Kansas has a small group of graduate programs for students who want to study machine learning, artificial intelligence, or data science, and most of them sit inside broader computer science, data science, or technology degrees.
The options differ quite a bit. Wichita State University requires Machine Learning in its MS in Data Science. The University of Kansas and Kansas State University offer machine learning as electives within a computer science master’s. Ottawa University adds an AI and Machine Learning specialization to a computer science degree, Pittsburg State University offers an Artificial Intelligence emphasis within a technology management degree, and Fort Hays State University offers data mining as an elective in a general computer science master’s.
This guide compares the six Kansas programs and helps you decide which approach fits your goals. No Kansas university on this page offers a master’s degree named for machine learning, so the curriculum matters more than the degree title.
Kansas Machine Learning Master’s Programs at a Glance
| School | Degree | Location | Format | ML Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Hays State University | MS in Computer Science | Hays / Online | Campus or Online | Data mining as an elective; no machine learning course |
| Kansas State University | MS in Computer Science | Manhattan / Online | Campus or Online | AI as a breadth choice; ML, deep learning, NLP, and vision electives |
| Ottawa University | MS in Computer Science – AI and Machine Learning | Overland Park | Hybrid, weekend residencies | Two machine learning courses and a data science course in the specialization |
| Pittsburg State University | MS in Technology – Artificial Intelligence | Pittsburg / Online | Campus or Online | Introductory AI courses and an AI capstone in a management degree |
| University of Kansas | MS in Computer Science | Lawrence | Campus | Machine learning, data science, and computer vision electives |
| Wichita State University | MS in Data Science | Wichita | Campus | Machine Learning required in the core |
The programs range from a data science degree with required machine learning to general computer science and technology degrees where it is optional. Students should compare the curriculum rather than relying on the degree title alone.
Fort Hays State University
MS in Computer Science
Location: Hays, Kansas or Online
Credits: 33
Format: Campus or Online
Typical Length: 2 years
Minimum GPA: 2.5 on the last 60 credit hours
Machine Learning Focus: Data mining as an elective
Fort Hays State University has no master’s degree in machine learning, artificial intelligence, or data science. Its MS in Computer Science is the closest program for that audience.
The required core covers programming, databases, operating systems, and software engineering. Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery and Digital Image Processing are electives, and students finish with a 9-hour thesis or project.
FHSU Online charges one graduate rate of $362.73 per credit hour regardless of residency in 2026–27, the same as the on-campus resident rate.
Best fit for: Software developers and computer science graduates who want a low-cost general master’s degree, online or in western Kansas, with some data mining coursework.
View our complete Fort Hays State University computer science profile
Kansas State University
MS in Computer Science
Location: Manhattan, Kansas or Online
Credits: 30
Format: Campus or Online
Typical Length: Two years on campus; often longer online
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Machine Learning Focus: AI breadth choice with machine learning electives
Kansas State University offers its MS in Computer Science through the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, on the Manhattan campus and online.
Machine learning is not required of every student. It enters the degree through Principles of Artificial Intelligence, one choice in the Applied Computer Science breadth area, and through electives in machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. Students finish with a thesis, a report, or coursework only.
Admission normally requires a computer science degree, and online students pay a higher engineering surcharge than campus students.
Best fit for: Students with a computer science background who want machine learning inside a broad computer science master’s, with a thesis option and a choice of campus or online study.
View our complete Kansas State University machine learning profile
Ottawa University
MS in Computer Science – AI and Machine Learning Specialization
Location: Overland Park, Kansas
Credits: 42
Format: Weekend residencies three times a year, with alternating terms online
Machine Learning Focus: Two machine learning courses and a data science course in the specialization
Ottawa University offers its MS in Computer Science with an AI and Machine Learning Specialization at its Kansas City campus in Overland Park.
The program follows an executive format. Students attend a residency weekend on campus three times a year and complete a workplace practicum in every term, which means related employment is required throughout. Seven core courses cover cloud systems, networks, architecture, and project management.
Ottawa’s 2026–27 tuition schedule does not list a per-credit rate for this degree, so applicants need to request the current cost from the university.
Best fit for: People working in IT in the Kansas City area who want a broad computing degree with an introduction to machine learning on a weekend schedule.
View our complete Ottawa University machine learning profile
Pittsburg State University
MS in Technology – Artificial Intelligence Emphasis
Location: Pittsburg, Kansas or Online
Credits: 30
Format: Campus or Online
Minimum GPA: 2.7
Machine Learning Focus: Introductory AI courses and an AI capstone
Pittsburg State University offers an Artificial Intelligence emphasis within its MS in Technology. It is the university’s only master’s degree that requires artificial intelligence coursework.
This is a technology management degree. Eighteen of the 30 credits are a management core, joined by two required AI courses, an AI capstone project, and two electives that can include Data Mining, Predictive Analytics, or Artificial Intelligence. The curriculum has no dedicated machine learning or deep learning course.
In-state tuition is $416 per credit hour in 2026–27, and the Gorilla Advantage program extends that rate to residents of many other states.
Best fit for: Technology professionals and managers who want to apply and oversee AI tools at work rather than build machine learning models.
View our complete Pittsburg State University AI profile
University of Kansas
MS in Computer Science
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Credits: 31
Format: Campus
Typical Length: About two years
GRE: Optional
Machine Learning Focus: Machine learning, data science, and computer vision electives
The University of Kansas offers its MS in Computer Science through the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the School of Engineering.
Machine learning is not required of every student. It enters the degree through electives such as Machine Learning, Advanced Data Science, and Computer Vision, which students choose with a faculty adviser. The degree can be finished with a thesis, a project, or coursework only.
The program is taught on the Lawrence campus and has no online option.
Best fit for: Students who want machine learning inside a flexible, research-oriented computer science master’s at a public university.
View our complete University of Kansas machine learning profile
Wichita State University
MS in Data Science
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Credits: 30
Format: Campus
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Entry Terms: Fall, spring, and summer
Machine Learning Focus: Machine Learning required in the core
Wichita State University offers its MS in Data Science through the School of Computing in the College of Engineering.
Machine Learning is a required core course, which makes this the only program on this page where every student takes it. The elective list includes Artificial Intelligence, Neural Networks and Deep Learning, and Image Analysis and Computer Vision, and students finish with a capstone project.
Kansas-resident tuition is $367.92 per credit hour in 2026–27, before engineering and campus fees.
Best fit for: Computer science and engineering graduates who want a campus data science degree with machine learning in the required core.
View our complete Wichita State University data science profile
Which Kansas Machine Learning Program Is Right for You?
These six programs serve different types of students.
| If You Want… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Machine learning as a required course | Wichita State University |
| The widest choice of machine learning electives | Kansas State University |
| A research-oriented computer science degree with a thesis | University of Kansas or Kansas State University |
| An online option | Kansas State University, Fort Hays State University, or Pittsburg State University |
| The lowest online tuition | Fort Hays State University |
| AI for managers and technology leaders | Pittsburg State University |
| A weekend schedule in the Kansas City area | Ottawa University |
| A data science degree | Wichita State University |
There is no single best program for every student. The strongest choice depends on whether you want required machine learning, a broader computer science education, an applied or management-focused degree, or the flexibility of online study.
Campus vs. Online Machine Learning Programs in Kansas
Students who want to study on campus have choices across the state.
The University of Kansas is in Lawrence, Kansas State University is in Manhattan, and Wichita State University is in Wichita. Fort Hays State University is in western Kansas, Pittsburg State University is in the southeast, and Ottawa University teaches this degree in Overland Park in the Kansas City area.
Kansas State, Fort Hays State, and Pittsburg State also offer their degrees online. Ottawa University uses a hybrid format built around three on-campus weekends a year.
The University of Kansas and Wichita State programs on this page are campus-based.
Students who want more online choices can also compare schools outside Kansas in our guide to online master’s degrees in machine learning.
What Do Kansas Machine Learning Programs Teach?
Curriculum varies by school, but Kansas graduate students can study subjects such as:
- Machine learning
- Artificial intelligence
- Deep learning and neural networks
- Natural language processing
- Computer vision and image processing
- Data mining
- Data science and statistics
- Databases and distributed systems
- AI ethics and governance
The biggest difference is how these subjects fit into each degree.
Wichita State approaches machine learning through data science and requires it. The University of Kansas, Kansas State, Fort Hays State, and Ottawa place it within computer science, mostly as electives or a specialization. Pittsburg State treats artificial intelligence as a subject for technology managers.
That distinction should be an important part of your program comparison.
Machine Learning Careers in Kansas
A machine learning master’s degree can support careers in data science, machine learning engineering, artificial intelligence, software development, analytics, and research.
Kansas technology employment is concentrated in the Kansas City metro area and Wichita, with employers in aviation and aerospace manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, financial services, and navigation technology.
Your career options will depend on more than the degree itself. Programming ability, mathematics, internships, research experience, projects, and experience deploying machine learning systems can all affect your job prospects.
Compare More Machine Learning Master’s Programs
Kansas has fewer dedicated machine learning programs than larger states, so students do not need to limit their search by state.
You can also:
- Compare machine learning master’s programs in every state
- Explore online machine learning master’s degrees
Before applying, check each university’s official website for current tuition, admission requirements, course availability, and application deadlines.