Best AI Degrees of 2026

Why We Chose This Program

Florida International University (FIU) stands out for offering two AI bachelor’s degrees at a lower price than at other public universities we evaluated. 

Florida residents paid about $3,200 in tuition and fees per semester in the 2025-26 academic year, while nonresidents paid about $10,100. By comparison, the University of South Florida, another public school we considered, charges nearly double for residents at $6,400 and $18,400 for nonresidents.

Beyond cost, FIU's AI degrees align with diverse career goals. The BS in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence might interest you if you want to work directly with AI models. The BS in Applied AI and Internet of Things (IoT) might be a better fit if you want to build wearable health devices, smart cars, robotics, and more.

More to Know About FIU

• FIU covers full tuition and fees for Florida residents with the highest level of financial need determined by the FAFSA.
• FIU's minor in artificial intelligence may be a good option for learning AI skills while majoring in other fields like mechanical engineering or computer science.
• FIU is a top research university, and AI students can learn from faculty, participate in labs, and complete research-based or faculty-supervised projects.

Why We Chose This Program

Northeastern University’s BS in Artificial Intelligence could be a great fit if you’re interested in AI but don’t want it to be your only focus. This combined major pairs AI coursework with one of 24 other fields, including biology, business administration, criminal justice, psychology, and public health.

This flexibility is especially useful if you have a specific career goal. For example, you could choose the BS in Artificial Intelligence and Business Administration if you want to integrate machine learning with business strategy, operations, and analytics.

However, because combined majors blend two fields into one program, they may not include all of the same courses as two separate majors would. With this in mind, you should review the curriculum carefully to ensure the program offers enough depth to match your academic and career goals.

More to Know About Northeastern

• Northeastern reports that 97% of bachelor's students are employed or continuing their education within nine months of graduating, compared to 86% of graduates nationwide in six months.
• Northeastern is well known for its co-op educational program, where most students gain work experience before graduation at one of over 4,000 co-op employer partners worldwide, including companies like Amazon, Google, and Tesla.
• If you qualify for need-based aid, the school can help cover the gap between its total cost of attendance and what it calculates your family can afford.

Why We Chose This Program

Purdue University’s College of Liberal Arts AI degree stands out for its focus on understanding how AI works while also examining its effects on people, society, ethics, communication, and decision-making.

That makes the program a strong option for students interested in AI but not necessarily a traditional, computer science-heavy path. Instead, this degree may appeal to those who want to explore AI’s ethical implications, its role in society, and how the technology can be marketed, managed, governed, or applied in ways that affect people and institutions.

Like most bachelor’s degrees, this one typically takes four years of full-time study to complete. However, Purdue's Degree in 3 is an accelerated pathway that allows students to complete summer coursework and graduate in just three years. This can be an excellent option for students who want to save time, reduce overall college costs, or enter the workforce sooner.

More to Know About Purdue

• Purdue also offers a BS in Artificial Intelligence through the College of Science. It focuses more on building AI systems with coursework in machine learning, reasoning, decision-making, programming, and data.
• Purdue’s Degree Plus option allows you to earn the liberal arts AI degree alongside another degree, like STEM or business, without the added time or cost.
• Purdue’s Boiler Gold Grant — available to  eligible Indiana residents — covers tuition, fees, and estimated book costs remaining after grants and scholarships.

Why We Chose This Program

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is the only school among the 20 we evaluated that offers a fully online bachelor’s degree in AI. Its Bachelor of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence (BSAAI) is asynchronous, meaning students can complete coursework online without logging in for weekly live classes.

Compared with engineering-focused AI degrees, UT Knoxville’s online program puts more emphasis on using AI in workplace settings. Students still learn the building blocks of AI, but the program's three concentrations — applied computing, leadership studies, and technical communication — center on working with data, communicating technical ideas, and applying AI to organizational problems.

More to Know About UT Knoxville

• To enroll in this program, you must have at least one transfer credit hour earned after high school graduation. This means you can’t enroll if you’re a first-time college student coming straight from high school. 
• Online students get access to Vols Study 24/7, a free academic support platform that offers live and asynchronous tutoring in more than 150 subjects. You also get up to five hours of live, one-on-one tutoring with a subject expert per semester.
• Online students also get free mental health support through Telus Health Student Support, as well as academic advising, writing support, library resources, career services, and student success support.

Why We Chose This Program

The University of Pennsylvania offers the only Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) in Artificial Intelligence among the programs we evaluated. It is also the first BSE in AI offered by an Ivy League university, setting it apart for its engineering-focused coursework and prestige.

At Penn, you'll study programming, algorithms, and machine learning coursework, as well as engineering topics such as signals and systems, optimization, and control. This combination can prepare you to create AI models and software that work with real-world technology, such as sensors, robots, and smart machines. 

While the other programs on our list —  all Bachelor of Science programs — can include engineering coursework and lead to similar careers, Penn stands out for offering a more defined engineering path from the start.

More to Know About Penn

• You can also choose from three optional concentration options: machine learning, robotics, and vision and language.
• If your family earns under $75,000, Penn may cover your tuition, fees, housing, and dining. You may also qualify for extra benefits, including dedicated financial aid counseling, health insurance, and laptop funding, and up to $5,000 for summer internships or research programs.
• For families earning up to $200,000 with typical assets, Penn covers at least full tuition, and often more.