Penn State Great Valley offers a professional Master of Artificial Intelligence focused on AI engineering and production-ready machine learning systems. The 30-credit STEM-designated program combines advanced AI coursework with practical engineering, flexible electives, and a culminating capstone.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| School | Penn State |
| Location | Malvern, Pennsylvania |
| Degree | Master of Artificial Intelligence |
| Credits | 30 credits |
| Format | Hybrid at Penn State Great Valley; separate fully online option through World Campus |
| Length | 18 months full time; about 2 years part time |
| 2026-27 tuition | $1,207 per credit for PA residents; $2,032 per credit for nonresidents when billed part time |
| Estimated 30-credit tuition | $36,210 PA resident; $60,960 nonresident, before mandatory fees |
| AI focus | Deep learning, NLP, predictive analytics, machine vision, reinforcement learning, AI engineering |
Curriculum
The 30-credit curriculum is coding-intensive and centers on building, evaluating, and deploying AI and machine learning systems. Required courses cover quantitative methods, artificial intelligence foundations, deep learning, natural language processing, AI ethics, and predictive analytics.
Students also complete 9 credits of electives. Options include Reinforcement Learning, Machine Vision, Data Mining, Data Collection and Cleaning, Analytics Programming in Python, Data Visualization, Database Design Concepts, and special topics.
Credits and Program Length
The Master of Artificial Intelligence requires 30 credits. Penn State says students can complete the degree in as little as 18 months of full-time study or about two years of part-time study. Courses run in seven-week sessions, which can make the program easier to combine with full-time work.
Tuition and Cost
For fall 2026, Penn State Great Valley lists tuition for graduate programs other than the MBA at $1,207 per credit for Pennsylvania residents and $2,032 per credit for nonresidents when students are billed at the part-time per-credit rate. See Penn State’s official tuition schedules for current rates.
Using those rates, estimated tuition for the 30-credit degree is about $36,210 for Pennsylvania residents and $60,960 for nonresidents. These estimates do not include mandatory student fees, books, or future tuition increases. Full-time students may be billed using Penn State’s semester flat rate instead of the per-credit calculation.
Admissions
Penn State’s admission requirements recommend a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a related technical field. Applicants from other academic backgrounds may still be considered if their prior coursework provides the required mathematics and programming preparation. A 3.0 junior/senior undergraduate GPA is recommended.
Applicants should review the official admissions page for the current application materials, prerequisite expectations, deadlines, and international applicant requirements. Penn State Great Valley also offers low-cost, non-credit online preparation modules for applicants who need additional math or programming background.
Machine Learning and AI Focus
This is a direct artificial intelligence degree with a strong machine learning engineering focus. Students study supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning, along with deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, predictive analytics, statistical reasoning, data pipelines, and model evaluation. The program goes well beyond a general computer science degree with a small AI elective set.
Hybrid and Online Options
The Great Valley version is best classified as Hybrid. Courses often meet once per week and alternate between in-person and online sessions, although some courses may be fully online. Penn State also offers a separate fully online Master of Artificial Intelligence through World Campus. Students who want the online version should compare its curriculum and tuition separately because it is a distinct delivery option.
Capstone and Stackable Certificates
Students complete a 3-credit capstone in A-I 894 Research Topic after finishing the major required courses. The capstone centers on building a functional AI product or service and applying AI methods to an industry or research problem.
The curriculum can also support stackable graduate certificates in Foundations of Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, and Computer Vision.
Who Is This Program Best For?
Penn State’s program may fit software developers, engineers, data professionals, and other technically prepared students who want a focused AI degree without leaving the workforce. The hybrid schedule is especially useful for students in the Philadelphia region who want some campus access while keeping much of the program flexible. Students who want a thesis and a stronger research path should also compare Penn State Great Valley’s separate M.S. in Artificial Intelligence.
Bottom Line
Penn State Great Valley offers one of the clearer professional AI options in Pennsylvania: a 30-credit, coding-intensive curriculum with deep learning, NLP, predictive analytics, AI ethics, electives, and a capstone. The program can be completed in 18 months full time or about two years part time. Based on 2026-27 part-time rates, estimated tuition starts near $36,210 for Pennsylvania residents before fees.
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