Tufts University offers a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence through the School of Engineering, taught jointly by the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The 30-credit program is offered on the Medford/Somerville campus. Every student takes a required core in artificial intelligence, machine learning, AI ethics, and probability or statistics, then completes either a Computer Science track or an Electrical and Computer Engineering track.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Artificial Intelligence |
| Tracks | Computer Science or Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| School | School of Engineering |
| Location | Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts |
| Format | On campus, full time or part time |
| Credits | 30 minimum, at least 10 courses |
| Culminating Experience | None required; thesis or project optional in the Computer Science track |
| Minimum GPA | No minimum |
| GRE | Not required with a U.S. or Canadian degree; required for all other applicants |
| Tuition | $1,855 per credit (2026–27) |
| Fall Deadlines | January 15 (priority), April 15 (regular), rolling through August 1 |
| Spring Deadlines | October 1 (priority), December 1 (final) |
| Typical Length | 18 to 24 months |
Official MS in Artificial Intelligence page
Curriculum
The MS in Artificial Intelligence is a standalone degree, separate from the university’s MS in Computer Science and MS in Data Science. It has a shared core and two department tracks.
Students complete a minimum of 30 credits and at least 10 courses, all numbered 100 or above, consisting of:
- 4 core courses required of all students
- 1 required track course
- track electives chosen with an advisor
Core Courses
- CS 131 – Artificial Intelligence
- Machine learning, one course: CS 135 – Introduction to Machine Learning and Data Mining, or EE 143/CS 144 – Iterative Methods in Machine Learning
- CS 239 – Ethics for AI, Robotics, and Human-Robot Interaction
- Probability, statistics, and mathematics, one course: EE 104 – Probabilistic Systems Analysis, MATH 165 – Probability, MATH 166 – Statistics, or EE 140 – Stochastic Processes, Detection, and Estimation
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and AI ethics are required of every student. Deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and reinforcement learning are electives.
Computer Science Track
This track approaches machine learning and AI from a computational perspective, with attention to the social context of AI. Students take one required course, four breadth electives, and one general elective.
- CS 150 – Advanced AI (required)
Students select four breadth electives from:
- CS 119 – Big Data
- CS 130/EE 110 – Optimization in Deep Learning
- CS 132 – Computer Vision
- CS 133 – Human-Robot Interaction
- CS 136 – Statistical Pattern Recognition
- CS 137 – Deep Neural Networks
- CS 138 – Reinforcement Learning
- CS 141 – Probabilistic Robotics for HRI
- CS 142 – Network Science
- CS 143/EE 130 – Distributed ML and Control
- CS 157 – Special Topics in AI
- CS 166 – Computational Systems Biology
- CS 167/BME 167 – Computational Biology
- CS 168/EE 109 – Convex Optimization or CS 268/EE 159 – Advanced Optimization
- CS 169 – Statistical Bioinformatics
- CS 236 – Computational Learning Theory
- DATA 297 – Deep Learning for Multimodal AI
- DATA 297 – Introduction to Natural Language Processing
- MATH 123 – Mathematical Aspects of Data Analysis
- MATH 167 – Stochastic Processes
With advisor agreement, one elective may be an additional ethics and social impact course, such as CS 183/DHP P237 – Privacy in the Digital Age or CS 184/ILO 184 – Cyberlaw and Cyberpolicy.
The general elective can be any CS, DS, EE, or MATH course numbered 100 or above, or a course approved by an advisor. A master’s project counts in this slot.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Track
This track combines machine learning with engineering domain knowledge, including hardware and systems for AI. The department lists one required course, four theory and systems electives, and two domain-specific electives.
- EE 141 – Trusted and Responsible AI (required)
Theory and systems electives include:
- CS 136 – Statistical Pattern Recognition
- CS 137 – Deep Neural Networks
- CS 236 – Computational Learning Theory
- EE 109/CS 168 – Convex Optimization or EE 159/CS 268 – Advanced Optimization
- EE 110/CS 130 – Optimization in Deep Learning
- EE 127 – Information Theory
- EE 130/CS 143 – Distributed ML and Control
- EE 140 – Stochastic Processes
- EE 152 – Real-time Embedded Systems
- EE 153 – Networked Embedded Systems
- EE 155 – Parallel Computing
- EE 157 – Emerging Memory Systems
- EE 193 – High-dimensional Probability
- EE 193 – Hardware and Systems for Machine Learning
- MATH 123 – Mathematical Aspects of Data Analysis
Domain-specific electives include:
- CS 119 – Big Data
- CS 132 – Computer Vision
- CS 133 – Human-Robot Interaction
- CS 138 – Reinforcement Learning
- CS 141 – Probabilistic Robotics for HRI
- CS 142 – Network Science
- CS 166 – Computational Systems Biology
- CS 167/BME 167 – Computational Biology
- CS 169 – Statistical Bioinformatics
- EE 107 – Communication Systems
- EE 108 – Wireless Communications
- EE 114 – Physics of Solar Cells
- EE 127/CS 149 – Information Theory
- EE 129 – Computer Communication Networks
- EE 193 – Digestible Electronics
- EE 247 – Advanced Analog and Mixed Signal IC Design
Both lists also name courses without course numbers, including Probabilistic Machine Learning, Causal Inference, Graph Neural Networks and Graph Signal Processing, Physics-guided Neural Networks, and Large Language Models. Students should confirm with the department how the track’s courses fit within the 10-course minimum.
Thesis Option
The degree does not require a thesis or capstone. In the Computer Science track, students who choose a two-term master’s thesis replace the general elective and one breadth elective with that work. The department does not describe a thesis option for the Electrical and Computer Engineering track.
Cost and Tuition
Tufts is a private university and charges School of Engineering graduate tuition by the credit, with the same rate for Massachusetts residents and nonresidents.
For the 2026–27 academic year, Tufts lists:
| Category | Tuition |
|---|---|
| Per credit | $1,855 |
| Full time, per semester (9 to 12 credits) | $16,695 to $22,260 |
| Part time, per semester (3 to 6 credits) | $5,565 to $11,130 |
| Estimated total tuition (30 credits) | $55,650 |
Students also pay a Graduate Student Activity Fee of $31 per semester. A Student Health and Wellness Fee, listed at $1,288 for the academic year, is mandatory for full-time students and for part-time students registered for seven or more credits. Students are automatically charged for the university health insurance plan, listed at $4,975 for the year, which can be waived with comparable coverage.
The School of Engineering offers partial, merit-based tuition scholarships. All applicants are considered automatically, with no separate application.
Rates can change each academic year, so students should confirm current costs with Tufts.
View Tufts School of Engineering graduate tuition and fees
Admission Requirements
The program is designed for students with a background in computer science, mathematics, or a related technical field. Tufts does not list specific prerequisite courses for it.
Tufts sets no minimum GPA for graduate admission. Applications are reviewed as a whole.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application
- resume or CV
- personal statement
- transcripts from each institution attended
- three letters of recommendation
- GRE scores, if applicable
- TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores, if applicable
- optional portfolio
The GRE is not required for applicants who will hold a degree from an institution in the United States or Canada by the time they enroll. It is required for all other applicants.
For applicants who are not native English speakers, Tufts generally advises a TOEFL iBT score of 90, an IELTS score of 6.5, or a Duolingo English Test score of 120.
The standard application fee is $85. Tufts has waived it for School of Engineering master’s applicants for all 2027 entry terms.
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | January 15 (priority), April 15 (regular), rolling through August 1 |
| Spring | October 1 (priority), December 1 (final) |
The program does not admit students for summer. Applicants are encouraged to apply early for priority scholarship consideration.
Program Format
The MS in Artificial Intelligence is taught on campus in Medford/Somerville. Tufts does not list an online version of this degree.
Students can enroll full time, taking three or four courses per semester, or part time, taking one or two. Tufts lists the average duration as 18 to 24 months.
Students may have the opportunity to join the School of Engineering’s Graduate Cooperative Education Program, which allows up to six months of full-time professional experience.
Tufts offers separate online master’s degrees in computer science and data science for students who need remote study.
Who Is This Program Best For?
The Tufts MS in Artificial Intelligence is a strong option for students with a technical background who want a campus-based degree built around AI and machine learning, with a choice between a computational track and an engineering track.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- artificial intelligence and machine learning as required coursework
- AI ethics and trusted, responsible AI
- computer vision, natural language processing, and reinforcement learning as electives
- robotics and human-robot interaction
- optimization, information theory, and hardware and embedded systems for machine learning
- an optional thesis in the Computer Science track
The degree is offered on campus only, at private university tuition, and applicants with degrees from outside the United States and Canada must submit GRE scores. Deep learning, computer vision, and natural language processing are electives, not requirements. Students who want an online program, lower tuition, or a curriculum that requires deep learning may want to compare other Massachusetts schools or the university’s online master’s degrees.
Official Tufts University Program Links
- MS in Artificial Intelligence program page
- Degree requirements, Department of Computer Science
- Degree requirements, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Graduate application requirements
- School of Engineering tuition and fees
- Graduate cost of attendance
Related Machine Learning Programs in Massachusetts
Students can also compare Tufts University 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
- University of Massachusetts Amherst – Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Lowell – Lowell
- Wentworth Institute of Technology – Boston
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Worcester