The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a Master of Computer Science (MCS) with an optional Artificial Intelligence track through the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science in The Grainger College of Engineering.
The 32-credit, coursework-only degree is available on the Urbana-Champaign campus and fully online. Machine learning is not required of every student. It enters the degree through the Artificial Intelligence breadth area and through the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science tracks, which fit inside the 32 credits.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | Master of Computer Science (MCS) |
| Tracks | Artificial Intelligence or Data Science (both optional) |
| School | Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, The Grainger College of Engineering |
| Location | Urbana and Champaign, Illinois or Online |
| Format | Campus or online |
| Credits | 32 |
| Culminating Experience | Coursework only, no thesis |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate study |
| GRE | Not required |
| Campus Deadlines | May 1 (fall), October 15 (spring) |
| Online Deadlines | June 15 (fall), October 30 (spring), February 15 (summer) |
| Typical Length | Three semesters on campus; one to five years online |
Official Master of Computer Science page
Curriculum
Illinois does not offer a standalone master’s degree in machine learning or artificial intelligence through the Siebel School. Students earn the Master of Computer Science and can add one of eight graduate tracks, including Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. The former MCS in Data Science is now the Data Science track within the MCS.
Students complete 32 graduate credits, usually eight 4-credit courses, consisting of:
- 12 to 16 credits of breadth coursework, four courses from four different areas
- 12 credits of advanced coursework at the 500 level
- 4 to 8 credits of electives
Breadth courses must be passed with a B- or higher, and students need a 3.0 program GPA to graduate.
Breadth Areas
Students choose four of 11 areas:
- Architecture, Compilers, and Parallel Computing
- Artificial Intelligence
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- Computers and Education
- Database and Intelligent Systems
- Interactive Computing
- Programming Languages, Formal Methods, and Software Engineering
- Scientific Computing
- Security and Privacy
- Systems and Networking
- Theory and Algorithms
Because students pick their own four areas, it is possible to finish the degree without an Artificial Intelligence course. Students who want machine learning should plan for the Artificial Intelligence area and one of the two tracks below.
Artificial Intelligence Track
Students complete three of the following, each for 4 credits with a B- or higher:
- CS 440 – Artificial Intelligence
- CS 441 – Applied Machine Learning
- CS 445 – Computational Photography
- CS 446 – Machine Learning
- CS 447 – Natural Language Processing
- CS 598 – Deep Learning for Healthcare
Track courses also count toward the degree, so the track adds no credits. Tracks do not appear on the transcript. Students who complete one receive a digital certificate and badge.
Other Artificial Intelligence Courses
The Artificial Intelligence breadth area on campus also includes:
- CS 442 – Trustworthy Machine Learning
- CS 443 – Reinforcement Learning
- CS 444 – Deep Learning for Computer Vision
- CS 448 – Audio Computing Laboratory
- CS 540 – Deep Learning Theory
- CS 542 – Statistical Reinforcement Learning
- CS 543 – Computer Vision
- CS 545 – Machine Learning for Signal Processing
- CS 546 – Advanced Topics in Natural Language Processing
Only part of this list is offered online. The degree requirements page marks CS 441, CS 445, CS 446, CS 447, and CS 598 Deep Learning for Healthcare as the Artificial Intelligence courses available to online students.
Data Science Track
The Data Science track is open to MCS students and requires one course from each of four areas:
- Machine learning: one course from the Artificial Intelligence track list above
- Data mining: CS 410 – Text Information Systems, CS 411 – Database Systems, or CS 412 – Introduction to Data Mining
- Data visualization: CS 416 – Data Visualization or CS 519 – Scientific Visualization
- Cloud computing: CS 425 – Distributed Systems, CS 435 – Cloud Networking, CS 437 – Internet of Things, or CS 498 – Cloud Computing Applications
Students then take three advanced courses from a set list that includes CS 513 – Theory and Practice of Data Cleaning and CS 598 sections in Practical Statistical Learning, Advanced Bayesian Modeling, Foundations of Data Curation, and the Data Mining and Cloud Computing capstones.
Cost and Tuition
Cost differs sharply by format. The online program is billed by the credit hour, while campus students pay a flat rate per semester based on credit load.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the Registrar lists:
| Format | Illinois Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Online, per credit hour | $620 | $793 |
| Online, estimated 32-credit total | $19,840 | $25,376 |
| Urbana campus, per semester (12 or more hours)* | $10,636 | $20,222 |
*Campus figures are the Registrar’s rate for engineering and engineering-related graduate programs, including computer science. Students taking 6 to 11 hours pay $7,091 (resident) or $13,482 (nonresident) per semester.
Campus students also pay fees of $2,840 per semester at 12 or more hours. That total includes a $1,125 health insurance fee, which can be waived with other coverage. Three full-time semesters come to about $31,908 in tuition for an Illinois resident and about $60,666 for a nonresident, before fees.
Online students are not charged campus fees and are not eligible for university health insurance. The Registrar describes an Online Service Fee of $4 per billing hour beginning fall 2026. Rates can change each year, so students should confirm current costs with the Registrar.
View University of Illinois tuition and fee rates
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a four-year bachelor’s degree equivalent to one granted by the University of Illinois.
The university requires at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last two years of undergraduate study. The online program notes that admitted students typically have a GPA above 3.2.
Applicants without a bachelor’s degree in computer science need sufficient background in:
- programming
- data structures and algorithms
- computer architecture
- theory of computation
The school strongly recommends completing this coursework before applying. Applicants who already hold an equivalent master’s degree in computer science or computer engineering are not eligible.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application and $90 application fee
- unofficial transcripts from each institution attended
- academic statement of purpose
- personal statement of up to 250 words
- resume or CV
- proof of English proficiency when required
The GRE is not required. MCS applicants do not submit letters of recommendation. They describe their relevant education and work experience in the application instead.
Application Deadlines
| Program | Entry Term | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Urbana-Champaign campus | Fall | May 1 |
| Urbana-Champaign campus | Spring | October 15 |
| Online | Fall | June 15 |
| Online | Spring | October 30 |
| Online | Summer | February 15 |
All materials are due by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the deadline, and late applications are not accepted. The school recommends submitting about one month early.
Program Format
The campus program is taught in person in Urbana-Champaign and is full time. It is designed to be completed in as little as three semesters.
The online program is fully online, with lectures delivered through Coursera and coursework assessed by Illinois faculty and teaching assistants. Students can study part time and finish in as little as one year or take up to five years. No campus visits are required.
Both routes lead to the same degree, and the diploma reads Master of Computer Science with no mention of online delivery. The online program does not issue I-20s and does not offer research or teaching assistantships.
The MCS is also offered in person in Chicago, where part-time study is allowed.
Who Is This Program Best For?
The Illinois MCS is a strong option for students who want machine learning inside a broad computer science master’s degree, with the choice of campus or online study.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning and applied machine learning
- natural language processing
- computer vision and deep learning
- reinforcement learning
- data mining, data visualization, and cloud computing
- a part-time online degree with no GRE or recommendation letters
The degree is a computer science master’s first. Machine learning is a choice within it, not a requirement, and three of every student’s four breadth courses fall outside artificial intelligence. Online students also choose from a narrower list of AI courses. Students who want a degree built entirely around AI, who lack computer science fundamentals, or who want a thesis may want to compare other Illinois schools or the university’s research MS in Computer Science.
Official University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Program Links
- Master of Computer Science program page
- Online Master of Computer Science
- MCS degree requirements
- Graduate tracks
- Academic catalog entry
- Graduate application deadlines
- Tuition and fee rates
Related Machine Learning Programs in Illinois
Students can also compare University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in Illinois.
- Bradley University – Peoria
- DePaul University – Chicago
- Elmhurst University – Elmhurst
- Illinois Institute of Technology – Chicago
- Lewis University – Romeoville
- Northwestern University – Evanston
- University of Chicago – Chicago
- University of Illinois Chicago – Online