The University at Albany offers a Master of Science in Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concentration through the Department of Computer Science in the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering.
The 31-credit degree is based in Albany and is part of the State University of New York system. Machine learning is not required of every student. It enters the degree through the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concentration, one of three concentrations students choose from, and through electives in natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Computer Science |
| Concentrations | Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Systems, or Theoretical Computer Science |
| School | Department of Computer Science, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering |
| Location | Albany, New York |
| Credits | 31 |
| Culminating Experience | Master’s project, approved internship, or thesis |
| Minimum GPA | Not listed |
| GRE | Not listed as a requirement |
| Deadlines | Rolling for fall and spring |
| Tuition | $5,655 per semester for New York residents at 12 credits (2026–27) |
| STEM Designated | Yes |
Official MS in Computer Science page
Curriculum
UAlbany does not offer a standalone master’s degree in machine learning through its computing college. Students earn the MS in Computer Science and choose one of three concentrations. The requirements below took effect in spring 2026, and students admitted earlier follow the previous version of the program.
Students complete 31 graduate credits consisting of:
- 7 credits of core courses
- 6 credits of concentration courses
- 15 credits of electives
- 3 credits of a culminating experience
At least 25 credits must come from the Department of Computer Science.
Core Courses
- CSI 503 – Algorithms and Data Structures
- CSI 518 – Software Engineering
Both courses are required in every concentration. Software Engineering is a 4-credit course.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Concentration
Students take two of these three courses:
- CSI 531 – Data Mining
- CSI 535 – Artificial Intelligence I
- CSI 536 – Machine Learning
Because only two of the three are required, a student in this concentration can graduate without the Machine Learning course itself. Students who want it should plan for it when choosing their concentration courses.
Other Concentrations
- Systems: two of CSI 500 – Operating Systems, CSI 508 – Database Systems I, and CSI 516 – Computer Communications Networks
- Theoretical Computer Science: two of CSI 509 – Automata and Theory of Computation, CSI 519 – Advanced Programming Concepts, and CSI 529 – Probability and Computing
Students who choose one of these concentrations are not required to take a machine learning course.
Electives
Students complete 15 credits of computer science courses numbered 500 or above. Up to two courses from outside the department may count with approval. Courses in the artificial intelligence and machine learning area include:
- CSI 533 – Theory and Practice of Multimedia Computing
- CSI 552 – Robotics
- CSI 571 – Introduction to Computer Vision
- CSI 636 – Natural Language Processing
- CSI 661 – Topics in Artificial Intelligence
- CSI 671 – Computer Vision
A breadth rule applies to the electives. Students take at least one course from each of the three areas, so a student in the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concentration also completes at least one systems course and one theory course. Options include CSI 524 – Computer Security, CSI 526 – Cryptography, and CSI 501 – Computational Linear Algebra, Nonlinear Algebra, and Optimization.
Culminating Experience
Students finish with one 3-credit option:
- CSI 680 – Master’s Project
- CSI 698 – Internship
- CSI 699 – Master’s Thesis
The internship needs department approval and must include a graduate-level educational component. The thesis is a research project supervised by a computer science faculty member and ends with a public presentation.
Cost and Tuition
UAlbany is a public university, and tuition differs for New York residents and out-of-state students. Students enrolled in 12 credits pay a flat semester rate, and students taking fewer credits are charged by the credit.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the university lists these graduate rates for most master’s programs:
| Category | New York Resident | Out of State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition per semester at 12 credits | $5,655 | $13,245 |
| Fees per semester at 12 credits | $1,299 | $1,299 |
| Tuition and fees per semester at 12 credits | $6,954 | $14,544 |
| Tuition and fees for 9 credits | $5,236.97 | $10,933.97 |
| Tuition and fees for 3 credits | $1,758.99 | $3,657.99 |
The 12-credit rates work out to about $471 per credit for residents and about $1,104 per credit for out-of-state students. At 31 credits, that is roughly $14,600 or $34,200 in tuition before fees. These totals are estimates based on the published semester rates.
Some courses carry additional course fees. Out-of-state students from the United States may be able to apply for New York residency for billing purposes after one year. Rates can change each year.
View University at Albany graduate tuition and fees
Admission Requirements
Applicants are expected to hold an undergraduate degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field.
The department expects prior coursework in:
- object-oriented programming, data structures, and algorithms
- discrete mathematics
- programming languages, system fundamentals, and software engineering
- calculus and linear algebra
- probability and statistics
The program page does not list a minimum GPA.
New students take a discrete mathematics proficiency exam on campus before their first semester. Students who do not pass complete CSI 521 – Discrete Mathematics with Applications, which counts as an elective.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application and $75 application fee
- transcripts from all schools attended
- one letter of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency when required
UAlbany does not list the GRE among the requirements for this program.
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | Rolling |
| Spring | Rolling |
| Summer | Not available |
For programs with rolling admission, the Graduate School generally closes applications on August 1 for fall and December 1 for spring, or earlier if a program fills. Decisions typically take at least six weeks.
Program Format
The Department of Computer Science is located on the university’s campus in Albany. The university does not include the MS in Computer Science in its list of online graduate programs, and the discrete mathematics exam is given in person.
The program page says the degree can take one full year. Students who take 9 to 12 credits a semester should expect the 31 credits to take longer than two semesters.
The degree is STEM designated, which allows eligible international students to apply for the STEM OPT extension.
UAlbany undergraduates with at least a 3.0 GPA can begin graduate coursework early through an accelerated option and apply up to 12 credits toward both degrees.
Who Is This Program Best For?
UAlbany’s MS in Computer Science is a strong option for students with a computing background who want machine learning inside a broad computer science master’s degree at public university tuition.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning and data mining
- artificial intelligence
- natural language processing
- computer vision and robotics
- a choice of project, internship, or thesis
- a STEM-designated degree with rolling admission
The degree is a computer science master’s first. Machine learning is a concentration choice, not a requirement for every student, and algorithms, software engineering, and systems and theory breadth courses are part of every plan. The curriculum has no course dedicated to deep learning, and the program expects an undergraduate computing degree. Students who want a degree built entirely around AI, an online format, or a route in from a non-computing major may want to compare other New York schools or the university’s MS in Data Science, which requires a machine learning course.
Official University at Albany Program Links
- MS in Computer Science program page
- Graduate Bulletin entry
- Computer science course descriptions
- Department student resources
- Graduate application information
- Graduate tuition and fees
Related Machine Learning Programs in New York
Students can also compare University at Albany with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in New York.
- Binghamton University – Binghamton
- City College of New York – New York
- Clarkson University – Potsdam
- Columbia University – New York
- Cornell University – Ithaca
- Fordham University – New York
- Hofstra University – Hempstead
- Long Island University – Brooklyn
- Manhattanville University – Purchase
- Marist University – Poughkeepsie
- Mercy University – Dobbs Ferry
- New York University – New York
- Pace University – New York
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Troy
- Rochester Institute of Technology – Rochester
- St. John’s University – Queens
- Stony Brook University – Stony Brook
- SUNY Buffalo State University – Buffalo
- SUNY New Paltz – New Paltz
- SUNY Oswego – Syracuse
- SUNY Polytechnic Institute – Utica
- Syracuse University – Syracuse
- University at Buffalo – Buffalo
- University of Rochester – Rochester
- Utica University – Utica
- Yeshiva University – New York