Compare AI and machine learning degrees in one place

500+ programs from accredited schools, with tuition, length, format, and prerequisites side by side.

Accredited US AI Degree Programs

50 66 89 304 352 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Sources: IPEDS, Computing Research Association

The degrees behind the latest AI careers

How many AI degree programs exist, what they cost, and career outcomes. Tracked continuously across 214 institutions, with labor market data from BLS.

361

accredited AI and machine learning degree programs listed

512 incl. cybersecurity, 214 institutions

+33.5%

projected growth for data scientists through 2034

vs. 3.1% all occupations, BLS EP 2024–34

$187k

median advertised salary, AI and ML engineering

10,133 US postings, 2025; 59% listed pay

18mo

median time to complete a master’s, full-time

Part-time median: 27 months

Fastest-growing job titles

Year-over-year change in US postings requiring AI skills, 2025 → 2026. Base postings in parentheses.

Machine learning engineer (18,400)

+41%

AI research scientist (3,100)

+37%

Data scientist, applied (24,700)

+29%

AI product manager (6,900)

+24%

MLOps / platform engineer (5,200)

+19%

What programs require

Share of listed master’s programs listing each as required. “Recommended,” “preferred,” and unnamed “strong quantitative background” are coded separately.

Programming experience

72%

Statistics or probability

36%

Calculus

36%

Data structures and algorithms

32%

Linear algebra

28%

GRE scores

8%

n = 25 programs; GRE n = 24. Collected August 2, 2026.

Original data on how AI is changing education

Leaders’ top AI workforce strategies for the next 18 months

Upskill existing employees to use AI ~50% Keep headcount, add AI as digital labor 45% Use AI to replace humans 33%

Source: Microsoft survey of 31,000+ workers

How AI Is Shaping Hiring and Headcount in 2026

Our review of the latest data on how AI is impacting hiring, layoffs and educational requirements in 2026.

“Over the last four years, the number of AI degree programs has more than doubled.”

Brian Dean

Founder, Programs.com

Our expert contributors

Every program review and salary figure on this site is checked by people who hire, teach, or build in the field.

Marisa Tranchitella Foltz

Marisa Tranchitella Foltz, MS Ed

Cybersecurity Program Manager at the Delaware Small Business Development Center.

Matthew Rayburn

U.S. Army Cyberspace Operator.

Ryan Weaver

Information Assurance and Information Security Specialist at ASRC Federal.

Guides for choosing and paying for a program

Written by our contributors and updated when program data changes.