Best Machine Learning Master's Degree Programs 2026

Best Machine Learning Programs - Top 10 Master's — Complete Program Data

1. #1. Carnegie Mellon University Master's Machine Learning Program

   Hakia ranks Carnegie Mellon University as the #1 master's in machine learning degree program. Location: Pittsburgh, PA | Type: Private | Tuition: $62,260/year | Graduation Rate: 98% | Score: 94.4

   What makes Carnegie Mellon University stand out: CMU houses the world's first academic machine learning department, founded in 2006, and has maintained the #1 ranking in artificial intelligence since 1997 according to U.S. News & World Report.

   Hakia Insight: Carnegie Mellon University leverages partnerships with Amazon and Bosch Group to offer students real-world project experience valued by employers.

   Program Overview: Carnegie Mellon's Master's in Machine Learning program emerges from the world's first academic machine learning department, founded in 2006. This intensive 16-month program can be completed in three semesters by motivated students, though many take four semesters to deepen their research experience or strengthen foundational skills. The curriculum demands six rigorous core courses spanning probabilistic graphical models to optimization theory, three specialized electives, and a full-time summer practicum that often leads to coveted industry positions. Students work alongside faculty who literally wrote the textbooks on machine learning, with access to cutting-edge research labs studying everything from deep reinforcement learning to AI ethics. The program welcomes students from diverse academic backgrounds - computer science majors study alongside physics PhDs and mathematics graduates - united by exceptional analytical skills and programming proficiency.

   Degree Programs: MS (16 months (3-4 semesters)); PhD; Fifth-Year MS; Joint PhD in Statistics and Machine Learning; Joint PhD in Machine Learning and Public Policy; Joint PhD in Neural Computation and Machine Learning

   Research Labs: Machine Learning Department - World's first academic ML department with research spanning theoretical foundations to real-world applications

   Industry Partners: Amazon, Bosch Group

   Career Outcomes:

   Notable Faculty: Zico Kolter (Department Head, AI and machine learning)

   Admissions: GPA: 3.9/4.0 average for admitted students

   Accreditations: STEM

2. #2. University of Southern California Master's Machine Learning Program

   Hakia ranks University of Southern California as the #2 master's in machine learning degree program. Location: Los Angeles, CA | Type: Private | Tuition: $66,640/year | Graduation Rate: 92% | Score: 92.5

   What makes University of Southern California stand out: USC houses the MS in Computer Science - Artificial Intelligence, the first dedicated AI master's program in the United States, while its interdisciplinary approach uniquely combines machine learning with wireless communications, social impact applications, and entertainment industry connections in the heart of Los Angeles.

   Hakia Insight: Students at University of Southern California benefit from active collaborations with Amazon and Meta, connecting classroom learning to the workforce.

   Program Overview: USC's Viterbi School of Engineering offers a comprehensive suite of machine learning and data science programs that bridge theoretical foundations with real-world applications. The flagship MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Machine Learning and Data Science provides focused, rigorous training in data science techniques, machine learning, and signal processing within the wireless communications domain. Complementing this is the MS in Computer Science - Artificial Intelligence, one of the nation's first dedicated AI master's programs, offering specialized tracks in deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics. For students seeking broader data science foundations, the MS in Applied Data Science trains professionals from diverse backgrounds through hands-on experiences and a unique professional practicum, emphasizing practical skills in Python programming, database management, and big data infrastructure. All programs require 32 units and can be completed in 1.5-2 years full-time. USC's machine learning ecosystem spans multiple research centers including the USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society, the Robotics and Autonomous Systems Center, and specialized labs like the Machine Learning and Data Mining Lab (Melady) and the Computational Social Science Laboratory. Students benefit from LA's tech corridor proximity and USC's extensive alumni network, with graduates placing at top-tier companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, and emerging AI startups.

   Degree Programs: MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Machine Learning and Data Science (1.5-2 years); MS in Computer Science - Artificial Intelligence (1.5-2 years); MS in Applied Data Science (1.5-2 years)

   Research Labs: USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society - AI applications for social good including combating human trafficking and wildlife conservation; Machine Learning and Data Mining Lab (Melady) - Advanced machine learning algorithms and data mining techniques; Robotics and Autonomous Systems Center (RASC) - Human-robot interaction, socially assistive robotics, and multi-robot systems; Computational Social Science Laboratory - Data science applications in social sciences and network analysis; Wireless Devices and Systems (WiDeS) Lab - Machine learning applications in wireless communications

   Industry Partners: Amazon, Meta, Capital One, Boeing, Intel, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Uber, Qualcomm

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Boeing, Uber, TikTok, Qualcomm | Common Roles: Software Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, Data Scientist, Computer Vision Engineer, AI Scientist, Product Development Engineer

   Admissions:

3. #3. Syracuse University Master's Machine Learning Program

   Hakia ranks Syracuse University as the #3 master's in machine learning degree program. Location: Syracuse, NY | Type: Private | Tuition: $61,310/year | Graduation Rate: 99% | Score: 84.3

   What makes Syracuse University stand out: Syracuse University's iSchool has been pioneering information science education since 1928 and uniquely integrates human-centered design principles into AI education, ensuring graduates develop both cutting-edge technical skills and ethical frameworks for responsible AI deployment.

   Hakia Insight: Syracuse University's industry network — including NetApp and ADP — provides students with internship and hiring pathways.

   Program Overview: Syracuse University's machine learning and AI programs are housed within the innovative School of Information Studies (iSchool), which offers a distinctive interdisciplinary approach combining technology with human-centered design. The flagship Master of Science in Applied Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence is a 31-credit, on-campus program that can be completed in as little as one year, emphasizing hands-on projects and portfolio development. The program stands out for its focus on responsible AI development, featuring core courses in Natural Language Processing, Deep Learning in Practice, and Responsible AI. Students work in state-of-the-art facilities while engaging with faculty like Professor Wanliang Shan, who leads research in soft robotics and machine learning applications. The iSchool also offers a complementary MS in Applied Data Science (34 credits) with specialized tracks in AI, Big Data, and Visual Analytics, available both on-campus and online through their established distance learning platform.

   Degree Programs: MS in Applied Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (1 year minimum); MS in Applied Data Science (Variable); MS in Sport Analytics (Variable)

   Research Labs: Shan Research Group (SRG) - Smart, Hybrid, Active and Nature-inspired Materials, Mechanics, and Machines with machine learning applications; BioInspired Institute - Interdisciplinary research including AI applications in biomedical engineering

   Industry Partners: NetApp, ADP, PayPal, Uber

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions: GPA: 3.0 minimum for Applied Data Science program

   Accreditations: ABET

4. #4. University of Washington-Seattle Campus Master's Machine Learning Program

   Hakia ranks University of Washington-Seattle Campus as the #4 master's in machine learning degree program. Location: Seattle, WA | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,524/year | Graduation Rate: 97% | Score: 81.7

   What makes University of Washington-Seattle Campus stand out: UW's engineering-focused AI/ML program is uniquely designed as a stackable degree system where working engineers can earn certificates that build toward a master's, with Boeing Company funding support and specializations spanning everything from robotics to materials science.

   Hakia Insight: University of Washington-Seattle Campus graduates earn $165,000, driven by the program's industry connections and hands-on machine learning curriculum.

   Program Overview: The University of Washington-Seattle Campus offers two distinct machine learning pathways: the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Engineering and the Master of Science in Data Science. The AI/ML for Engineering program is a flexible, stackable degree launching Fall 2026 that's specifically designed for working engineers who want to apply AI and ML to physical systems like manufacturing, robotics, and chemical processes. Built with Boeing Company funding support, this program can be completed fully online part-time or as a full-time student, combining foundational AI/ML skills with domain-specific training across multiple engineering disciplines. The complementary MSDS program has been operating since earlier and focuses on professional data science careers, meeting evenings on campus with an industry-relevant curriculum covering statistical modeling, data visualization, and software engineering. Both programs leverage UW's position as a top-10 global university with deep Seattle tech industry connections.

   Degree Programs: BS in Computer Science (AI/Machine Learning track) (4 years); MS in Machine Learning (2 years); MS in Computer Science (AI track) (2 years); PhD in Computer Science (AI/ML) (5-6 years)

   Research Labs: AI Institute for Dynamic Systems - Real-time learning and control of complex dynamic systems; AI Center for Dynamics & Control - Data-driven discovery and control of dynamical systems; eScience Institute - Data-intensive discovery across all fields using large, complex datasets; SMARTS Lab - Scale-independent Multimodal Automated Real Time Systems

   Industry Partners: Boeing Company, Amazon, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Costco IT, Zillow

   Career Outcomes:

   Notable Faculty: Ali Farhadi (Computer vision, visual understanding, AI for good); Noah Smith (Natural language processing, computational linguistics)

   Admissions: GPA: 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA required

   Accreditations: ABET accredited

5. #5. University of Pennsylvania Master's Machine Learning Program

   Hakia ranks University of Pennsylvania as the #5 master's in machine learning degree program. Location: Philadelphia, PA | Type: Private | Tuition: $58,620/year | Graduation Rate: 100% | Score: 73.7

   What makes University of Pennsylvania stand out: Penn's MSE-AI is taught by some of the top AI researchers in the world and uniquely emphasizes ethical AI training alongside technical rigor, preparing graduates not just to build AI tools but to responsibly shape the future of this transformative technology.

   Hakia Insight: University of Pennsylvania's industry network — including AWS and Google — provides students with internship and hiring pathways.

   Program Overview: Penn Engineering's Master of Science in Engineering in Artificial Intelligence (MSE-AI Online) is a fully online, asynchronous program that equips students with both cutting-edge technical skills and robust ethical frameworks for AI development. Known as The Raj and Neera Singh Program in Artificial Intelligence, this degree covers classical AI, natural language processing, generative AI, and modern deep learning while preparing students to address AI's societal risks head-on. The program is designed for professionals with computer science or engineering backgrounds who want to stay ahead of industry demand while studying from anywhere in the world. Students benefit from Penn's world-renowned AI faculty and engage with real-world tools and environments through hands-on assignments, all while being part of a tight-knit online community supported by robust engagement platforms.

   Degree Programs: BSE (4 years); MSE (1.5-2 years)

   Research Labs: GRASP Lab (General Robotics, Automation, Sensing & Perception) - Premier research center in robotics, vision, perception, control, and learning; ASSET Center - AI-Enabled Systems: Safe, Explainable and Trustworthy; The Warren Center for Network & Data Sciences - Network science, economics, sociology, and cryptography approaches to data; IDEAS Center - Innovation in Data Engineering and Science

   Industry Partners: AWS, Google

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: Startup founders, AI model builders, AI integration specialists

   Notable Faculty: Chris Callison-Burch (Program Director, MSE-AI Online)

   Admissions:

6. #6. New York University Master's Machine Learning Program

   Hakia ranks New York University as the #6 master's in machine learning degree program. Location: New York, NY | Type: Private | Tuition: $60,438/year | Score: 70.5

   What makes New York University stand out: NYU houses Yann LeCun's legendary CILVR lab and created the world's first 'AI degree' through its MS in Emerging Technologies program, where every student must demonstrate AI fluency regardless of their chosen specialization.

   Hakia Insight: New York University's Machine Learning for Language (ML²) Group and Algorithms and Foundations Group position students at the forefront of machine learning research.

   Program Overview: NYU's machine learning ecosystem spans multiple programs across the Tandon School of Engineering, creating one of the most comprehensive AI education platforms in the country. The traditional MS in Computer Science offers extensive machine learning specialization options, while the innovative MS in Emerging Technologies serves as what NYU calls an 'AI degree for today's world,' allowing students to customize their curriculum across cutting-edge fields with mandatory AI fluency components. Both programs benefit from NYU's powerhouse AI research infrastructure, including the renowned CILVR lab (Computational Intelligence, Learning, Vision, and Robotics) led by Yann LeCun, the Turing Award winner who pioneered convolutional neural networks and serves as Meta's Chief AI Scientist. Students can choose between traditional on-campus experiences in Brooklyn's vibrant tech corridor or fully online formats that maintain the same rigorous curriculum standards. What sets NYU apart is its unique blend of theoretical depth and practical application, with students working alongside faculty who are literally writing the future of AI. The Emerging Technologies program represents a particularly innovative approach, requiring 6 credits of applied AI courses as core curriculum while allowing students to explore nine different concentration areas from cybersecurity to robotics. Meanwhile, the Computer Science MS provides the foundational rigor that has made NYU a breeding ground for AI leaders, with graduates securing roles at top tech companies and contributing to breakthrough research in machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing.

   Degree Programs: MS in Computer Science with Machine Learning & AI Concentration (2 years); MS in Emerging Technologies with Machine Learning & AI Concentration (2 years)

   Research Labs: CILVR (Computational Intelligence, Learning, Vision, and Robotics) - AI, machine learning, computer perception, natural language understanding, robotics, and healthcare applications; Machine Learning for Language (ML²) Group - State-of-the-art machine learning methods for natural language processing with emphasis on neural network models; Algorithms and Foundations Group - Mathematical and theoretical tools applied to machine learning, systems, and computational biology; STAT Research Group - Statistics tools, algorithms, and theory for data science and machine learning applications

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: applications programming, big data, software engineering, machine learning and AI, computer vision and imaging, interactive data visualization

   Notable Faculty: Brandon Reagen (deep learning and privacy preserving computation); Yi-Jen Chiang (Computer Science, MS Program Director); Edward Wong (Computer Science, Program Admissions Chair)

   Admissions:

7. #7. Northwestern University Master's Machine Learning Program

   Hakia ranks Northwestern University as the #7 master's in machine learning degree program. Location: Evanston, IL | Type: Private | Tuition: $64,887/year | Graduation Rate: 90% | Score: 67.5

   What makes Northwestern University stand out: The program provides a rigorous course of study in all three areas of analytics: predictive (forecasting), descriptive (business intelligence and data mining), and prescriptive (optimization and simulation), with hands-on experience through practicum and capstone projects with industry partners.

   Program Overview: Northwestern's Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS) is a 15-month full-time program that provides data scientists with a technical background in machine learning and artificial intelligence, complemented by soft skills required to ethically lead. The program follows a cohort model with coursework designed exclusively for the program and includes a summer internship.

   Degree Programs: MS in Machine Learning and Data Science (15 months)

   Industry Partners: Chicago Fire FC

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Qualtrics, Spotify, Snowflake, Deloitte, Amazon | Common Roles: Data Scientist, Lead Data Scientist, Solutions Consultant AI/ML, Applied AI Consultant

   Notable Faculty: Diego Klabjan (Program Director, Machine Learning, Big Data, Reinforcement Learning); Rebecca Pop (Data Visualization); Ashish Pujari (Data Mining, Deep Learning, Cloud Engineering)

   Admissions:

8. #8. Clark University Master's Machine Learning Program

   Hakia ranks Clark University as the #8 master's in machine learning degree program. Location: Worcester, MA | Type: Private | Tuition: $54,760/year | Graduation Rate: 98% | Score: 66.2

   What makes Clark University stand out: Clark integrates machine learning with liberal arts inquiry, emphasizing applications to social science, environmental systems, and policy challenges rather than purely commercial contexts.

   Hakia Insight: Central Massachusetts location near Worcester tech community

   Program Overview: Clark's machine learning offerings emerge from a liberal arts philosophy that treats ML not as isolated technical skill but as a tool for addressing real-world problems in social science, environmental science, and public policy. The program encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration—students pair machine learning coursework with projects in areas like climate modeling, urban analytics, and social network analysis. This approach attracts students interested in AI's societal impact rather than pure algorithmic optimization. Faculty prioritize mentored research experiences early in the curriculum, and undergraduates frequently co-author papers on applied ML projects. The smaller cohort size enables personalized advising and direct faculty partnerships that larger programs cannot match. Clark's location in central Massachusetts, combined with partnerships with Worcester Polytechnic Institute and connections to Boston's academic research community, creates unexpected research opportunities despite the school's size. Graduates from Clark's ML track often gravitate toward roles in research institutions, nonprofits, consulting firms, and tech companies with strong research divisions—particularly those working on interpretability, fairness, and responsible AI. If you prioritize intellectual depth, interdisciplinary thinking, and the chance to apply ML toward substantive problems rather than purely commercial optimization, Clark offers a distinctive educational path.

   Degree Programs: BA/BS in Computer Science with ML concentration (4 years); MS in Computer Science with ML track (2 years)

   Research Labs: Center for Technology and Society - ML applications in social and environmental domains

   Industry Partners: Worcester Polytechnic Institute (research partnership)

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Google Research, Microsoft Research, Meta AI, nonprofit research organizations | Common Roles: Research Scientist, Data Scientist, ML Engineer (research-focused), AI Policy Analyst

   Admissions:

9. #9. University of California-Irvine Master's Machine Learning Program

   Hakia ranks University of California-Irvine as the #9 master's in machine learning degree program. Location: Irvine, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,834/year | Graduation Rate: 96% | Score: 65.7

   What makes University of California-Irvine stand out: Home to the world-famous UCI Machine Learning Repository with 688 datasets used by millions of researchers globally, plus the unique HPI Research Center partnership with Germany's leading tech institute launched in 2020.

   Hakia Insight: University of California-Irvine's HPI Research Center in Machine Learning and Data Science creates a direct research-to-career pipeline with Various industry partners, bridging academic research and industry practice.

   Program Overview: UC Irvine's machine learning programs span multiple pathways through the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, one of only five computing-focused schools among Association of American Universities (AAU) members. The flagship MS in Computer Science offers deep specialization in artificial intelligence and machine learning through its comprehensive core curriculum, with students choosing from seven specialized areas including the dedicated Artificial Intelligence track featuring courses like COMPSCI 273A Machine Learning. For professionals seeking applied expertise, the Master of Data Science (MDS) program provides both full-time and part-time options with industry-focused curriculum emphasizing experiential learning in statistical modeling, machine learning, data management, and AI. The school maintains over 688 datasets in the renowned UCI Machine Learning Repository, serving millions of researchers worldwide and providing students unique access to cutting-edge data resources. With approximately 4,000 undergraduates, 600 master's students, and 400 doctoral students, the school creates an exceptional research environment supported by over 50 Computer Science faculty including 15 ACM Fellows, 13 IEEE Fellows, and 15 AAAS Fellows. Students benefit from the Center for Machine Learning and Intelligent Systems connecting more than thirty faculty across disciplines, plus specialized research centers like the Computational Vision Lab and the HPI Research Center in Machine Learning and Data Science established in 2020. The programs emphasize real-world application through industry capstone projects, with MDS students working directly on data science problems with corporate partners.

   Degree Programs: BS (4 years); MS; PhD

   Research Labs: Center for Machine Learning and Intelligent Systems - Addresses challenges of the modern data-driven world, using computer algorithms to discover useful information from vast data archives; HPI Research Center in Machine Learning and Data Science - Partnership with Hasso Plattner Institute promoting research and educational activities in ML and data science; Computational Vision Lab - Understanding information processing capabilities of biological visual systems and developing computational systems for visual media; UCI Machine Learning Repository - Maintains 688 datasets as a service to the machine learning community worldwide

   Industry Partners: Various industry partners

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: internet companies, finance, engineering, business, medicine | Common Roles: data scientist, data analyst, statistician

   Admissions:

10. #10. Northeastern University Master's Machine Learning Program

    Hakia ranks Northeastern University as the #10 master's in machine learning degree program. Location: Boston, MA | Type: Private | Tuition: $62,000/year | Score: 65.4

    What makes Northeastern University stand out: Northeastern's machine learning programs uniquely combine interdisciplinary collaboration between computer science and engineering colleges with specialized concentrations in emerging fields like continuous process engineering, energy systems, and conversational AI.

    Hakia Insight: Northeastern University's industry network — including Google and Amazon — provides students with internship and hiring pathways.

    Program Overview: Northeastern's machine learning education is uniquely structured around its signature co-op model, allowing students to alternate between classroom learning and paid industry internships—a format that creates direct pipelines into ML roles at leading tech companies. The MS in Computer Science with Machine Learning specialization balances algorithms and systems thinking, covering supervised and unsupervised learning, deep neural networks, and practical deployment challenges like model interpretability and robustness. Students benefit from Northeastern's extensive partnerships with companies like Google, Amazon, and Cisco, where many complete their co-op rotations working on real ML projects. The program's curriculum evolves rapidly to reflect industry demand; recent additions include modules on ethical AI, federated learning, and MLOps. Faculty research spans computer vision, natural language understanding, and human-AI interaction, with graduate students embedded in active projects. The co-op advantage is tangible: employers often hire co-op students into full-time roles upon graduation, effectively shortening the job search process. Beyond tech companies, Northeastern graduates find opportunities in finance, healthcare, and government sectors—the university maintains strong relationships with federal agencies and financial institutions seeking ML talent.

    Degree Programs: Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence with Machine Learning Concentration (2-2.5 years); Electrical and Computer Engineering with Concentration in Computer Vision, Machine Learning, and Algorithms, MSECE (not specified); Master of Professional Studies in Applied AI (12-20 months)

    Research Labs: Khoury College AI Lab - Machine learning, AI systems; Network Optimization Lab - Graph learning, optimization

    Industry Partners: Google, Amazon, Cisco, JPMorgan Chase

    Career Outcomes:

    Notable Faculty: Azer Bestavros (Distributed systems, machine learning systems); Christo Wilson (Fair machine learning, algorithmic bias)

    Admissions:

    Accreditations: ABET accredited (BS)