This is a ranking of the best AI colleges offering bachelor's, master's, PhDs and certificate programs. These include on-campus and online degrees, and also factors in AI-related labs and research centers at colleges and universities across the U.S.
AI is also known as Machine Learning, and is a discipline within Computer Science. Students learn AI with the aid of computer labs at many of these institutions. AI is also studied in Robotics degrees, teaching graduates how to create robots that can reason and perform intelligent tasks.
Each entry mentions AI degrees, labs and/or opportunities for learning, building, and testing AI and machine learning models.
What is learned at an AI college?
AI is involved in a broad range of domains. AI is conceptual, such as describing qualities and understanding meanings in different contexts.
AI understands language using speech recognition, natural language processing, and neural machine translation.
It uses convolutional neural networks in understanding visual images.
AI occurs when computers are doing things most like human intelligence. This includes decision making.
AI is the function behind the language learning model Chat GPT. If you use Chat GPT to generate content, and you want to check to see if it's detectable by an AI text detector, I highly recommend Originality.ai (sponsored), which is 95% accurate at detecting AI generated content.
The Top AI Colleges for Artificial Intelligence Degrees & Certificates
Carnegie Mellon University
School of Computer Science
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The School of Computer Science has a groundbreaking program in Artificial Intelligence. It was the first to offer a Bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence in the U.S. (starting in 2018).
CMU offers two Artificial Intelligence Degrees:
- BS in Artificial Intelligence (BSAI)
- MS in Artificial Intelligence and Innovation (MSAII)
The BS in Artificial Intelligence (BSAI) is interdisciplinary. Instructors are from various departments and institutes. These include:
- Computer Science Department
- Human-Computer Interaction Institute
- Institute for Software Research
- Language Technologies Institute
- Machine Learning Department
- Robotics Institute
Course offerings:
- Math and Statistic Core (6 classes)
- Computer Science Core (6 classes)
- Ethics Elective (1 class)
- Artificial Intelligence Core (4 classes)
- AI Cluster Electives (4 classes)
- Humanities and Arts (7 classes)
- Science and Engineering (4 classes)
The MS in Artificial Intelligence and Innovation (MSAII) is offered through the Language Technologies Institute. It is an interdisciplinary program. Instructors are from various departments, including:
- School of Computer Science
- Computer Science Department
- Machine Learning Department
- Institute for Software Research
Degree program breakdown:
- 192 eligible units of study
- 84 units of Core Curriculum (including a 36-unit Capstone)
- 72 units of Knowledge Requirements
- 36 units of approved Electives
Professor Tuomas Sandholm and Ph.D. student Noam Brown developed the Libratus program. This program has beaten professional No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em poker players. Many take part in the DARPA Robotics Challenge.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts
MIT was founded in 1861 in response to the growing industrial needs of America. As a result, the majority of instruction offered at MIT is technology based. Many are related to the study of Artificial Intelligence.
In 1959 the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory began its own research and experimentation. In 1963 the Laboratory for Computer Science was opened. As the projects became more interconnected, the two labs merged in 2003.
The result was the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. This is the largest and most prominent of the MIT laboratories.
Degree in AI:
- BS in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence research and course work opportunities
Currently there are more than 100 senior researchers and faculty members representing eight academic departments.
In total there are over 1,000 members of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. All research and experimentation falls under three categories: Artificial Intelligence, Systems, and Theory.
Related Course in AI:
- Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy (self-paced, online)
Offered through the MIT Sloan School of Management and the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). This is an online collaborative program that’s handled through GetSmarter. This course teaches the business aspects of how to capitalize on and manage Artificial Intelligence applications. It is not a course for learning the technical aspects of AI.
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
In 1847 Harvard University opened the Lawrence Scientific School as its firs effort to provide education in engineering and the sciences. Over time, this effort grew into the current John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, established in 2007.
This school now has 76 tenured faculty members and more than 1,300 students in attendance. The study of Computer Science itself is available to undergraduates through doctoral candidates. Students enrolled in the program are encouraged to engage with the Harvard College Engineering Society. This engagement allows cross disciplinary research and networking opportunities.
Related Programs and Courses in AI:
- Online Professional Certificate in Computer Science for Artificial Intelligence (in collaboration with edX)
- Online Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python
- Online Data Science: Machine Learning
- Online Introduction to Deep Learning
- Online Text Analytics and Natural Language Processing
Research:
- Institute for Applied Computational Science
- Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering
Artificial Intelligence, Computational Linguistics, Machine Learning, Multi-agent Systems, and Robotics are researched by faculty members.
The National Science Foundation Awarded Harvard and MIT $25M to build the Center for Brains, Minds, and Machines.
The Future Society at Harvard’s Kennedy School created The AI Initiative, which is another research center.
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
Alan Perlis joined Yale University in the early 1970’s and helped found the Department of Computer Science. At that time there were only four main areas of study: Theory of Computation, Artificial Intelligence, Numerical Analysis, and Systems. In honor of Perlis’ contributions, the Alan J. Perlis Symposium has been held annually since 1992.
Today the department prides itself on the interdisciplinary nature of its subject. This includes subjects such as psychology, linguistics, music, medicine, and others. Degrees offered include Bachelor of Science or Art degrees, a terminal Master of Science, and a Doctor of Philosophy.
Degrees in AI:
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence research focus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence research focus
- Master of Science in Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence research focus
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence research focus
At Yale, research is carried out in the Intelligent Computing Lab and The Center for Computational Vision and Control. The research here particularly focuses on equipping machines so that they can interpret the vague data received from sensors. This research is critical for enabling AI to interact with the 3 dimensional world.
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
Cornell University has one of the oldest Computer Science departments in the United States, established in 1965. The department has grown to include nearly 40 full-time faculty members. The student body includes more than 250 graduates and approximately 700 undergraduates.
The department maintains 12 major avenues of research in areas such as Graphics, Programming Languages, Robotics, Scientific Computing, and Artificial Intelligence. Research groups specific to Artificial Intelligence are working in areas that include:
- Computational sustainability
- Game and decision theory, connections to economics
- Knowledge representation and reasoning
- Machine learning
- Natural language processing, computational linguistics and information retrieval
- Robotics
- Vision
Degrees in AI:
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence research
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence research
- Master of Engineering in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence research
- Master of Science in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence research
- PhD in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence research
Students and faculty also have access to the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Computer Science at the University of Pennsylvania can trace its roots back to the study of engineering in 1850. In 1946 researchers at UPenn developed the world’s first electronic, large-scale, general purpose digital computer. This development brought global recognition to the field and school.
In 1979 the College of Engineering and Applied Science became the current School of Engineering and Applied Science. This School manages the department of Computer Science and Information.
Degrees in AI:
- Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Specialized Degree Program in in Computer and Cognitive Science: Artificial Intelligence
- Master of Science in Engineering in Robotics with a Specialization in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
UPenn has continued to develop the field of Computer Science through:
- Institute for Research in Cognitive Science in 1990
- Center for Human Modeling and Simulation in 1994
- Penn Research in Embedded Computing and Integrated Systems Engineering Center in 2008
- SIG Center for Computer Graphics in 2009
- Warren Center for Data and Network Sciences in 2014
Artificial Intelligence Labs:
- General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception (GRASP) Lab
- Penn Research in Machine Learning
- Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging Lab
University of Georgia
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Athens, Georgia
The first Artificial Intelligence group at the University of Georgia was formed in 1984. These researchers, include faculty members from the departments of Computer Science, Philosophy, Psychology, Linguistics, and Engineering.
The Artificial Intelligence Center was formally established in 1995. In 2006 the Center became a part of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. In 2008 this became the Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
Today the Institute is affiliated with more than 75 faculty members and researchers from more than 10 countries.
There are two major academic programs offered:
- Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence
- PhD in Artificial Intelligence
The Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program has 11 areas of specialization, including:
- Genetic Algorithms
- Cognitive Modeling
- Microelectronics
- Logic Programming
- Robotics
The Doctor of Philosophy in Artificial Intelligence required courses:
- Deductive Systems
- Data Mining or Machine Learning
- Artificial Intelligence
- Faculty Research Seminar
- Ethics and Artificial Intelligence
These individual programs can be waived for students that have a Master's in AI or a related subject, such as Machine Learning. Waived credits can be made up for by Doctorate research, or within the dissertation. In addition to the credit requirements above, students take 6 elective courses.
The Institute for Artificial Intelligence houses the Evolutionary Computation and Machine Learning Lab, Heterogenous Robotics (HeRo) Lab, and the THINC Lab.
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The department continues to offer degrees at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Areas included are data visualization/imaging, algorithms, software engineering, and artificial intelligence. Affiliated with the department is the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center. Opened in 1986, this center is operated as a joint effort with Carnegie Mellon University.
Also affiliated with the department is the Intelligent Systems Program. This graduate level track offers a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence degree with the option to specialize in biomedical informatics.
AI Degrees:
- MS in Intelligent Systems
- Doctor of Philosophy in Intelligent Systems
Groups directly under the management of this program include:
- Natural Language Processing and Information Retrieval group
- Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Educational Technology group
- Artificial Intelligence and Law group
- Machine Learning and Decision Making group
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, Texas
SMU, in Dallas, Texas, offers the Online Master of Science in Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence Specialization. This degree teaches data mining, machine learning, and cloud computing. GRE waivers may be available to qualifying students.
This program is available to online students 24/7, night and day. Online students can participate in weekly sessions to visit face-to-face (online, virtually) with professors. There is effectively no difference with on-campus programs with respect to instructor access.
Credits: 30 total
Courses include:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning in Python
- Computer Architecture
- Algorithm Engineering
This program has multiple start dates throughout the year.
University of San Diego
Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering
San Diego, California
The online Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence is offered within the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering.
This program intends on teaching students how to create autonomous decision making intelligence. This includes applying artificial intelligence to fields such as computer vision, text analysis, and robotics.
Program length: 20 months (five semesters)
Credits required: 30 credits
Online students study in these three domains
- 6 credits: Fundamentals & Introductory Topics
- 21 credits: Technical Aspects of Artificial Intelligence
- 3 credits: Artificial Intelligence Capstone Final Project
This program is Applied Artificial Intelligence. This means that it has a focus on using AI for industrial and business purposes, nested within an ethical framework.
Colorado State University-Global Campus
Aurora, Colorado
CSU Global offers an online Master of Science degree in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The program requires students to have a background in Discrete Mathematics and Statistics.
Throughout the degree students learn core requirements such as programming and software development. The curriculum also emphasizes deep-learning libraries.
One example of this is Tensorflow leading to proficiency in Python. Students gain practical applications of how these technologies assist various industries such as:
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Oil/Gas
- Automotive
Graduates of the program have careers such as:
- Intelligence or Interaction Designer
- Systems Analyst
- Software Developer
- AI or Machine Learning Scientist/Engineer
Credit requirements: 30 credits
Selection of required courses:
- Principles of Programming
- Management for the Computer Science Professional
- Principles of Software Development
- Design and Analysis of Algorithms
- Principles of Machine Learning
- Applying Machine Learning and Neural Networks – Capstone
Online instruction style: Asynchronous
Columbia University in the City of New York
Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
New York, New York
The online Artificial Intelligence (AI) executive certificate program offers six challenging courses to help you develop technological proficiency and the ability to address intricate problems while crafting inventive solutions.
The program guarantees a scholarship of up to $4K to candidates accepted into the cohort who are enrolled in the online course. This program is good for working professionals, and can be completed part-time, with a duration of 18 months.
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and edX offer a MicroMasters program. This is the first certificate program of its kind.
Degrees and Programs in AI:
- Online Artificial Intelligence Executive Certificate program
- ColumbiaX MicroMasters Program in Artificial Intelligence (offered online)
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
- Bachelor in Computer Science and Mathematics
- Bachelor of Arts in Information Science
- Minor/Concentration in Computer Science
- Master of Computer Science
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
This MicroMasters in Artificial Intelligence is comprised of four courses:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Robotics
- Computer Animation.
The course work in the MicroMasters makes up 25% of the coursework in the Master’s program in Computer Science.
The Computer Science department offers 10 fields of study related to Artificial Intelligence. These include NLP and Speech, Vision and Robotics, and Machine Learning. Extensive faculty comprise the Artificial Intelligence Research Focus.
Advancements include professor Ken Chung’s new app for improving the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia
The online MS in Applied Information Technology (AIT) program teaches the knowledge and skills needed to lead multidisciplinary teams and support IT strategic initiatives successfully.
The program covers a broad range of IT fields, including Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Intelligence Methods, Natural Language Processing, and IT Management.
Students learn how to justify, design, develop, manage, and sustain mega-systems while gaining practical experience in day-to-day IT challenges.
The online MS in Applied Information Technology program offers three tracks, with concentrations in Machine Learning Engineering, Cyber Security, and Data Analytics & Intelligence Methods.
The Machine Learning Engineering concentration explores data science techniques to address real-world problems. In this track, you will learn how to choose, adapt, optimize, and design machine learning algorithms for various applications.
The Cyber Security concentration focuses on addressing the most complex security challenges facing society today, with a 100% online curriculum that uses scholarship, academic research, and industry best practices in the field of cyber security.
The Data Analytics & Intelligence Methods concentration provides various methods for converting data into decisions across different contexts. The curriculum covers techniques to handle scarce to big data, factual to probabilistic data, statistical methods to data mining, and intelligence methods.
The Fast Track option is available for Mason Engineering alumni who graduated with a 3.0 or better overall GPA, or current Mason Engineering undergraduates within one semester of graduation with a 3.0 or better GPA. The final 3.0 or better GPA in the BS must be confirmed before the first course registration.
Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois
Lewis University offers a comprehensive Computer Science degree with several concentration options including:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cyber Security
- Digital Forensics
- Enterprise and Cloud Computing
- Software Engineering
The online Master of Science in Computer Science degree with Artificial Intelligence concentration is excellent for students interested in machine learning. Students gain experience in designing and implementing computing systems that collect and respond to information.
The curriculum requires:
- One core research course
- Six concentration courses
- Three electives courses
- One Master’s Thesis course
Students complete Master’s projects in areas such as:
- Lighting systems
- Energy grid systems that are automatic
- Remote controlled or automatic appliances
- Monitoring home security systems
Credit requirements: 33 credits
Selection of courses:
- Statistical Programming
- Robotics
- Machine Learning
- Artificial Intelligence 1 and 2
- Natural Language Processing
Online instruction style: Asynchronous aspects within an eight-week class format
Program length: As little as one year
The University of Texas at Austin
College of Natural Sciences
Austin, Texas
One of the largest colleges of science in America is the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas. Founded in 1970, there are more than 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and 700 faculty members. The 11 departments of the College include Neuroscience, Marine Science, Integrative Biology, and Computer Science.
Related Degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science Teaching in Computer Science
- Integrated Bachelor and Master of Science degree in Computer Science
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Concentration in all undergraduate programs. Artificial Intelligence research focus is offered for undergraduates and graduate programs, with extensive coursework for both.
Research groups affiliated with the AI concentration include:
- Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
- Machine Learning Research Group
- Data Mining Laboratory
- Knowledge-Base Research Group
- Learning Agents Research Group
- Neural Networks Research Group
- Texas Action Group
- The UT Austin Villa Robot Soccer Team
- Computer Vision Research Group
- Virtual Reality Lab
Research:
- Computer Science include Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- Computer Architecture
- Model Driven Engineering
- Theoretic Computer Science
Artificial Intelligence is addressed through Automatic Programming, Autonomous Agents, Multi-agent Systems, and Natural Language Processing. Over 20 courses are available with more than 10 research laboratories and groups.
The AI Laboratory was formally established in 1983. The field was already being investigated prior to that by Woody Bledsoe and Bob Simmons. Currently, there are seven faculty members and approximately 50 doctoral students managing the AI laboratory.
Projects include:
- Programming and Problem Solving by Connecting Diagrams
- Neuro-evolution Approach to General Atari Game Playing
- Using Neural Networks to Determine how Word Meaning Varies Across Sentences
Stanford University
Stanford, California
Stanford University has established itself as a world leading teaching and research institution. The Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL) has been studying and researching Artificial Intelligence since 1962. SAIL offers courses, hosts events and manages outreaches to schools.
Degree in Artificial Intelligence:
- Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence
The Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence is in the School of Engineering. The Graduate Certificate has one required course, and three required electives. The Certificate is 13 to 15 units.
Required Course:
- Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques
Some of the Electives:
- Decision Making Under Uncertainty
- Computational Logic
- Introduction to Robotics
- Natural Language Processing with Deep Learning
Students have a maximum of three years to complete the Certificate.
Stanford also offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, which includes courses on AI.
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, California
The Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research Laboratory (BAIR) includes more than two dozen faculty members and over a hundred graduate students. The AI lab offers seminars and courses. Courses are taught by the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering faculty.
Courses include:
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- Computational Imagining
- Robotic Manipulation and Interaction
- Introduction to Machine Learning
Labs:
- Laboratory for Information and System Science
- Robotics and Intelligent Machines Lab
- Vision and Learning Center
- Center for Human Compatible Artificial Intelligence, and the International Computer Science Institute
Related Courses in AI:
- Artificial Intelligence Strategy, online short course (in collaboration with GetSmarter)
- Artificial Intelligence Business Strategies and Applications, online program (in partnership with Emeritus)
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, New Hampshire
SNHU offers a unique online and campus degree in game design that incorporates Artificial Intelligence into the curriculum.
The online BS in Game Programming and Development is one of the only online degrees in the nation to teach AI in game design.
The curriculum is founded on game design theory, programming, and the various stages of game development.
The program teaches:
- computer programming languages
- scripting
- artificial intelligence
- game engine development
- deployment, visual design, and the utilization of industry-standard software applications
Students can gain experience in developing games on various platforms, including PC, console, web, and mobile devices.
Graduates are equipped with the knowledge to excel in the challenging and rewarding field of game programming. This online bachelor's program provides students with the technical proficiency required to realize and bring to life the creative vision of game designers.
Graduates are well positioned for careers in game development - whether as part of small indie companies or larger video game development corporations.
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Atlanta, Georgia
The College of Computing at Georgia Tech is organized into three schools, offering 18 degree programs. Student enrollment consists of more than 1,500 undergraduates and nearly 3,000 graduates.
There are 84 academic faculty and 35 research faculty:
- 3 members of the National Academy of Engineers
- 4 recipients of the NSF Presidential Young Investigators award
- 2 Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Related Degrees:
- Doctor of Philosophy in Robotics
- Doctor of Philosophy in Machine Learning
Research Centers and Institutes:
- Center for Research into Novel Computing Hierarchies
- Institute for People and Technology
- Algorithms and Randomness Center
- Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines
The Institute for Robotics and Intelligence Machines was established in 2013 from the previous Robotics and Intelligent Machines Center. There are more than 70 faculty members and over 180 graduate students involved with the Institute.
With more than 30 robotics laboratories and over 1,000 publications, the institute is in the midst of cutting-edge research. Core areas of investigation include Control, AI and Cognition, Interaction, and Perception.
AI Labs:
- Design and Intelligence Laboratory
- Laboratory for Interactive Artificial Intelligence
University of California-Los Angeles
School of Engineering
Los Angeles, California
Known as the birthplace of the internet, the Henri Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science was founded in 1945. The school is home to seven departments, including Electrical Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Computer Science.
A distinction is made between Computer Science and Computer Science Engineering. The latter provides students with an additional foundation in computer system hardware. The various programs are accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission and the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning research is within the School of Engineering.
Research centers affiliated with the department include:
- Center for Domain-Specific Computing
- Scalable Analytics Institute
- Center for Autonomous Intelligent Networked Systems
- Center for Systematic, Measurable, Actionable, Resilient and Technology-driven Health
Labs and Groups:
- Bio-cybernetics Laboratory
- Automated Reasoning Group
- Laboratory for Embedded Collaborative Systems
- Wireless Networking Group
- Internet Research Laboratory
One of its AI research programs includes the MUSE Project. The MUSE Project is attempting to teach computers to write stories about King Arthur and his knights of the round table. Another AI endeavor is the Mentor Project, which uses AI to study advice giving.
Related Degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- Master of Science in Computer Science
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science or Electrical and Computer Engineering
Related Law Degrees with the PULSE Fellowships in Artificial Intelligence, Law, and Policy at UCLA Law:
- Master of Legal Studies
- Juris Doctor Program
- Master of Laws
- Doctor of Juridical Sciences
AI Labs:
- Statistical and Relational Artificial Intelligence Lab
- Machine Learning, Data Science and Decision Lab
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
In 1957 Arthur Burks and Gordon Peterson founded what would become the Computer Science and Engineering program. In 1966 came the development of Michigan Terminal System. This was the world’s first time-sharing computer operating system.
Faculty members and alumni, such as Larry Page (co-founder of Google), have been nationally recognized for work in the field.
Related Degrees:
- Master of Science in Robotics
- Doctor of Philosophy in Robotics
The Computer Science and Engineering program offers seven academic degrees taught by 57 tenured faculty members. There are approximately 336 graduate students and 1,570 undergraduate students enrolled.
Research:
- Interactive Systems laboratory
- Intergalactic Mobile Learning Center
- Computer Engineering Laboratory
- Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
The Artificial Intelligence Lab hosts several specialty research groups. These include Assistive Technology, Constraint-based Reasoning, Human Computation and Crowd-sourcing, and Multi-agent and Economic Systems.
The laboratory runs a Robotics Institute. 22 full time faculty facilitate and direct the research here, as well as run numerous AI related seminars.
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, Maryland
The Computer Science department at UMD was formally established in 1973. Unofficially, however, research in this field dates back to the 1940’s. Today there are more than 50 tenured faculty members interacting with approximately 250 graduate students.
The curriculum of the department offers a comprehensive introduction to Artificial Intelligence through topics such as:
- automated planning
- cognitive modeling
- evolutionary computation
- game theory
- machine learning methods
- natural language processing
- neural computational methods
Researchers affiliated with the department are involved with 17 major areas of inquiry. These include Programming Languages, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Human Computer Interaction, Computer Vision, and Artificial Intelligence.
Centers and Institutes of research include:
- Center for Automation Research
- Computational Linguistics and Information Processing Center
- Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory
- Institute for Advanced Computer Studies
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
College of Information and Computer Sciences
Amherst, Massachusetts
In 1964 the study of Computer Science at the University of Massachusetts began with just three faculty members. By 2012 the department became a school, and in 2015 the current College of Information and Computer Sciences was established. There are now 51 faculty members, many of whom have been nationally recognized for their work.
Faculty include:
- 10 Association for Computing Machinery Fellows
- eight members of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- eight members of the American Association for Artificial Intelligence.
Student enrollment in the College includes over 250 graduates and approximately 850 undergraduates.
Centers and labs:
- Cybersecurity Institute
- Center for Intelligent Information Retrieval
- Advanced Computer Networking Research Group
- Architecture and Language Implementation Group
- Theoretical Computer Science Group
- Laboratory for Perceptual Robotics
- Resource Bounded Reasoning Lab
- Autonomous Learning Laboratory
- Biologically Inspired Neural & Dynamical Systems Laboratory
- Computer Vision Research Laboratory
- Information Extraction and Synthesis Laboratory
- Knowledge Discovery Laboratory
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
The Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California was established in 1999. It is recognized as a research leader in the areas of graphics, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. The Institute works in close collaboration with the Information Sciences Institute and the Department of Computer Science.
Both Institutes and the Department of Computer Science have additionally partnered with the Center for Body Computing and Keck Medicine. Founded in 2007, this unique Virtual Care clinic is advancing both the Health care field and the AI field.
Centers and Labs:
- Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society
- Center for Cyber-Physical Systems and the Internet of Things
- Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems
- IDM Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
- Collaboratory for Algorithmic Techniques and Artificial Intelligence (CATAI)
California Institute of Technology
Annenberg Center for Information Science and Technology
Pasadena, California
The Engineering and Applied Science division at Caltech is home to the department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences. It is located in the Annenberg Center for Information Science and Technology.
There are more than 20 faculty members in the department of Computing:
- two members of the National Academy of Engineers
- three MacArthur fellows
- one member of the National Academy of Science
- three Sloan Fellows
- two American Academy Of Arts And Sciences members
- one Foreign Member of the Royal Society
Centers and Groups:
- Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies
- Institute for Quantum Information and Matter
- Lee Center for Advanced Networking
- Rigorous Systems Research Group
The Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies teaches AI in Advanced Drone Research, Autonomous Explorers, and Robots in Medicine. There are currently a dozen Caltech faculty members working in robotics and autonomous control.
Courses in Statistics and Machine Learning research in the Division of Computing and Mathematical Sciences.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, Illinois
At the University of Illinois, the study of computers can be traced back to 1946. Today the department of Computer Science is within the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The Artificial Intelligence Laboratory was opened in 1991 with the primary focus of applying AI methodologies to real world issues.
Current projects of the lab include:
- Data Mining for Manufacturing and Design Processes
- Biological Motif Modeling
- Automating the Evolution of Linguistic Competence in Artificial Agents
Courses are offered in AI and Machine Learning through the Grainger College of Engineering. Artificial intelligence research focus in the Computer Science department.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
The largest of the 20 schools and colleges which comprise the University of Wisconsin is the College of Letters and Science. Now home to 34 academic departments, it was in the early 1960’s that the Department of Numerical Analysis was founded. By 1964 this had become the Department of Computer Science.
The department offers bachelor's - doctoral degrees. And also offers a Professional Master’s Program and a Professional Capstone Certificate Program. Courses cover a variety of topics including operating systems, programming languages and compilers, software engineering, and wireless systems.
Project-based courses offered in Artificial Intelligence through the Computer Science Department. Master’s degree specialization in Artificial Intelligence.
Research centers of the Department include:
- Center for High Throughput Computing
- ADvanced Systems Laboratory
- Wisconsin Institute on Software-defined Data-centers in Madison
AI Research groups include:
- Computer Architecture
- Computer Graphics
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning, Data Mining, and Biomedical Informatics Research Group
- Computer Vision Research Group
Regularly offered AI courses include Medical Image Analysis, Advanced Natural Language Processing, and Computational Cognitive Science. Additionally, the Department of Computer Science holds regularly scheduled seminar talks addressing current areas of AI.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, Washington
There are currently 55 faculty members, 375 graduate students, and a growing undergraduate body of more than 750 students enrolled. Faculty members are actively involved with several national academies and many have been nationally recognized for their research.
The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering offers undergraduate and graduate courses in Artificial Intelligence.
Research areas of the Computer Science and Engineering school include:
- Computing for Development
- Security and Privacy
- Ubiquitous Computing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Wireless and Sensor Systems
The Artificial Intelligence group focuses on areas such as:
- Automated Planning and Control
- Intelligent Interaction
- Brain-Computer Interfaces and Computational Neuroscience
Faculty members include professor and research Sham Kakade, who is also a Washington Research Foundation Data Science Chair. Also Rajesh Rao, author of the textbook ‘Brain-Computer Interfacing: An Introduction’, and director of the Neural Systems Laboratory.
AI related Groups and Labs:
- Brain-Computer Interfacing research group
- Decision-Theoretic Control for Crowd-sourced Workflows Research Group
- Information Design Lab
University of Advancing Technology
Tempe, Arizona
The many online degrees combine modern theory, industry standards, and experiential learning. The online BS in Artificial Intelligence is one of the first online bachelor's in the nation.
Learning is in the following ai research domains:
- Computer programming
- Building software systems
- Developing applications
- Applying theory and concepts to real-world problems
Graduates of the program have gained successful careers in:
- Architecture
- Autonomous systems
- Computer games
- Economics/market dynamics
- Sociology and more
Credit requirements: 120 total credits, with 30 credits specific to the major
Learning in ai research domains::
- Introduction to Databases
- Internet of Things
- Python Programming
- Linux Operating System
- Software Engineering Principles
- Deep Learning
- Augmented Reality
Online instruction style: Asynchronous
What is learned at an Artificial Intelligence college?
Examples of AI instruction includes creating and/or improving systems that use functions that approximate to intelligence. This can include signal processing, pattern recognition, neural computation, computer vision, computational linguistics and exhibiting adversarial robustness.
AI systems can understand languages for example, and perform tasks such as speech recognition, natural language processing, and neural machine translation. It uses convolutional neural networks in understanding visual images. These are examples of the scope of instruction at AI focused universities.
Graduates can work as a research scientist or as a machine learning engineer.
Ranking Guidelines and Methodology:
Successful Student has compiled this ranking from the student's point-of-view, factoring criteria that is important to students, such as AI instruction, variety of coursework, degrees offered, labs, and academic reputation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college degree for AI?
The degree that's best for AI would be a Computer Science degree with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence. There are also computer science degrees that specialize in AI and Machine Learning. The computer science degrees with specializations in AI are available as bachelor's and master's degrees.
Is there a college degree for AI?
Yes, student's may pursue bachelor's and master's degrees in Artificial Intelligence, as online and on-campus degree options. The usual degree is a Computer Science degree with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence. These are available online and on-campus at colleges and universities across the United States but also in various schools across the world.
Is there a degree for Artificial Intelligence?
Yes, there are degrees for Artificial Intelligence. They are within Computer Science programs predominantly, and are often a specialization. There are also programs that offer Machine Learning degrees. These are sometimes within Data Science programs. Both Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning programs are available online and on-campus at colleges and universities across the United States.
Are AI degrees worth it?
Given that Artificial Intelligence is a specialized degree, it is worth it to the extent that the job market needs Artificial Intelligence specialists, which it does. For Computer Science majors, it's a good degree specialization for this reason, and for the fact that it sets the Computer Science graduate apart for careers in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence after graduating. In 2019 venture capitalists invested more into Artificial Intelligence start-ups than in any other domain at any other time.
Artificial Intelligence is set to be the future of industry. This includes machine learning, engineering and game design.
Machine Learning is often used in the context of Data Analytics, in which large data sets are made meaningful. This information can contribute to decision-making. Machine Learning Engineering is a growing field which makes use of AI and Data Science. Machine Learning Engineers take large data sets and implement AI programs to determine answers and make predictions from data sets.
Engineering: AI is used in developing optimization methods and implementing algorithms in software. AI software engineers work closely with Robotics industries to create robots that can think and respond to their physical environments.
Game Design: AI occurs when machines learn and adapt to different circumstances and environments. Responding and adapting happens often in video games. Game Designers use AI as an important tool when developing commercial games.
An example of this is when non-player characters (characters not controlled by anyone) respond and adapt to the changing circumstances within a game. These characters are driven by the game's AI engine.