Rate: 16%
Total Student Enrollment: 44,000

Atlanta, GA

Georgia Tech’s specialized ‘threads” are a way outside of traditional majors for undergraduates to learn different aspects of computing. Georgia Tech’s School of Interactive Computing offers AI-related courses in three different threads — intelligence, people, and devices. These threads are where you will find introductory AI courses, machine learning, and more.

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Harvard University

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $51,143
Acceptance Rate: 4%
Total Student Enrollment: 31,000

Cambridge, MA

Harvard University has a particularly strong program in Generative AI research, and undergraduates can take advantage of this. Not only can you attend lectures and events at the Kempner Institute for AI, but Harvard encourages the ethical use of AI tools in all fields of study.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $55,510
Acceptance Rate: 4%
Total Student Enrollment: 12,000

Cambridge, MA

The Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making at MIT is an advanced computer science major with an emphasis on machine learning and algorithm design. You will also need to complete an intensive communication course, either in oral communication or a course in advanced research techniques.

Stanford University

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $55,473
Acceptance Rate: 4%
Total Student Enrollment: 18,000

Stanford, CA

Students majoring in Symbolic Systems at Stanford have the opportunity to choose a concentration. As of 202, Symbolic Systems majors who have completed relevant core requirements, including at least one AI course and a programming requirement, may declare a concentration in AI with advisors in computer science, psychology, and linguistics.

University of California, Berkeley

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $41,196
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $11,442
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Total Student Enrollment: 45,000

Berkeley, CA

If you’re a Berkeley student interested in AI, you can study the BS in Data Science. This degree requires you to study machine learning, one of the building blocks of artificial intelligence, as well as declare a “domain” where you will go deeper into one aspect of how data science is used, such as for communication or mathematical modeling.

University of California, San Diego

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $41,196
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $11,442
Acceptance Rate: 34%
Total Student Enrollment: 42,000

San Diego, CA

Students at the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego, whatever their engineering field major, have the opportunity to take courses on artificial intelligence. You can choose from introductory courses in machine learning and data science or advanced courses on deep learning, natural language, and more.

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $34,444
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $14,446
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Total Student Enrollment: 57,000

Champaign, IL

With a BS in computer science at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, you will have the opportunity to work with their AI Research Group. This group, which specializes in machine learning and computer vision, offers not only seminars, but chances to meet with AI experts from around the world at lecture series.

University of Michigan

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $54,769
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $16,865
Acceptance Rate: 20%
Total Student Enrollment: 50,000

Ann Arbor, MI

Engineering majors at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, whatever your field, have the opportunity to incorporate AI-related classes in their undergraduate studies. AI is just one of several “themes” offered by the School of Engineering, and if you choose it, you can apply it to your specific field of engineering in a tailored form.

The University of Texas at Austin

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $40,996
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $40,996
Acceptance Rate: 29%
Total Student Enrollment: 52,000

Austin, TX

The Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Concentration at the University of Texas at Austin is an optional, additional 12-credit qualification in addition to your major. The courses available include computer vision, natural language processing, robotics, machine learning, deep learning, and knowledge acquisition and representation. You can graduate on time, even with the additional work.

University of Washington, Seattle

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $10,927
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $38,757
Acceptance Rate: 53%
Total Student Enrollment: 52,000

Seattle, WA

Students at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington have a variety of opportunities to study AI. Computer science majors can choose courses that include multiple courses introducing the foundations of artificial intelligence, as well as courses in machine learning and computer vision.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Artificial Intelligence Degrees

Working in AI can be very well paid. According to Talent.com, the average salary to work in AI is over $150,000, with even entry-level AI jobs offering salaries above six figures.