Best Online Masters in Machine Learning Degrees

Online master’s programs make it possible to study machine learning, artificial intelligence, or data science without relocating, and many are built for students who work full time.

The programs differ in more than price. Some are offered only online, some are campus degrees that can also be completed online, and some are hybrid programs that still require time on campus. The amount of required machine learning also varies, from dedicated AI degrees to computer science and data science degrees where machine learning is one part of the curriculum.

This guide lists every online and hybrid program we have profiled, with links to a detailed profile for each school. We do not rank the programs. Use the tables to build a shortlist, then compare the profiles.

Online Machine Learning Master’s Programs at a Glance

Each program below can be completed online, according to the school. Programs marked “Online” are offered only in that format. Programs marked “Online or campus” are campus degrees with an online version, and the online course list is sometimes narrower than the campus one.

SchoolStateDegreeFormatCredits
California Miramar UniversityCaliforniaMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or hybrid39
California State University, NorthridgeCaliforniaMS in Artificial Intelligence and Data ScienceOnline30
San Diego State UniversityCaliforniaMS in Artificial Intelligence and TechnologyCampus, with an online option31
University of California, Los AngelesCaliforniaMS in Engineering with Certificate of Specialization in Data Science EngineeringOnline36
Westcliff UniversityCaliforniaMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline, hybrid, or campus36
Colorado State University GlobalColoradoMS in AI and Machine LearningOnline30
University of Colorado BoulderColoradoMaster of Artificial IntelligenceOnline30
Nova Southeastern UniversityFloridaMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus30
Saint Leo UniversityFloridaMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus30
University of South FloridaFloridaMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus31
Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgiaMS in Computer Science – Machine LearningOnline or campus30
Georgia Southern UniversityGeorgiaMS in Computer Science – Machine LearningOnline, hybrid, or campus30
Kennesaw State UniversityGeorgiaMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus30
Mercer UniversityGeorgiaMS in Data ScienceOnline36
DePaul UniversityIllinoisMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus48 quarter hours
Elmhurst UniversityIllinoisMS in Data Science and AnalyticsOnline or campus30
Illinois Institute of TechnologyIllinoisMaster of Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus30
Lewis UniversityIllinoisMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus36
University of ChicagoIllinoisMS in Applied Data ScienceOnline or campus12 courses
University of Illinois ChicagoIllinoisMaster of Engineering – AI and Machine LearningOnline36
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIllinoisMaster of Computer ScienceOnline or campus32
Indiana State UniversityIndianaMS in Intelligent SystemsOnline or campus30
Indiana Wesleyan UniversityIndianaMS in Artificial Intelligence – Data AnalyticsOnline30
Purdue UniversityIndianaMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline30
Fort Hays State UniversityKansasMS in Computer ScienceOnline or campus33
Kansas State UniversityKansasMS in Computer ScienceOnline or campus30
Pittsburg State UniversityKansasMS in Technology – Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus30
Campbellsville UniversityKentuckyMS in Data Science and Artificial IntelligenceOnline36
Lindsey Wilson UniversityKentuckyMS in Applied Machine Learning and Artificial IntelligenceOnline or hybrid33
University of LouisvilleKentuckyMS in Artificial Intelligence in MedicineOnline30
University of the CumberlandsKentuckyMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline31
Bowie State UniversityMarylandMS in Computer ScienceOnline or campus30
Boston CollegeMassachusettsMS in Applied AnalyticsOnline or campus30
Clark UniversityMassachusettsMS in Applied Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus10 courses
Fitchburg State UniversityMassachusettsMS in Computer Science – Data ScienceOnline or campus33
University of Massachusetts AmherstMassachusettsMS in Computer Science – Artificial IntelligenceOnline, hybrid, or campus30
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteMassachusettsMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus30
Grand Valley State UniversityMichiganMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline, hybrid, or campus33
University of Michigan-DearbornMichiganMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus30
University of Central MissouriMissouriMS in Data Science and Artificial IntelligenceOnline, hybrid, or campus30
New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew JerseyMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline30
Stevens Institute of TechnologyNew JerseyMS in Machine LearningOnline or campus30
Binghamton UniversityNew YorkMS in Computer Science – Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus31
Clarkson UniversityNew YorkMS in Applied Data ScienceOnline or campus36
Columbia UniversityNew YorkMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus30
Mercy UniversityNew YorkMS in Computer Science – Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningOnline, hybrid, or campus36
Rochester Institute of TechnologyNew YorkMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus30
SUNY New PaltzNew YorkMS in Business AnalyticsOnline or campus30–36
SUNY OswegoNew YorkMS in Biomedical and Health Informatics – Artificial Intelligence in BiomedicineOnline or campus33–36
North Carolina A&T State UniversityNorth CarolinaMS in Data Science and EngineeringOnline30
Tiffin UniversityOhioMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus33
Oklahoma City UniversityOklahomaMS in Applied Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningOnline30
Oklahoma State UniversityOklahomaMS in Artificial IntelligenceCampus, with an online option33
University of OklahomaOklahomaMS in Data Science and AnalyticsOnline33
Drexel UniversityPennsylvaniaMS in Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningOnline45 quarter
University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaMSE in Artificial IntelligenceOnline10 course units
York College of PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaMS in Analytics and Applied AIOnline30
University of South Carolina BeaufortSouth CarolinaMS in Computational ScienceOnline or campus30
Tennessee State UniversityTennesseeMS in Data Science – AI ConcentrationOnline30
University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaTennesseeMS in Data AnalyticsOnline36
East Texas A&M UniversityTexasMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus34–37
Rice UniversityTexasMCS; Master of Data ScienceOnline or campus30 MCS; 31 MDS
Southern Methodist UniversityTexasMS in Data ScienceOnline33.5
Tarleton State UniversityTexasMS in Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningOnline or campus33–36
Texas Woman’s UniversityTexasMS in Data Science and InformaticsOnline or hybrid30
University of North TexasTexasMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline or campus33
University of Texas at ArlingtonTexasMS in Data ScienceOnline or campus30
University of Texas at AustinTexasMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline30
Neumont UniversityUtahMS in Applied Artificial IntelligenceOnline36
Western Governors UniversityUtahMS in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningOnline31
Washington University of Science and TechnologyVirginiaMS in Applied Data Science and Artificial IntelligenceOnline; confirm with the school54 quarter
Seattle UniversityWashingtonMS in Artificial IntelligenceOnline49 quarter
University of WashingtonWashingtonMS in AI & Machine Learning for EngineeringOnline39–42 quarter
Milwaukee School of EngineeringWisconsinMS in Machine LearningOnline32

Format labels reflect what each school publishes. Online availability can change by term, so confirm the current format with the school before applying.

Lower-Cost Online Options

Online tuition does not always match campus tuition, and it does not always depend on where you live. The programs below publish some of the lowest online rates among the schools we have profiled. Figures are tuition estimates from each school profile and leave out most fees.

SchoolDegreePublished Online Tuition
Georgia Institute of TechnologyMS in Computer Science – Machine Learning$227 to $248 per credit hour; roughly $6,810 to $7,440 for 30 credits
Georgia Southern UniversityMS in Computer Science – Machine Learning$287 per credit hour online; about $8,610 for 30 credits
University of Texas at AustinMS in Artificial Intelligence$10,000 plus fees
Fort Hays State UniversityMS in Computer Science$362.73 per credit hour for all online students; about $11,970 for 33 credits
Fitchburg State UniversityMS in Computer Science – Data Science$347 per credit including fees, plus a $58 per credit online program fee; about $13,365 for 33 credits
Binghamton UniversityMS in Computer Science – Artificial Intelligence$471 per credit for New York residents and $565 for nonresidents studying exclusively online; about $14,601 or $17,515 for 31 credits
SUNY New Paltz and SUNY OswegoMS in Business Analytics; MS in Biomedical and Health Informatics$471 per credit for New York residents and $565 for nonresidents studying fully online
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignMaster of Computer Science$620 per credit for Illinois residents and $793 for nonresidents; $19,840 or $25,376 for 32 credits
Clark UniversityMS in Applied Artificial Intelligence$20,000 published total for the online version

Rates change each year, and some schools charge online students a separate per-credit or per-term fee. Check the tuition section of each profile and the school’s own tuition page before you budget.

Hybrid and Mostly Online Programs

These programs combine online coursework with required time on campus, such as weekend residencies or in-person class meetings. They can work well for students who live within travel distance, but they are not fully online degrees.

SchoolStateDegreeFormatCredits
University of ArizonaArizonaMS in Information Science: Machine LearningHybrid30
Dominican University of CaliforniaCaliforniaMS in Business Analytics and Artificial IntelligenceHybrid36
Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFloridaMS in Data Analytics and AIHybrid30
University of Central FloridaFloridaMS in Data Analytics – Artificial Intelligence TrackHybrid30
Ottawa UniversityKansasMS in Computer Science – AI and Machine LearningHybrid42
SUNY Polytechnic InstituteNew YorkMS in Data Science and AnalyticsHybrid33
Harrisburg UniversityPennsylvaniaMS in Information Systems Engineering & ManagementMostly online36
Penn State UniversityPennsylvaniaMaster of Artificial IntelligenceHybrid30
East Tennessee State UniversityTennesseeMS in Computer Science (MML)Hybrid33
Middle Tennessee State UniversityTennesseeMS in Data ScienceHybrid36
Utah Tech UniversityUtahMaster in Artificial IntelligenceHybrid30

Online Only vs. Online or Campus

The two kinds of online program work differently, and the difference affects cost, course choice, and the student experience.

  • Online-only programs are designed for remote students from the start. They often run in shorter terms, admit several times a year, and charge one tuition rate regardless of residency.
  • Online or campus programs lead to the same degree in either format. Online students may choose from fewer electives, and a thesis or research option may be available only on campus.
  • Hybrid programs require some travel. Ask how many campus visits are required, how long each one lasts, and whether they can be waived.

How to Choose an Online Machine Learning Master’s

Once you have a shortlist, these questions help separate programs that look similar on paper:

  • How much machine learning is required? A dedicated AI degree usually requires machine learning and deep learning courses. In a computer science or data science degree, machine learning may be a track, a concentration, or an elective.
  • Which courses are offered online? Ask for the list of online sections for the next year, not the full catalog.
  • Are classes live or recorded? Some online programs require attendance at scheduled sessions, while others let you study on your own schedule.
  • What does online tuition include? Look for online program fees, technology fees, and any difference between resident and nonresident rates.
  • What background does the program expect? Many programs assume programming, data structures, linear algebra, and statistics. Some offer bridge or foundation courses that add cost and time.
  • How long will it take part time? Programs that take one to two years full time often take three years or more at one or two courses per term.
  • Do you need a student visa? Fully online study generally does not qualify for an F-1 visa, so international students who want to study in the United States usually need a campus program.

Compare Online Programs by Specialization

Our specialization pages list programs by subject, with the delivery format shown for each one:

Compare More Machine Learning Master’s Programs

Online study is one option among many. Students who can attend in person may find more course choice, research opportunities, and lower resident tuition close to home.

Before applying, check each university’s official website for current tuition, admission requirements, course availability, and application deadlines.