Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) offers a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence that draws on its computer science, data science, and robotics engineering faculty.
The 30-credit program is offered on the Worcester campus and online. Every student takes Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and one course from each of four further areas, including machine learning and AI ethics, and finishes with a capstone project or a thesis.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Artificial Intelligence |
| School | Artificial Intelligence program, with courses from Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and The Business School |
| Location | Worcester, Massachusetts or Online |
| Format | Campus or online |
| Credits | 30 |
| Culminating Experience | 3-credit capstone project or 9-credit thesis |
| Specializations | 13 optional areas, 6 elective credits each |
| GRE | Not required |
| Admission | Rolling |
| Tuition | $1,775 per credit for 2026–27 |
Official MS in Artificial Intelligence page
Curriculum
WPI launched this degree in fall 2024. It is a standalone program, separate from the university’s MS in Computer Science and MS in Data Science, and each student files a Plan of Study that is approved by an advisor and the program’s graduate committee.
Students complete at least 30 graduate credits consisting of:
- 15 credits of core courses, one course from each of five areas that WPI calls bins
- 3 credits of capstone project or 9 credits of thesis
- electives to reach 30 credits
A single course cannot count toward two requirements. No more than 14 of the 30 credits may come from The Business School.
Artificial Intelligence
This bin has one course, so every student takes it:
- CS 534 – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Fairness, Ethics and AI
Students select one course from:
- CS 555/DS 555 – Responsible Artificial Intelligence
- SS 560 – Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technology, Ethics and Policy
- MIS 520 – Artificial Intelligence and its Ethical Applications in Business
- WR 513 – Ethical Impact and Communication in Robotics and AI Research
Machine Learning
Students select one course from:
- CS 539 – Machine Learning
- CS 541/DS 541 – Deep Learning
- CS 548 – Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
- CS 551/DS 551 – Reinforcement Learning
- CS 586/DS 504 – Big Data Analytics
- DS 502/MA 543 – Statistical Methods for Machine Learning
- ECE 556/CS 556/DS 556 – On-Device Deep Learning
- ECE 571 – Machine Learning Engineering Applications
- DS 577/ECE 577 – Machine Learning in Cybersecurity
- RBE 577 – Machine Learning for Robotics
Because the requirement is one course from this list, a student can meet it with data mining or statistical methods and never take the course titled Machine Learning or Deep Learning. Additional courses from the bin can be taken as electives.
Knowledge Representation and Reasoning
Students select one course from:
- CS 553/DS 553 – Machine Learning Development and Operations
- CS 542 – Database Management Systems
- CS 585/DS 503 – Big Data Management
- CS 509 – Design of Software Systems
- MIS 502 – Data Management for Analytics
- OIE 559 – Advanced Prescriptive Analytics: From Data to Impact
- RBE 550 – Motion Planning
- RBE 575 – Safety and Guarantees for Autonomous Robots
- RBE 511 – Swarm Intelligence
Interaction and Action
Students select one course from:
- CS 552/DS 552 – Generative Artificial Intelligence
- CS 554/DS 554 – Natural Language Processing
- CS 547/DS 547 – Information Retrieval
- CS 549/RBE 549 – Computer Vision
- RBE 526/CS 526 – Human-Robot Interaction
- ECE 545/CS 545 – Digital Image Processing
Electives and Specializations
Electives can be additional bin courses, AI-related special topics courses, independent study, or directed research. Students may also take up to 6 credits outside the core bins.
An optional specialization uses 6 elective credits in one related discipline, approved by the graduate advisor. The catalog lists 13 areas:
- AI and Business
- AI and Engineered Systems
- AI and Foundations
- AI and Game Development
- AI and Global Development
- AI and Health
- AI and Human Experiences
- AI and Learning Sciences
- AI and Material Sciences
- AI and Neuroscience
- AI and Robotics
- AI and Security
- AI and Software Systems
Students with gaps in their background can count up to 6 credits of preparatory courses toward the degree. These include CS 5007 – Introduction to Applications of Computer Science with Data Structures and Algorithms and MA 517/DS 5002 – Introductory Statistical Methods for Machine Learning.
Capstone Project or Thesis
Students choose one of two options:
- Capstone: CS 594/DS 594 – Graduate Qualifying Project in Artificial Intelligence or RBE 594 – Capstone Project Experience in Robotics Engineering, for 3 credits. Projects are usually done in teams, often with an industry sponsor, and end with a written report and a presentation.
- Thesis: 9 credits of research or development work on an AI topic under an AI-affiliated faculty advisor, ending with a written thesis and a public presentation.
Students usually choose in their second year and may switch between the two options only once. Students funded by a teaching assistantship, research assistantship, or fellowship are expected to take the thesis option.
Cost and Tuition
WPI is a private university and charges graduate tuition by the credit, with the same rate for Massachusetts residents and nonresidents.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the Bursar lists:
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
| Graduate tuition, per credit | $1,775 |
| Student Organization Fee, 9 or more credits | $45 per semester |
| Student Organization Fee, under 9 credits | $22 per semester |
At 30 credits, tuition comes to about $53,250 before fees. A 3-credit course costs $5,325.
The student organization fee does not apply to fully online students. The Bursar does not list a separate online tuition rate, so online students should confirm their rate with WPI. The Bursar also lists student health insurance at $2,945 for the year.
The application fee is $70. WPI waives it for online programs and, for this degree, for WPI students and alumni. Rates can change each year.
Admission Requirements
Applicants need the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree with a quantitative and computational background, including some coursework in:
- programming
- linear algebra
- statistics
WPI names computer science, data science, mathematics, statistics, electrical engineering, robotics engineering, information technology, and business analytics among the relevant majors. Applicants from other backgrounds can show readiness through GRE scores, professional certifications, or technical work experience.
WPI does not publish a minimum GPA for this program.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application and $70 application fee, where not waived
- transcripts from all degree-granting institutions, in English and the original language
- three letters of recommendation
- statement of purpose
- proof of English proficiency when required
The GRE is not required. For international applicants to master’s programs, WPI lists minimum scores of 84 on the TOEFL iBT, 7 on the IELTS, or 115 on the Duolingo English Test.
Application Deadlines
Admission to this program is rolling. WPI accepts graduate applications until two weeks before the semester begins and encourages applicants to apply at least two months before their start date.
| Entry Term | Priority Date for Funding | Latest Application Date |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | October 15 | December 15 |
| Fall 2027 | January 14 | August 6 |
Applicants who apply after the priority date can still be considered for funding if it remains available.
Program Format
WPI lists the MS in Artificial Intelligence as offered on campus or online, with the same admission requirements for both.
Campus courses are taught in Worcester. The university does not state on its program page which bin courses, specializations, or thesis arrangements are available to online students, so online applicants should confirm course availability before enrolling.
WPI undergraduates can also reach the degree through the university’s 4+1 BS/MS option. A 12-credit graduate certificate in artificial intelligence uses courses from the same list.
Who Is This Program Best For?
WPI’s MS in Artificial Intelligence is a strong option for students who want a degree in which every core course is tied to AI, with room to choose the technical direction.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning, deep learning, and reinforcement learning
- natural language processing, computer vision, and generative AI
- AI for robotics and engineering applications
- responsible AI and AI policy
- a choice between an industry-sponsored team capstone and a research thesis
- campus or online study with no GRE
The core asks for only one course from each bin, so deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision are choices and not guarantees, and applicants are expected to arrive with programming, linear algebra, and statistics. Tuition is charged at private university rates, and WPI does not publish a typical completion time for this degree. Students who want a fully prescribed machine learning sequence, a broader computer science core, or lower tuition may want to compare other Massachusetts schools.
Official Worcester Polytechnic Institute Program Links
- MS in Artificial Intelligence program page
- Graduate catalog entry
- Artificial Intelligence at WPI
- Graduate application requirements
- Graduate admissions and application dates
- International graduate students
- Tuition and fees
Related Machine Learning Programs in Massachusetts
Students can also compare Worcester Polytechnic Institute 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
- University of Massachusetts Lowell – Lowell
- Wentworth Institute of Technology – Boston