Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute MS in Computer Science

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) offers a Master of Science in Computer Science through the Department of Computer Science in the School of Science.

The 30-credit degree is taught on the Troy campus and ends with a thesis or a master’s project. Machine learning is not required of every student. It enters the degree through the AI/ML/Data course bucket, one of five areas students draw on for their four required depth and breadth courses.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Quick Facts

DegreeMS in Computer Science
Machine Learning RouteAI/ML/Data course bucket (optional)
SchoolDepartment of Computer Science, School of Science
LocationTroy, New York
FormatCampus
Credits30
Culminating ExperienceMaster’s thesis or master’s project
GREStrongly recommended
Tuition$66,300 per academic year full time, or $2,210 per credit hour below 12 credits
Application DeadlineMarch 1 (fall 2027 master’s entry)

Official MS in Computer Science page

Curriculum

RPI does not offer a standalone master’s degree in machine learning, artificial intelligence, or data science. Students earn the MS in Computer Science and shape it through course buckets set out in the department’s Graduate Program Guide. The degree carries no artificial intelligence concentration. A separate Quantum Computing track was introduced in fall 2026.

Students complete 30 graduate credits, including:

  • four 6000-level courses from the Core Bucket lists
  • a 1-credit Graduate Skills course in the first fall semester
  • a master’s thesis of 6 to 9 credits or a master’s project of 3 to 4 credits
  • electives to reach 30 credits

At least 18 credits must be at the 6000 level and at least 15 must be Computer Science (CSCI) courses. No more than 6 credits may be independent study. Students must keep a 3.0 GPA and file a Plan of Study with a faculty advisor by their second semester.

Core Foundation

Every student must show advanced undergraduate-level competence in three areas:

  • Algorithms
  • Systems
  • Software and Programming Languages

Students with a computer science bachelor’s degree from another institution must show two of the three. Students from other majors must show all three unless the department grants an exception. Competence can be shown with a grade of B or better in the matching undergraduate course or on its final exam, or with an approved graduate course.

Core Depth and Breadth

The four required courses come from five Core Buckets:

  • Theory/Algorithms
  • Systems, Software and Security
  • AI/ML/Data
  • Mathematics and Numerical Computing
  • Robotics/Vision/Graphics

Two of the four courses must be in one bucket, and at least one must come from a different bucket. Students need at least 12 quality points across the four, which is a B average.

Because students choose their own depth bucket, it is possible to finish the degree without a machine learning course. Students who want machine learning should plan their depth in AI/ML/Data, where up to three of the four courses can sit.

AI/ML/Data Bucket

  • CSCI 6100 – Machine Learning From Data
  • CSCI 6130 – Natural Language Processing
  • CSCI 6140 – Machine Learning and Optimization
  • CSCI 6160 – Reinforcement Learning
  • CSCI 6270 – Computational Vision
  • CSCI 6390 – Data Mining
  • ECSE 6610 – Pattern Recognition
  • ECSE 6850 – Intro. to Deep Learning
  • CSCI 6110 – Computational Social Processes
  • CSCI 6120 – Computational Finance
  • CSCI 6190 – Decentralized AI
  • CSCI 6250 – Frontiers of Network Science
  • CSCI 6280 – Graph Mining
  • CSCI 6340 – Ontologies
  • CSCI 6350 – Data Science
  • CSCI 6370 – Data and Society
  • CSCI 6400 – Xinformatics
  • ECSE 6530 – Information Theory and Coding
  • ISYE 6100 – Time Series Analysis

The guide also lists special topics courses already approved for this bucket, including Deep Learning, Large Language Models, Trustworthy Machine Learning, Deep Learning on Graphs, Projects in Machine Learning, AI for Science, and Decision Making under Uncertainty. Special topics offerings change from year to year.

The Robotics/Vision/Graphics bucket adds:

  • CSCI 6490 – Robotics II
  • ECSE 6470 – Robotics I
  • ECSE 6650 – Computer Vision
  • ECSE 6630 – Digital Image and Video Processing

The Mathematics and Numerical Computing bucket includes:

  • CSCI 6800 – Computational Linear Algebra
  • MATP 6600 – Intro. to Optimization
  • MATP 6610 – Computational Optimization

Thesis or Project

Thesis students complete 6 to 9 credits of CSCI 6990 – Master’s Thesis. The thesis must present an original research contribution, is evaluated by a committee of three faculty members, and ends with an oral presentation.

Project students complete 3 to 4 credits of CSCI 6980 – Master’s Project under a Computer Science faculty advisor. They present the work as a poster at a department poster session, held in November and April.

Full-time students must also attend at least half of the department’s colloquia each semester, for up to four semesters.

Cost and Tuition

RPI is a private university and charges the same graduate tuition to New York residents and nonresidents. Full-time students pay a flat annual rate, and students below 12 credits pay by the credit hour.

For the 2026–27 academic year, the catalog lists:

CategoryTuition
Full-time graduate, per academic year (12 to 16 credits each fall and spring)$66,300
Fewer than 12 credits in a semester, per credit hour$2,210
Credits above 16 in a semester or summer credits for full-time students, per credit hour$2,760

The cost of the 30-credit degree depends on pacing. Two full-time semesters of 12 credits followed by a 6-credit semester come to about $79,560 in tuition. Thirty credits taken entirely at the part-time rate come to about $66,300. Both figures are before fees.

Graduate students also pay a $191 activity fee and a $7.50 Graduate Council fee each term, and a $535 Health and Wellness fee each semester. Health insurance of $1,080 and dental insurance of $110 are charged each semester and can be waived with proof of comparable coverage.

Rates can change each year, so students should confirm current costs with the Bursar’s Office.

View RPI tuition and fees in the 2026-2027 catalog

Admission Requirements

Applicants need a four-year United States bachelor’s degree or its equivalent by the time they enroll.

RPI does not publish a list of prerequisite courses for admission. The degree itself requires undergraduate-level competence in algorithms, systems, and programming languages, so applicants from outside computer science should expect to show or build that background.

RPI lists the GRE as strongly recommended for all Computer Science programs. It is optional for most other graduate programs at the university.

Application Materials

Applicants submit:

  • online graduate application and $75 application fee
  • unofficial transcripts, uploaded to the application
  • personal statement covering academic and research interests, career goals, and relevant experience
  • resume or CV
  • two letters of recommendation
  • proof of English proficiency when required

RPI’s minimum English proficiency scores are 88 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on the IELTS Academic, 120 on Duolingo, or 59 on the PTE. Applicants may apply to only one degree program per term.

Application Deadlines

Entry TermDeadline
Spring 2027August 15, 2026
Fall 2027 (master’s)March 1, 2027

Late applications are accepted, but applications submitted before the deadline receive priority review.

Program Format

The MS in Computer Science is taught on the RPI campus in Troy. RPI does not list an online version of this degree.

Full-time graduate students register for at least 12 credits each semester. Part-time study is possible, and part-time students are not held to the colloquium attendance requirement.

Students choose between a research route with a thesis and an applied route with a supervised project. The department notes that some MS graduates continue into PhD study.

RPI undergraduates can also reach the degree through the Accelerated Master’s program.

Who Is This Program Best For?

RPI’s MS in Computer Science is a strong option for students with a computer science background who want to build a machine learning focus inside a research-oriented department on campus.

It may be especially appealing to students interested in:

  • machine learning theory and optimization
  • data mining and graph mining
  • natural language processing
  • reinforcement learning
  • computer vision and pattern recognition
  • a thesis or a faculty-supervised project

The degree is a computer science master’s first. Machine learning is a choice within it, not a requirement, and the diploma names no artificial intelligence specialization. There is no online option, the program builds in no foundation courses for students new to computing, and tuition is charged at private university rates. Students who want a degree built entirely around AI, an online or part-time format designed for working professionals, or public university pricing may want to compare other New York schools.

Students can also compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in New York.

View All Machine Learning Programs in New York