Best Bachelor's Artificial Intelligence Degree Programs in Colorado
University of Colorado Boulder — Boulder, CO
Key Distinction: Mandatory year-long senior capstone project with three options: Software Design Project with industry/research/faculty sponsor, Entrepreneurial Capstone for business launch preparation, or Senior Thesis for original research. Multiple specialization tracks available including AI & Machine Learning with focus on practical applications
Hakia Insight: CU Boulder's mandatory capstone with three pathways—industry-sponsored, entrepreneurial, or research—is rare at the bachelor's level; students graduate with either a portfolio project already deployed, a business pitch investors have reviewed, or a co-authored research paper.
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at CU Boulder emphasizes an engineering approach to computing, covering all levels from circuits and computer architecture to large application systems. Students gain strong foundations in mathematics, theoretical computing, and software engineering principles. The program requires a year-long senior capstone project where students work on real-world software engineering projects, entrepreneurial ventures, or original research under faculty supervision. Students must earn a grade of C- or better in both semesters of capstone to graduate. The AI & Machine Learning specialization track is particularly strong, combining algorithms, probability, statistics, and machine learning courses. CU Boulder's program emphasizes hands-on learning through capstone projects with industry sponsors and research opportunities. Post-graduation, graduates pursue careers at major tech companies and research institutions.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science — 4 years, on-campus. BS
Research Labs and Institutes
- NSF National AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming (iSAT)
- Environmental Data Science Innovation & Inclusion Lab (ESIIL)
- Autonomous Robotics & Perception Group (ARPG)
- Boulder Language and Social Technologies research group (BLAST)
- Bradley Lab
- Center for the Brain, A.I. and Child (BAIC)
- Collaborative Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab (CAIRO)
- Clauset Lab
- Climate & Machine Learning Boulder (CLIMB)
- Correll Lab
- D'Mello Emotive Computing Lab
- Human Interaction and RObotics Group (HIRO)
- Image and Video Computing (IVC)
- Kann Natural Language Processing Group (NALA)
- Center for Computational Language and Education Research (CLEAR)
Industry Partners
- Army Research Laboratory (collaborator)
- DARPA (sponsor)
- Boston Dynamics (collaborator)
- Coursera (partner)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Google.
Notable Faculty
- Sean Humbert — Autonomous systems and bio-inspired robots
- Christoffer Heckman — Computer vision and robotic perception
- Eric Frew — Aerospace engineering and autonomous systems
- Morteza Lahijanian — Formal verification and autonomous systems
- Brad Hayes — Human-robot collaboration and machine learning
- Alessandro Roncone — Human-robot collaboration
- James H. Martin — Natural language processing
- Maria Pacheco — Large language models and knowledge integration
- Danna Gurari — Computer vision and accessibility
- Tom Yeh — Human-computer interaction and AI education
- Esther Rolf — Geospatial AI and environmental monitoring
- Professor Monteleoni — Machine learning
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Boulder location provides access to tech industryProximity to aerospace and defense contractorsAccess to environmental monitoring networks in mountain west
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs — Colorado Springs, CO
Hakia Insight: Colorado Tech's performance-based admissions model—admission via B-grade pathway courses rather than standardized tests—removes a genuine barrier for career-switchers and non-traditional students who may have stronger applied skills than test scores.
At the bachelor's level, the MS-AI program offers performance-based admissions where students can gain admission by completing pathway courses with B or better grades, eliminating traditional application barriers. The program is delivered entirely online through Coursera with flexible course sequencing.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Artificial Intelligence — 4 years, online
Location Advantages:
Colorado School of Mines — Golden, CO
Key Distinction: Colorado School of Mines' AI program distinguishes itself through its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and practical applications, combining computer science fundamentals with engineering approaches to solve real-world problems.
Hakia Insight: Mines' dual focus on electromagnetics and mining reclamation through labs like ARC and CAUSE creates an unusual niche: students can deploy AI to solve billion-dollar problems in subsurface imaging and environmental remediation, not just consumer apps.
At the bachelor's level, colorado School of Mines offers a unique Business Engineering and Management Science program that fuses rigorous analytical problem-solving of engineering with essential business acumen, preparing students with STEM aptitude to be leaders in a data- and technology-driven business world through systematic, data-driven approaches to complex organizational challenges.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Artificial Intelligence — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Antennas, RFID, and Computational Electromagnetics (ARC) Group
- Center for Underground
- Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining
- MMC Facility
- Heavy Construction Studio
Industry Partners
- Office of Naval Research (sponsor)
- National Science Foundation (sponsor)
- ARPA-E (sponsor)
- NIST (partner)
- ARDC (sponsor)
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (collaborator)
- Sandia National Laboratory (collaborator)
- University of Virginia (collaborator)
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Iris Bahar — Security and privacy, systems research
- Dr. Tom Williams — Human-centered computing and robotics
- Dr. Dinesh Mehta — Algorithms and machine learning
- Dr. Bo Wu — Machine learning and data science systems
- Dr. Kaveh Fathian — Algorithms, machine learning, and robotics
- Dr. Katharina Pfaff — Artificial intelligence applications in geology
Location Advantages:
United States Air Force Academy — USAF Academy, CO
Key Distinction: The Air Force Academy's AI program uniquely combines rigorous computer science with military applications and direct AFRL partnership, producing officer-leaders prepared for AI's role in national defense.
Hakia Insight: The Air Force Academy's proximity to AFRL and direct research access means undergraduates aren't just learning AI theory—they're contributing to classified defense systems, an advantage that translates into rare clearance eligibility and national-security-sector recruiting attention immediately upon commissioning.
At the bachelor's level, artificial intelligence education at the Air Force Academy integrates deep technical training with military applications, preparing officers to lead in an era where AI shapes national defense. Cadets pursuing computer science and engineering tracks gain rigorous instruction in machine learning, autonomous systems, computer vision, and data analysis, alongside their core military curriculum. The program's distinctive advantage lies in access to cutting-edge Air Force research challenges, partnerships with Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) located nearby in Colorado Springs, and direct involvement in defense-relevant AI problems that other universities cannot offer. Faculty include both civilian computer scientists and military officers with operational experience, creating a unique perspective on AI ethics, security, and responsible deployment in high-stakes environments. Capstone projects often address real Air Force needs—from predictive maintenance of aircraft to UAV autonomy to cyber threat analysis—providing graduates with portfolio work that demonstrates immediate operational impact. Graduates commission as officers with AI expertise, positioned for roles in cyber operations, space command, intelligence analysis, and acquisition roles where AI strategy increasingly matters. The emphasis on trustworthy AI systems, adversarial robustness, and human-machine teaming reflects the Academy's focus on developing leaders who understand not just AI's technical capabilities but its strategic and ethical implications in defense and national security contexts.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Artificial Intelligence — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
Industry Partners
- Air Force Research Laboratory (government)
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Colorado Springs proximity to AFRLAccess to cutting-edge defense AI researchDirect partnerships with military AI initiatives
University of Denver — Denver, CO
Key Distinction: DU's data-centric, application-focused AI curriculum with strong regional industry partnerships and emphasis on responsible AI differentiates it from purely theory-heavy competitors.
Hakia Insight: DU's emphasis on responsible AI paired with IBM and Google partnerships suggests graduates are trained not just to build models, but to audit them for bias and fairness—a skillset that increasingly commands premium hiring in regulated industries like fintech and healthcare.
At the bachelor's level, the Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Denver has developed a data-centric approach to artificial intelligence education that emphasizes practical machine learning applications across finance, healthcare, and energy sectors. What sets this program apart is its integration of AI coursework with real-world problem-solving through capstone projects partnered with Denver-area companies and research institutions. Students can specialize in machine learning, natural language processing, or robotics, with access to modern computational facilities and collaborative labs. The program benefits from DU's location in the Denver metropolitan area, a growing tech hub with significant presence from companies like IBM, Google, and numerous fintech startups. Faculty members actively engage in research spanning deep learning, computer vision, and AI ethics, with opportunities for graduate students to contribute to published work. The curriculum balances theoretical foundations in algorithms and statistics with hands-on experience using industry-standard frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch. Career outcomes reflect strong placement in tech companies, consulting firms, and research institutions, with many graduates pursuing roles in data science, AI engineering, and machine learning operations. The program's emphasis on ethics and responsible AI development increasingly appeals to employers seeking thoughtful practitioners who understand both technical and societal implications of their work.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Artificial Intelligence — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Pioneer Hall Computing and Innovation Labs
Industry Partners
- IBM (corporate)
- Google (corporate)
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Denver metropolitan area tech hubProximity to IBM, Google, and fintech startupsGrowing AI talent market in Colorado
University of Colorado Colorado Springs — Colorado Springs, CO
Key Distinction: ABET accreditation. Specialized track in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with courses in machine learning, neural networks, data mining, big data, evolutionary computation, bioinformatics, and computational linguistics
Hakia Insight: UCCS's ABET accreditation plus direct pipelines to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman mean students complete specialized coursework in evolutionary computation and bioinformatics while employers are already recruiting from the same building—rare compression of academic credibility and job placement.
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at UCCS is an ABET-accredited program designed to prepare students for immediate professional employment upon graduation. The 120-credit curriculum integrates theoretical foundations with practical experience in hardware and software development. Students complete 43 credits in core computer science competencies (programming, architecture, software engineering, algorithms, ethics, and security) and choose a 12-credit specialty track, including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning—featuring courses in AI, machine learning, neural networks, data mining, big data, evolutionary computation, bioinformatics, and computational linguistics. The program emphasizes breadth through integration with sciences and humanities. Graduates develop competency in problem-solving, team collaboration, and lifelong learning. The curriculum culminates in CS 4300 (Advanced Software Engineering), a writing-intensive capstone course. The program prepares students for careers in technical development, project management, and technical sales across all branches of computer science.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning track — 4 years, on-campus. BS
Research Labs and Institutes
- Autonomous Systems and Robotics Laboratory
Industry Partners
- Lockheed Martin Space Systems (corporate)
- U.S. Department of Defense (government)
- Northrop Grumman (corporate)
Location Advantages: Proximity to U.S. Air Force Academy and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force StationAccess to Colorado Springs aerospace and defense sector employersNearness to Fort Carson military installation
Metropolitan State University of Denver — Denver, CO
Key Distinction: Metro State Denver's AI program stands out for making rigorous, industry-relevant machine learning education accessible to working professionals and diverse learners while maintaining strong ties to Denver's expanding AI job market.
Hakia Insight: Metro State Denver succeeds by making machine learning accessible to working professionals rather than competing on selectivity; the tradeoff is real earning potential in Denver's ML job market without the prestige premium of selective peers.
At the bachelor's level, metropolitan State University of Denver's artificial intelligence program is designed for accessibility and workforce relevance, offering students a clear pathway into machine learning and AI engineering roles through a curriculum that prioritizes practical skills and industry-aligned projects. The program emphasizes hands-on experience with contemporary tools and frameworks—Python-based machine learning libraries, cloud platforms, and production ML workflows—ensuring graduates can immediately contribute to AI initiatives upon employment. Teaching emphasizes real-world problem-solving: students work with actual datasets, build deployed models, and engage with industry mentors who help translate academic concepts into professional practice. Denver's thriving tech economy and startup scene provide abundant internship and employment connections, with faculty maintaining active relationships across the city's growing AI and data science communities. The program serves a diverse student body, including working professionals and first-generation college students, through flexible scheduling and evening classes that don't sacrifice rigor for accessibility. Graduates emerge with portfolio projects demonstrating end-to-end machine learning capabilities—from data acquisition and preprocessing through model evaluation and deployment—positioning them competitively for junior ML engineer roles, data science positions, and AI-focused careers across Denver's rapidly expanding tech sector.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Artificial Intelligence — 4 years, online
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Denver tech companies, Startups, Established software firms.
Location Advantages: Located in Denver tech hub with abundant ML engineering and data science positionsAccess to startup ecosystem and established tech companiesGrowing AI and machine learning job market in metro Denver area
Regis University — Denver, CO
Key Distinction: Regis's AI program uniquely serves working professionals with a cohort-based, industry-embedded curriculum that delivers production-ready machine learning skills without requiring full-time study.
Hakia Insight: Regis's cohort-based model means students learn alongside peers from Google, Amazon, and Microsoft while still employed—creating an instant professional network and real-world problem sets that most full-time programs can't replicate.
At the bachelor's level, regis University's AI program takes a career-accelerated approach, blending rigorous machine learning theory with immediate industry application through cohort-based learning models designed for working professionals. The curriculum emphasizes practical AI implementation across business contexts—including natural language processing, predictive analytics, and data-driven decision systems—with flexibility for students balancing education and employment. Faculty bring hands-on experience from tech companies and startups, infusing coursework with real project examples and case studies from active deployments. The program's strength lies in its ability to take students from foundational statistics and programming through advanced neural architectures and reinforcement learning while maintaining accessibility for mid-career professionals seeking technical depth without sacrificing work flexibility. Denver's booming tech ecosystem provides abundant opportunities for applied learning through partnerships with local fintech firms, healthcare analytics companies, and software enterprises. Graduates emerge ready to architect machine learning systems in production environments, lead AI initiatives, or transition into specialized ML engineering roles—paths particularly well-suited to professionals already embedded in industry looking to deepen technical credibility.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Artificial Intelligence — 4 years, online
Industry Partners
- Google Cloud (corporate)
- IBM (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Google, IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, Local Denver tech companies.
Location Advantages: Located in Denver tech corridor with major cloud computing and SaaS companiesAccess to Colorado's growing fintech and health tech sectors
Best Master's Artificial Intelligence Degree Programs in Colorado
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs — Colorado Springs, CO
Hakia Insight: Colorado Tech's performance-based admissions at the master's level bypasses GRE friction for experienced professionals pivoting into AI, allowing engineers with strong GPAs but weak standardized test history to enter immediately.
At the master's level, the MS-AI program offers performance-based admissions where students can gain admission by completing pathway courses with B or better grades, eliminating traditional application barriers. The program is delivered entirely online through Coursera with flexible course sequencing.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Artificial Intelligence — 1-2 years, online
Location Advantages:
University of Colorado Boulder — Boulder, CO
Key Distinction: Available on-campus at CU Boulder. Online option through Coursera partnership
Hakia Insight: CU Boulder's Coursera partnership makes its research-backed curriculum (iSAT, ESIIL, ARPG) accessible online at scale, but the real advantage is that online cohorts access the same faculty and publications as on-campus students—most universities isolate online learners from research.
The Professional Master's in Artificial Intelligence at CU Boulder prepares engineers, applied scientists, and technical professionals for career advancement into advanced technical leadership roles in AI engineering. The 30-credit program launches fall 2026 and is available both on-campus and online through Coursera. Students complete foundational AI courses, core AI coursework covering machine learning, statistical learning, data mining, and ethics, plus nine credit hours of electives across AI sub-disciplines and two interdisciplinary courses. The coursework-based track (no thesis option mentioned) must be completed within four years, accommodating working professionals. While specific salary data, assistantship opportunities, embedded certifications, and employer tuition partnerships are not detailed in available materials, the program emphasizes rapid advancement into technical leadership positions within the growing AI industry.
Programs Offered
- Professional Master's in Artificial Intelligence — 1-2 years, on-campus. MS
Research Labs and Institutes
- NSF National AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming (iSAT)
- Environmental Data Science Innovation & Inclusion Lab (ESIIL)
- Autonomous Robotics & Perception Group (ARPG)
- Boulder Language and Social Technologies research group (BLAST)
- Bradley Lab
- Center for the Brain, A.I. and Child (BAIC)
- Collaborative Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab (CAIRO)
- Clauset Lab
- Climate & Machine Learning Boulder (CLIMB)
- Correll Lab
- D'Mello Emotive Computing Lab
- Human Interaction and RObotics Group (HIRO)
- Image and Video Computing (IVC)
- Kann Natural Language Processing Group (NALA)
- Center for Computational Language and Education Research (CLEAR)
Industry Partners
- Army Research Laboratory (collaborator)
- DARPA (sponsor)
- Boston Dynamics (collaborator)
- Coursera (partner)
Notable Faculty
- Sean Humbert — Autonomous systems and bio-inspired robots
- Christoffer Heckman — Computer vision and robotic perception
- Eric Frew — Aerospace engineering and autonomous systems
- Morteza Lahijanian — Formal verification and autonomous systems
- Brad Hayes — Human-robot collaboration and machine learning
- Alessandro Roncone — Human-robot collaboration
- James H. Martin — Natural language processing
- Maria Pacheco — Large language models and knowledge integration
- Danna Gurari — Computer vision and accessibility
- Tom Yeh — Human-computer interaction and AI education
- Esther Rolf — Geospatial AI and environmental monitoring
- Professor Monteleoni — Machine learning
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Boulder location provides access to tech industryProximity to aerospace and defense contractorsAccess to environmental monitoring networks in mountain west
Colorado School of Mines — Golden, CO
Key Distinction: Colorado School of Mines' AI program distinguishes itself through its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and practical applications, combining computer science fundamentals with engineering approaches to solve real-world problems.
Hakia Insight: Mines' faculty in human-centered robotics and systems security combined with ARPA-E and ONR funding means master's students aren't just studying AI—they're embedded in government-funded projects where their thesis work may directly influence defense and energy policy.
At the master's level, colorado School of Mines offers a unique Business Engineering and Management Science program that fuses rigorous analytical problem-solving of engineering with essential business acumen, preparing students with STEM aptitude to be leaders in a data- and technology-driven business world through systematic, data-driven approaches to complex organizational challenges.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Artificial Intelligence — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Antennas, RFID, and Computational Electromagnetics (ARC) Group
- Center for Underground
- Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining
- MMC Facility
- Heavy Construction Studio
Industry Partners
- Office of Naval Research (sponsor)
- National Science Foundation (sponsor)
- ARPA-E (sponsor)
- NIST (partner)
- ARDC (sponsor)
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (collaborator)
- Sandia National Laboratory (collaborator)
- University of Virginia (collaborator)
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Iris Bahar — Security and privacy, systems research
- Dr. Tom Williams — Human-centered computing and robotics
- Dr. Dinesh Mehta — Algorithms and machine learning
- Dr. Bo Wu — Machine learning and data science systems
- Dr. Kaveh Fathian — Algorithms, machine learning, and robotics
- Dr. Katharina Pfaff — Artificial intelligence applications in geology
Location Advantages:
University of Denver — Denver, CO
Key Distinction: Flexible hybrid schedule with fully online option available. Fast-track degree by transferring up to 12 credits from industry certifications (Oracle, others)
Hakia Insight: DU's 36-48 credit structure lets working professionals transfer up to 12 credits from industry certs (Oracle, cloud platforms), effectively compressing a traditional 18-24 month timeline; this matters because Denver's AI salary floor is rising fast enough that 6 months of lost income is a real opportunity cost.
The MS in Applied Data Science and AI is a 36-48 credit, 18-24 month program designed for working professionals seeking career elevation and salary advancement. Offered in hybrid (online and on-campus) and fully online formats with flexible scheduling, the program allows fast-tracking through up to 12 transferable credits from industry certifications like Oracle. Students customize their degree through innovative electives and gain hands-on experience via an optional for-credit internship with leading employers including McKesson Health Solutions, Xcel Energy, Nike, and Charles Schwab. The curriculum integrates data engineering, AI modeling, and neural networks aligned with real-world industry standards. Median salary for data science graduates is $108k, with 84% of alumni employed in the US. Federal financial aid and employer tuition partnerships are available. The program emphasizes responsible data practices, analytical expertise, and portfolio development to position graduates for advanced tech roles.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Applied Data Science and AI — 1-2 years, on-campus. MS
Research Labs and Institutes
- Pioneer Hall Computing and Innovation Labs
Industry Partners
- IBM (corporate)
- Google (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $NaN.
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Denver metropolitan area tech hubProximity to IBM, Google, and fintech startupsGrowing AI talent market in Colorado
University of Colorado Colorado Springs — Colorado Springs, CO
Key Distinction: UCCS's AI program uniquely emphasizes defense and autonomous systems applications within a curriculum designed around cybersecurity-aware machine learning and AI safety.
Hakia Insight: UCCS's explicit focus on cybersecurity-aware machine learning and AI safety within autonomous systems reflects Colorado Springs' actual employer needs—Lockheed and Northrop recruit heavily for students who can build robust, adversarial-resistant models, not just accurate ones.
At the master's level, UCCS's artificial intelligence program stands out for its integration of AI theory with practical cybersecurity and autonomous systems applications—a curriculum design that reflects the school's proximity to major defense and security contractors. The program emphasizes machine learning, neural networks, and intelligent systems through a combination of foundational computer science courses and specialized AI electives. What distinguishes the experience is the opportunity to work on real-world problems in robotics and autonomous vehicles through partnerships with local industry and government agencies. Students benefit from faculty actively researching AI safety, adversarial machine learning, and human-computer interaction, which shapes both coursework and capstone projects. The location in Colorado Springs—home to significant military installations and aerospace companies—creates internship and employment pathways that many peer programs cannot match. Graduates typically transition into roles involving AI systems engineering, machine learning operations, and intelligent automation, particularly within defense contracting and government technology sectors. The program balances depth in mathematical foundations with breadth in application domains, making it especially attractive to students interested in trustworthy AI and high-stakes decision systems.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Artificial Intelligence — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Autonomous Systems and Robotics Laboratory
Industry Partners
- Lockheed Martin Space Systems (corporate)
- U.S. Department of Defense (government)
- Northrop Grumman (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, U.S. Air Force, National Security Agency.
Location Advantages: Proximity to U.S. Air Force Academy and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force StationAccess to Colorado Springs aerospace and defense sector employersNearness to Fort Carson military installation
Best Doctoral Artificial Intelligence Degree Programs in Colorado
University of Colorado Boulder — Boulder, CO
Key Distinction: CU Boulder leads the $20 million NSF AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming and combines world-class fundamental AI research with major interdisciplinary applications spanning education, environmental science, emergency response, and space exploration.
Hakia Insight: CU Boulder's $20 million NSF AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming funds doctoral students to reshape how AI supports human learning—meaning PhD students aren't just publishing, they're co-designing national education infrastructure, a rare position for influencing policy beyond academia.
At the doctoral level, university of Colorado Boulder's MS-AI offers performance-based admissions requiring no bachelor's degree or extensive work experience, with flexible 8-week sessions and pay-as-you-go tuition. The program provides advanced theoretical understanding and practical skills in AI technologies while emphasizing ethics, bias mitigation, and societal impact.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Artificial Intelligence — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — 4-6 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- NSF National AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming (iSAT)
- Environmental Data Science Innovation & Inclusion Lab (ESIIL)
- Autonomous Robotics & Perception Group (ARPG)
- Boulder Language and Social Technologies research group (BLAST)
- Bradley Lab
- Center for the Brain, A.I. and Child (BAIC)
- Collaborative Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab (CAIRO)
- Clauset Lab
- Climate & Machine Learning Boulder (CLIMB)
- Correll Lab
- D'Mello Emotive Computing Lab
- Human Interaction and RObotics Group (HIRO)
- Image and Video Computing (IVC)
- Kann Natural Language Processing Group (NALA)
- Center for Computational Language and Education Research (CLEAR)
Industry Partners
- Army Research Laboratory (collaborator)
- DARPA (sponsor)
- Boston Dynamics (collaborator)
- Coursera (partner)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: leading tech companies, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, research labs, startups.
Notable Faculty
- Sean Humbert — Autonomous systems and bio-inspired robots
- Christoffer Heckman — Computer vision and robotic perception
- Eric Frew — Aerospace engineering and autonomous systems
- Morteza Lahijanian — Formal verification and autonomous systems
- Brad Hayes — Human-robot collaboration and machine learning
- Alessandro Roncone — Human-robot collaboration
- James H. Martin — Natural language processing
- Maria Pacheco — Large language models and knowledge integration
- Danna Gurari — Computer vision and accessibility
- Tom Yeh — Human-computer interaction and AI education
- Esther Rolf — Geospatial AI and environmental monitoring
- Professor Monteleoni — Machine learning
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Boulder location provides access to tech industryProximity to aerospace and defense contractorsAccess to environmental monitoring networks in mountain west
Colorado School of Mines — Golden, CO
Key Distinction: Colorado School of Mines' AI program distinguishes itself through its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and practical applications, combining computer science fundamentals with engineering approaches to solve real-world problems.
Hakia Insight: Mines' doctoral program in electromagnetics and mining AI creates specialists in an unglamorous but capital-intensive sector where a single innovation in subsurface imaging can unlock billions in stranded mineral resources—PhD graduates here have leverage institutional partners lack.
At the doctoral level, colorado School of Mines offers a unique Business Engineering and Management Science program that fuses rigorous analytical problem-solving of engineering with essential business acumen, preparing students with STEM aptitude to be leaders in a data- and technology-driven business world through systematic, data-driven approaches to complex organizational challenges.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Artificial Intelligence — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — 4-6 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Antennas, RFID, and Computational Electromagnetics (ARC) Group
- Center for Underground
- Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining
- MMC Facility
- Heavy Construction Studio
Industry Partners
- Office of Naval Research (sponsor)
- National Science Foundation (sponsor)
- ARPA-E (sponsor)
- NIST (partner)
- ARDC (sponsor)
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (collaborator)
- Sandia National Laboratory (collaborator)
- University of Virginia (collaborator)
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Iris Bahar — Security and privacy, systems research
- Dr. Tom Williams — Human-centered computing and robotics
- Dr. Dinesh Mehta — Algorithms and machine learning
- Dr. Bo Wu — Machine learning and data science systems
- Dr. Kaveh Fathian — Algorithms, machine learning, and robotics
- Dr. Katharina Pfaff — Artificial intelligence applications in geology
Location Advantages:
University of Denver — Denver, CO
Key Distinction: DU's data-centric, application-focused AI curriculum with strong regional industry partnerships and emphasis on responsible AI differentiates it from purely theory-heavy competitors.
Hakia Insight: DU's data-centric doctoral focus paired with IBM and Google partnerships means dissertations are shaped by industry needs rather than pure theory; graduates often transition directly into applied researcher roles rather than postdocs, compressing the path to senior technical leadership.
At the doctoral level, the Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Denver has developed a data-centric approach to artificial intelligence education that emphasizes practical machine learning applications across finance, healthcare, and energy sectors. What sets this program apart is its integration of AI coursework with real-world problem-solving through capstone projects partnered with Denver-area companies and research institutions. Students can specialize in machine learning, natural language processing, or robotics, with access to modern computational facilities and collaborative labs. The program benefits from DU's location in the Denver metropolitan area, a growing tech hub with significant presence from companies like IBM, Google, and numerous fintech startups. Faculty members actively engage in research spanning deep learning, computer vision, and AI ethics, with opportunities for graduate students to contribute to published work. The curriculum balances theoretical foundations in algorithms and statistics with hands-on experience using industry-standard frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch. Career outcomes reflect strong placement in tech companies, consulting firms, and research institutions, with many graduates pursuing roles in data science, AI engineering, and machine learning operations. The program's emphasis on ethics and responsible AI development increasingly appeals to employers seeking thoughtful practitioners who understand both technical and societal implications of their work.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Artificial Intelligence — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — 4-6 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Pioneer Hall Computing and Innovation Labs
Industry Partners
- IBM (corporate)
- Google (corporate)
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Denver metropolitan area tech hubProximity to IBM, Google, and fintech startupsGrowing AI talent market in Colorado
