Top Colleges for Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in AI
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:
Featured Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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
Arizona State | Columbia University | California Institute of Technology | Carnegie Mellon University | Columbia | Cornell University | Georgia Institute of Technology | Harvard | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford | University of California, Berkeley | University of California, San Diego | University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign | University of Michigan – Ann Arbor | The University of Texas at Austin | University of Washington
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.
Featured Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology Programs
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.
Featured Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology Programs
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.
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