Top Colleges for Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in AI

Whether you want to be a machine engineer or a game developer, here's where you can kickstart your career by majoring in artificial intelligence.

Updated on April 4, 2024

Edited by

Learn more about our editorial process

Edited by

Updated on April 4, 2024

Learn more about our editorial process

www.bestcolleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Turn Your Dreams Into Reality

Take our quiz and we'll do the homework for you! Compare your school matches and apply to your top choice today.

Many colleges offer bachelor's degrees in artificial intelligence as standalone degrees or as computer science concentrations.
Most programs require students to take a balance of core technical courses, ethics courses, and advanced specialization courses based on their interests.
Students interested in pursuing a career in AI can also look for bachelor's degrees in computer science, software engineering, and data science.

Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to revolutionize nearly every major industry group, including healthcare, manufacturing, banking, real estate, marketing, and e-commerce.

And whether you want to perform AI research and development or simply take advantage of emerging AI tools and technology, AI proficiency will be vital for the future workforce.

Universities across the country offer bachelor's degrees, concentrations, tracks, and research opportunities in artificial intelligence to help prepare you for this rapidly growing field.

If that sounds exciting to you, check out our list of the best undergraduate programs in AI.

Colleges With Bachelor's Degrees in Artificial Intelligence

Brown University

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $59,254
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Total Student Enrollment: 6,792

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning Concentration

The computer science major at Brown offers a series of "pathways" for students to refine their knowledge in a specific topic, from robotics and security to artificial intelligence and machine learning. After building a foundation in the standard computer science track, students can select their pathway in AI to take courses in deep learning, image understanding, and algorithmic game theory.

Columbia University

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $57,864
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Total Student Enrollment: 8,148

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Intelligent Systems Track

At Columbia, students interested in majoring in artificial intelligence can enroll in the intelligent systems track in the computer science program. On top of taking classes specific to their interest in "human-like intelligence systems," students have the opportunity to write an undergraduate thesis and to get involved in advanced faculty research projects.

Students who are interested in pursuing research are strongly encouraged to attend the Computer Science Research Fair at the beginning of each semester.

Popular Online Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Carnegie Mellon University

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $57,560
Acceptance Rate: 17%
Total Student Enrollment: 6,622

Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence

CMU's School of Computer Science offered the nation's first bachelor's degree in artificial intelligence back in the fall of 2018.

On top of taking courses in computer science, math, statistics, computational modeling, machine learning, and symbolic computation, AI majors are also required to take a course in ethics and social responsibility. CMU also offers a minor and additional (double) major in AI for students who want to have a primary major in a different subject.

California Institute of Technology

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $54,570
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Total Student Enrollment: 901

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Machine Learning Track

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.

Cornell University

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $58,586
Acceptance Rate: 11%
Total Student Enrollment: 14,743

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Research in Artificial Intelligence

Students studying computer science at Cornell have the opportunity to research artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics in an independent study course.

The Computer Science Department at Cornell has been studying AI since the 1990's, and has several research groups that students can get involved in, including an AI, Ethics, and Policy group and a Game and Decision Theory group.

Georgia Institute of Technology

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $10,258
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $31,370
Acceptance Rate: 21%
Total Student Enrollment: 16,561

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Intelligence Thread

Within the Georgia Tech College of Computing, students can customize their degree in computer science with different "threads," including intelligence, devices, people, or media. In the intelligence thread, students learn "top-to-bottom computational models of intelligence" by taking courses in data structures and algorithms and game AI.

Indiana University

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $9,815
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $36,194
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Total Student Enrollment: 32,986

Bachelor of Arts in Artificial Intelligence

Indiana's School of Informatics and Computing and School of Science offers a bachelor of arts degree in artificial intelligence, where students can earn their degrees on campus or online. Students can also use internship opportunities as a part of earning their degree.

AI majors will earn Rasa Al Assistant Developer and Cocohub certifications and be better prepared for careers such as user experience (UX) engineer or bot developer.

Illinois Institute of Technology

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $48,610
Acceptance Rate: 61%
Total Student Enrollment: 3,122

Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence

Illinois Tech's AI program highlights the overlap of computational and human sciences and the ethical demands that the field requires. Students will first build a technical foundation in programming, computer science, math, and statistics; then, they will master a subfield through advanced electives.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $53,450
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Total Student Enrollment: 4,361

Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making

At MIT, the artificial intelligence and decision making major is under the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), where students take core subjects and then bolster their specific interests throughout their undergraduate careers.

Students must take courses from five different subject areas: data-centric, model-centric, decision-centric, computation-centric, and human-centric. MIT offers machine learning, computer graphics, and robotic manipulation classes, just to name a few.

Purdue University

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $9,208
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $28,010
Acceptance Rate: 67%
Total Student Enrollment: 35,706

Bachelor of Arts in Artificial Intelligence

Purdue officially added artificial intelligence to their list of majors in fall 2022. At Purdue, the artificial intelligence major is under the liberal arts curriculum, which includes three main types of courses: major, core, and elective. On top of foundational and advanced computer and data science courses, students must also take philosophy, diversity, and foreign language credits.

Stanford University

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $55,473
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Total Student Enrollment: 6,366

Bachelor of Science in Symbolic Systems, Concentration in Artificial Intelligence

The symbolic systems program at Stanford "brings together students and faculty interested in different aspects of the human-computer relationship." Students in the program must identify a concentration to focus on, from computer music to artificial intelligence. Students must submit a course plan once they decide which concentration they want to pursue.

AI-approved courses include introduction to robotics, natural language understanding, and mining massive data sets.

University of California, San Diego

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $11,442
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $41,196
Acceptance Rate: 37%
Total Student Enrollment: 31,842

Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science, Specialization in Machine Learning and Neural Computation

At UC San Diego, students can specialize in machine learning and neural computation through the cognitive science major program.

The specialization is intended for behavioral science majors interested in mathematical approaches to modeling cognition or building cognitive systems, and students can take electives in neural networks, artificial intelligence, and computer science, along with other major requirements.

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $14,317
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $33,824
Acceptance Rate: 63%
Total Student Enrollment: 33,683

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Intelligence and Big Data Focus

After taking foundational math and science courses and core technical computer science courses in their first two years, computer science majors take advanced technical courses in a single focus area of their choosing, including intelligence and big data.

Faculty at the university are very involved in AI research, with research groups in deep learning, natural language processing, and robotics.

University of Maryland

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $8,824
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $34,936
Acceptance Rate: 51%
Total Student Enrollment: 30,875

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Specialization in Machine Learning

Students pursuing a specialization in machine learning at the University of Maryland are required to complete all lower-level courses in the computer science major, plus upper level courses from three of five areas, including systems, information processing, software engineering and programming languages, theory, and numerical analysis.

Before applying, students should know that this is a limited enrollment program, so there is a more competitive admissions process beyond the university's general admission.

University of Michigan

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $16,520
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $53,669
Acceptance Rate: 26%
Total Student Enrollment: 31,329

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in the College of Literature, Science, and Arts (LSA), Artificial Intelligence Track

At the University of Michigan, students getting their BS in computer science can pursue a specialized track in artificial intelligence.

Computer science majors have plenty of opportunities to get involved beyond just studying for their classes, including writing an honors thesis, conducting an independent study, becoming an instructional aid, or mentoring as a peer advisor. In their final year, students in the computer science major will take a capstone course to put their technical skills into practice.

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $13,318
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $31,616
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Total Student Enrollment: 36,601

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Specialization in Artificial Intelligence/ Robotics

Students in the bachelor of science in computer science at UMN need 23 credits of upper-level electives from one of 15 different areas of study, including artificial intelligence/robotics. The area focuses on physical systems — like robots — or virtual systems. It includes topics such as learning and prediction, discovery of patterns in data, and control of complex systems under uncertainty.

University of Pennsylvania

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $53,166
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Total Student Enrollment: 11,155

Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science, Concentration in Artificial Intelligence

For students pursuing a degree in computer and information sciences, concentrations are optional, and students can only opt into having one concentration. The University describes the concentrations as similar to a minor, except instead of pursuing another line of study, the concentration is a subarea of the major. To concentrate in artificial intelligence, students must take four AI-related courses on top of their regular coursework.

University of Southern California

Format: On Campus
Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $59,260
Acceptance Rate: 16%
Total Student Enrollment: 19,786

Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business

USC's artificial intelligence for business degree is offered by the Marshall School of Business and the Viterbi School of Engineering to give students a strong foundation in both subjects.

Students are required to take 42 units of business requirements and 36 units of artificial intelligence requirements for the major, along with two ethics courses and general education requirements.

The University of Texas at Austin

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $11,448
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $40,032
Acceptance Rate: 32%
Total Student Enrollment: 40,048

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Concentration in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

At UT Austin, students majoring in computer science can graduate with a concentration in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Students in the concentration will study topics like computer vision, deep learning, and knowledge acquisition and representation.

To qualify for the concentration, students must take two foundation courses — artificial intelligence (honors) and introduction to data mining (honors) — and three elective courses.

University of Washington, Seattle

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $10,629
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $37,998
Acceptance Rate: 56%
Total Student Enrollment: 32,224

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Specialization in Robotics and Control Systems

Computer Science students can pursue a number of different specializations at the University of Washington, from data mining to robotics and control systems. The robotics and control systems specialization is intended for students interested in artificial intelligence, machine learning, optimal control, and state estimation.

The University of Washington recommends that on top of their coursework, students should also focus on putting their studies into practice with quality internships, capstone projects, or research opportunities.

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Format: On Campus
Avg. In-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $8,091
Avg. Out-of-State Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $19,956
Acceptance Rate: 79%
Total Student Enrollment: 20,056

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Specialization in Artificial Intelligence

Students majoring in computer science at the UWM can specialize in several areas, including in artificial intelligence, data mining, and machine learning.

Students interested in the school should investigate their diversity in tech education scholarships, including the Anu and Satya Nadella Scholarship for students who are pursuing degrees in computer science, computer engineering, data science, or information technology.

Frequently Asked Questions About AI Degrees

Which Degree Is Best for AI?

The best degree depends on a students' individual career goals. For students who want a baseline of technical skills, research opportunities, and specialized coursework in AI, a bachelor's degree could be the ticket.

However, many employers may prefer job candidates with an advanced degree in the field. A master's degree in AI may be sufficient for many careers in the tech industry, while research-intensive and academic careers in AI may require a Ph.D.

A Ph.D. in artificial intelligence is the highest awarded degree in the field, giving students the opportunity to become AI experts. However, the opportunity cost of earning a Ph.D. is high, taking up to six years to finish.

Are AI Degrees In Demand?

The field of artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, making a degree in AI that much more in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for artificial intelligence-related roles, including computer and information research scientists and software developers, will outpace the average rate of growth for all other occupations over the next decade.

What College Majors Offer Courses in AI?

Students interested in learning about artificial intelligence — but who are not necessarily interested in degrees specifically tailored to AI — could also pursue bachelor's degrees in computer science, software engineering, data science, mathematics, information systems, and computer programming. These majors may offer AI-specific courses, concentrations, and research opportunities.

Non-STEM majors interested in learning more about AI shouldn't fear. Some universities, including the University of Southern California, are offering artificial intelligence courses to humanities-based majors to increase AI literacy across different departments.

Is a Degree in AI Hard?

Artificial intelligence is a challenging but rewarding field, drawing from several complex and interrelated fields of study, such as mathematics, computer science, statistics, and even neuroscience. A strong analytical and problem-solving mindset, along with dedication and perseverance, are qualities that can help students succeed in their AI careers.