The University of Massachusetts Lowell offers a Master of Science in Computer Science through the Miner School of Computer and Information Sciences in the Kennedy College of Sciences.
The 30-credit degree is taught on the Lowell campus and can be taken full time or part time. Machine learning is not required of every student. It enters the degree through one of the three required course groups and through 18 credits of electives, which can be filled with courses such as Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Data Mining, and Natural Language Processing.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Computer Science |
| Options | General or Cybersecurity |
| School | Miner School of Computer and Information Sciences, Kennedy College of Sciences |
| Location | Lowell, Massachusetts |
| Format | Campus, full time or part time |
| Credits | 30 |
| Culminating Experience | Coursework, with an optional thesis of up to 6 credits |
| GRE | Not required |
| Application Deadline | Rolling |
| Tuition | $926.22 per credit for Massachusetts residents in 2026–27, before fees |
| STEM Designated | Yes, STEM OPT eligible |
Official MS in Computer Science page
Curriculum
UMass Lowell does not offer a standalone master’s degree in machine learning, artificial intelligence, or data science. Students earn the MS in Computer Science and choose the General Option or the Cybersecurity Option. The General Option leaves the most room for machine learning and is the one described here.
Students complete 30 graduate credits, ten 3-credit courses, consisting of:
- 12 credits of required coursework, Algorithms plus one course from each of three groups
- 18 credits of electives, six graduate computer science courses
Students need an average of B or better, with no more than two grades below B.
Required Course
- COMP 5030 – Algorithms
This is the only course every student takes. The other three required courses are chosen from the groups below.
Group III: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Visualization, and Human-Computer Interaction
Students choose one course. The machine learning courses in the degree sit in this group:
- COMP 5450 – Machine Learning
- COMP 5430 – Artificial Intelligence
- COMP 5440 – Data Mining
- COMP 5420 – Natural Language Processing
- COMP 5230 – Computer Vision I
- COMP 5495 – Robot Learning
- COMP 6440 – Advanced Topics in Data Mining
- COMP 5410 – Data Visualization
- COMP 5270 – Human Computer Interaction
- COMP 5280 – Evaluation of Human-Computer Interaction
- COMP 5460 – Computer Graphics I
- COMP 5470 – Computer Graphics II
- COMP 5480 – Robot Design
- COMP 5490 – Mobile Robots
- COMP 5500 – Topics
- COMP 5520 – Foundations in Digital Health
Because the group also includes graphics, robotics, and human-computer interaction courses, it is possible to finish the degree without a machine learning course. Students who want machine learning should choose it here and use their electives for the other courses in the list.
Group II: Systems, Networks, and Security
Students choose one course from:
- COMP 5150 – Operating Systems I
- COMP 5160 – Operating Systems II
- COMP 5300 – Special Topics
- COMP 5610 – Computer and Network Security I
- COMP 5620 – Computer and Network Security II
- COMP 5630 – Data Communications I
- COMP 5640 – Data Communications II
- COMP 5660 – Malware Analysis
- COMP 5670 – IoT Security and Analysis
- COMP 5690 – Computer and Network Forensics
- COMP 6610 – Advanced Topics in Network Security
Group IV: Information Management and Analysis
Students choose one course from:
- COMP 5130 – Internet and Web Systems I
- COMP 5140 – Internet and Web Systems II
- COMP 5510 – Bioinformatics for CS
- COMP 5730 – Database I
- COMP 5740 – Database II
- COMP 5800 – Topics in Computer Science
- COMP 6730 – Advanced Database Systems
Electives
The remaining six courses can be any graduate computer science courses at the 5000 or 6000 level, including COMP 5900 – Professional Experience in Computer Science. A student focused on machine learning can take further Group III courses as electives, so most of the degree can come from the artificial intelligence and data courses listed above.
The degree pathway does not list a course titled deep learning.
Thesis Option
A master’s thesis is optional. It can replace up to 6 credits, the equivalent of two electives, and students file a Proposed Thesis Committee form with the Graduate Coordinator before starting. Students who do not write a thesis finish through coursework alone.
Cybersecurity Option
The Cybersecurity Option has the same 30 credits and the same core, but fixes four courses in network security, data communications, malware analysis, and databases and adds an interdisciplinary security course. It leaves fewer open electives for machine learning.
Cost and Tuition
UMass Lowell is a public university and bills graduate students by the credit, with separate rates for Massachusetts residents, New England Regional students, and out-of-state students.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the university lists these on-campus graduate rates:
| Category | Massachusetts Resident | New England Regional | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition per credit | $926.22 | $1,398.00 | $1,625.00 |
| Tuition and fees per credit | $973.44 | $1,445.22 | $1,672.22 |
| Full-time semester, 9 credits, with fees | $8,760.96 | $13,006.98 | $15,049.98 |
Mandatory fees are a $13.89 activity fee and a $33.33 technology fee per credit. At 30 credits, tuition and these fees come to about $29,203 for a Massachusetts resident and about $50,167 for an out-of-state student.
International students also pay a $500 International Student Fee each semester. Graduate students taking 9 or more credits are charged a health insurance fee of $3,617 for the full year, which can be waived with comparable coverage.
The university describes these figures as estimates that are subject to change by vote of the UMass Board of Trustees, so students should confirm current costs before enrolling.
View UMass Lowell graduate tuition and fees
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a bachelor’s degree. The program accepts a degree in computer science or in a related engineering, science, or mathematics field.
For full matriculation, applicants must show competency in six knowledge areas:
- data structures and programming in C, C++, or Java
- operating systems
- analysis of algorithms
- calculus
- discrete mathematics
- probability and statistics
Competency is usually shown through passing grades on a transcript. Applicants missing one or two areas may be admitted with conditions and complete the missing courses early in the program.
The university does not publish a minimum GPA for this program.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application through GradCAS and a $50 application fee
- statement of purpose of up to two pages
- two letters of recommendation
- unofficial transcripts, with official transcripts required after admission
- proof of English proficiency when required
The GRE is not required. The program notes that applicants may still submit scores to strengthen an application.
Application Deadlines
The program accepts applications on a rolling basis and does not publish a fixed deadline. The Office of Graduate Admissions recommends applying early, because departmental funding can be allocated before the semester begins.
Program Format
The MS in Computer Science is taught on campus in Lowell. Students may study full time or part time.
The university does not list an online version of this degree. Its online master’s degree in the school is the MS in Information Technology, which is a separate program.
The degree is STEM OPT eligible. The program has no built-in co-op or internship, although a professional experience course can count as an elective. Teaching and research assistantships are limited and generally go to doctoral students.
UMass Lowell undergraduates in computer science can also reach the degree through a bachelor’s to master’s program.
Who Is This Program Best For?
The UMass Lowell MS in Computer Science is a strong option for students who want to build a machine learning plan inside a flexible computer science master’s degree at a public university.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning and artificial intelligence
- data mining and data visualization
- natural language processing
- computer vision and robot learning
- combining machine learning with security, systems, or database coursework
- an optional thesis and part-time study with no GRE
The degree is a computer science master’s first. Machine learning is a choice within it, not a requirement, and there is no machine learning or artificial intelligence option named on the degree. It is offered on campus only, and applicants need prior coursework in operating systems and algorithms. Students who want a degree built entirely around AI or data science, an online format, or a path in from a non-computing major may want to compare other Massachusetts schools.
Official University of Massachusetts Lowell Program Links
- MS in Computer Science program page
- Degree pathway, General Option
- Graduate catalog entry
- Program FAQ
- Sciences admissions requirements
- Graduate tuition and fees
Related Machine Learning Programs in Massachusetts
Students can also compare University of Massachusetts Lowell with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in Massachusetts.
- Boston College – Chestnut Hill
- Boston University – Boston
- Brandeis University – Waltham
- Clark University – Worcester
- Fitchburg State University – Fitchburg
- Harvard University – Cambridge
- Northeastern University – Boston
- Tufts University – Medford
- University of Massachusetts Amherst – Amherst
- Wentworth Institute of Technology – Boston
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester