California offers a wide range of master’s programs connected to machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science. The programs below include dedicated AI degrees, data science programs, and technical master’s degrees with a strong machine learning focus.
The 12 programs in this guide range from a 9-month applied AI degree at UC Irvine to two-year programs at several public universities. Current published or estimated tuition ranges from about $21,068 at San Francisco State to about $91,487 at USC, although residency, fees, and enrollment patterns can change the final cost.
California Machine Learning, AI, and Data Science Master’s Programs
| School | Location | Specialization | Format | Tuition | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University, Northridge | Northridge | MS in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science | Online | $29,400 | 2 years |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael | Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence | Hybrid | $44,580 | 12 months |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | Artificial Intelligence and Technology | Campus / Online option | Est. $22,980 | 2 years |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | Campus | Est. $21,068 | About 2 years |
| San Jose State University | San Jose | Statistics – Machine Learning | Campus | Est. $22,526 resident | 2 years |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara | ECE – Signal Processing and Machine Learning | Campus | Est. $59,984 | About 1.5–2 years |
| UC Berkeley | Berkeley | Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning | Campus | Est. $84,004 | 1 academic year |
| UC Irvine | Irvine | Applied Artificial Intelligence for Science | Campus | $39,000 tuition | 9 months |
| UCLA | Los Angeles | Data Science Engineering | Online | Est. $39,600 | About 2 years, 1 quarter |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | Campus | Est. $60,725 | 12 months |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | ECE – Machine Learning and Data Science | Campus | Est. $91,487 incl. mandatory fees | 2–3 semesters |
| Westcliff University | Irvine | MS in Artificial Intelligence | Online / Campus / Hybrid | Est. $19,580–$21,620 | 2 years |
Tuition figures use the current values or estimates documented in each school profile. Public-university totals can vary by residency and fees. Open a school profile for the assumptions behind each estimate.
How the California Programs Compare
California’s options cover several distinct paths. Students who want a degree centered directly on AI can consider CSUN, SDSU, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and Westcliff. Dominican combines AI with business analytics, while San Francisco State and the University of San Francisco combine AI with broader data science training.
Other programs use machine learning as a specialization within a broader technical field. San Jose State approaches machine learning through statistics. Santa Clara combines machine learning with electrical and computer engineering and signal processing. USC places machine learning and data science within electrical and computer engineering. UCLA offers an online engineering degree with a Data Science Engineering specialization.
Online and Flexible Programs in California
Students who need distance learning have several strong options. CSUN is online, and UCLA’s Data Science Engineering program is online. Westcliff lists online, campus, and hybrid study options. SDSU also lists an online option for its AI and Technology program. Dominican uses a hybrid format.
Students who want a traditional campus experience have more choices, including San Francisco State, San Jose State, Santa Clara, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, the University of San Francisco, and USC.
Tuition and Cost
Cost varies sharply across these programs. Based on the current school profiles, Westcliff, San Francisco State, San Jose State, and SDSU sit near the lower end of the listed estimates. CSUN’s online program is also below $30,000 at its listed Fall 2027 tuition.
At the higher end, UC Berkeley’s one-year MAIML has estimated tuition and fees of about $84,004, while USC’s 32-unit ECE program is estimated at about $91,487 including mandatory fees. Private-school pricing can be higher, but shorter completion times at Berkeley, Dominican, UC Irvine, USF, and USC may reduce the time students spend away from full-time work.
Fastest California Programs
- UC Irvine: 9 months
- UC Berkeley: 1 academic year
- Dominican University of California: 12 months
- University of San Francisco: 12 months
- USC: 2–3 semesters
Choosing a California Machine Learning Master’s
California programs differ most in how they approach machine learning. Some degrees make AI the central subject, while others teach machine learning through data science, statistics, engineering, business analytics, or scientific applications. Matching that academic focus to your career goal can narrow a long list quickly.
Dedicated Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Programs
UC Berkeley offers the most concentrated machine learning option in this group through its Master of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The one-academic-year format can appeal to students who already have a strong technical foundation and want an intensive graduate degree centered directly on AI and ML.
CSUN and SDSU provide public-university alternatives with AI in the degree title. CSUN combines artificial intelligence with data science in a fully online program. SDSU’s Artificial Intelligence and Technology degree provides another direct AI route with campus and online study options. Westcliff also offers a dedicated MS in Artificial Intelligence and stands out for its choice of online, campus, or hybrid formats.
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Students who want machine learning alongside broader data science training should compare San Francisco State and the University of San Francisco. Both degrees explicitly combine data science and artificial intelligence, but their cost and pace differ sharply. SFSU is a campus-based public option that takes about two years and has an estimated resident cost near the lower end of this list. USF is a private, 12-month program with a higher estimated tuition.
UCLA is another option for students interested in data science, but its structure is different. The program is an online MS in Engineering with a Data Science Engineering specialization. It may fit students who want data science and machine learning within an engineering degree rather than a dedicated AI degree.
Statistics and Machine Learning
San Jose State takes a more mathematical route. Its MS in Statistics includes a Machine Learning specialization, making it a strong option for students who want statistical modeling and quantitative methods to form the foundation of their machine learning education. This structure differs from programs that begin with AI systems or computer science.
This path can make sense for students interested in data science, predictive modeling, statistical learning, or other roles where understanding the mathematics behind models matters as much as implementing them.
Engineering-Focused Machine Learning
USC and Santa Clara University place machine learning inside electrical and computer engineering. USC’s specialization combines machine learning and data science, while Santa Clara pairs signal processing with machine learning. These programs can be a better academic match for engineers who want ML connected to signals, systems, computing, and other engineering applications.
These engineering degrees also illustrate why students should look beyond the program title. A degree does not need “artificial intelligence” in its name to provide substantial graduate-level machine learning study.
Applied AI for Science and Business
Two California programs apply AI to more specific domains. UC Irvine offers an MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence for Science. Its 9-month format and scientific emphasis distinguish it from general AI degrees and can appeal to students who want to use AI in scientific research or technical scientific settings.
Dominican University of California combines business analytics and artificial intelligence in a 12-month hybrid program. Its focus is more business-oriented than the engineering, statistics, and computer science options on this page. It may fit students who want to apply AI and analytics to business decisions rather than pursue a heavily engineering-based curriculum.
California Programs by Career Goal
- AI or machine learning engineering: Start with UC Berkeley, CSUN, SDSU, and Westcliff for degrees centered directly on AI, then compare USC and Santa Clara if you prefer an engineering framework.
- Data science: Compare San Francisco State, University of San Francisco, UCLA, and CSUN for programs that combine machine learning with broader data science study.
- Statistical machine learning: San Jose State stands out because machine learning is a specialization within an MS in Statistics.
- Scientific AI: UC Irvine has the clearest specialization for applying artificial intelligence to scientific work.
- Business analytics and AI: Dominican provides the clearest business-focused option among these California programs.
- Engineering applications: USC and Santa Clara connect machine learning to electrical and computer engineering, while UCLA places data science within an engineering master’s degree.
How to Narrow the List
After choosing the academic direction, compare total tuition, program length, delivery format, prerequisites, and required courses. A student focused on cost may reach a different shortlist than someone focused on completing the degree in one year. An experienced engineer may prefer USC or Santa Clara, while a student interested in statistical modeling may get a better match at San Jose State.
California has enough variety that there is no single best program for every student. Use the specialization first to identify the programs that teach what you want to learn, then use cost, format, and completion time to make the final comparison.
Compare More Machine Learning Master’s Programs
You can also compare machine learning master’s programs by state, review online machine learning master’s degrees, or see our guide to low-cost machine learning master’s programs.