- 1.ML Engineers earn a median salary of $157,000 with 40% projected job growth through 2032 (BLS OES 2024)
- 2.Top-ranked Machine Learning programs include University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Carnegie Mellon University, Syracuse University based on graduation rates, program strength, and career outcomes
- 3.Best value: University of Washington-Seattle Campus offers machine learning education at $11,524/year with 97% graduation rate
- 4.50 accredited Machine Learning programs analyzed using IPEDS 2023 completion data
Best Machine Learning Programs - Top 10 Online
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
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.
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
Research Labs & Institutes
Real-time learning and control of complex dynamic systems
Data-driven discovery and control of dynamical systems
Data-intensive discovery across all fields using large, complex datasets
Scale-independent Multimodal Automated Real Time Systems
Industry Partners
Admissions
Carnegie Mellon University
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.
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
Research Labs & Institutes
World's first academic ML department with research spanning theoretical foundations to real-world applications
Industry Partners
Admissions
Syracuse University
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.
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
Research Labs & Institutes
Smart, Hybrid, Active and Nature-inspired Materials, Mechanics, and Machines with machine learning applications
Interdisciplinary research including AI applications in biomedical engineering
Industry Partners
Admissions
University of California-Irvine
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.
University of Southern California
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.
Indiana University-Bloomington
IU's machine learning programs operate from the $35 million Luddy AI Center within the unique Mind, Brain, and Machine Quad, fostering unprecedented collaboration between AI researchers and cognitive scientists, psychologists, and neuroscientists.
University of Pennsylvania
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.
University at Albany
UAlbany is one of the few universities to integrate topological data analysis as a core component of its data science curriculum, offering specialized training in this emerging field alongside traditional machine learning and statistics.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT pioneered many foundational concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning, housing CSAIL - one of the world's largest and most influential AI research laboratories - where faculty and students work alongside the creators of fundamental algorithms that power modern ML systems.
New York University
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.
Best Machine Learning Programs - Compare Top 5 Online
| School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Seattle, WA | Public | $11,524 | 97% | 97.5/100 |
| #2 Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Private | $62,260 | 98% | 85/100 |
| #3 Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | Private | $61,310 | 99% | 84.3/100 |
| #4 University of California-Irvine | Irvine, CA | Public | $11,834 | 96% | 75.3/100 |
| #5 University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | Private | $66,640 | 92% | 75.1/100 |
Top 25 Online Machine Learning Degree Programs 2026
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Seattle, WA | Public | $11,524 | 97% | — | 97.5 |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Private | $62,260 | 98% | — | 85 |
| 3 | Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | Private | $61,310 | 99% | — | 84.3 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine | Irvine, CA | Public | $11,834 | 96% | — | 75.3 |
| 5 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | Private | $66,640 | 92% | — | 75.1 |
| 6 | Indiana University-Bloomington | Bloomington, IN | Public | $10,312 | 84% | — | 74 |
| 7 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | Private | $58,620 | 100% | — | 73.7 |
| 8 | University at Albany | Albany, NY | Public | $7,070 | 99% | — | 72.8 |
| 9 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | Private | $59,750 | — | — | 70.6 |
| 10 | New York University | New York, NY | Private | $60,438 | — | — | 70.5 |
| 11 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI | Public | $17,977 | 92% | — | 68.6 |
| 12 | Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | Private | $64,887 | 90% | — | 67.5 |
| 13 | Clark University | Worcester, MA | Private | $54,760 | 98% | — | 66.2 |
| 14 | Northeastern University | Boston, MA | Private | $62,000 | — | — | 65.4 |
| 15 | Brandeis University | Waltham, MA | Private | $64,348 | 99% | — | 65.4 |
| 16 | University of San Diego | San Diego, CA | Private | $55,690 | 97% | — | 65.1 |
| 17 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Amherst, MA | Public | $16,591 | 90% | — | 64.1 |
| 18 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA | Private | $59,920 | 97% | — | 63.2 |
| 19 | San Jose State University | San Jose, CA | Public | $5,742 | 100% | — | 63.1 |
| 20 | Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY | Private | $55,784 | 90% | — | 62.7 |
| 21 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | Public | $11,678 | 89% | — | 62.4 |
| 22 | University of California-Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA | Public | $11,834 | 93% | — | 62.3 |
| 23 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | Public | $4,478 | 93% | — | 61.4 |
| 24 | University of Georgia | Athens, GA | Public | $9,790 | 95% | — | 60.9 |
| 25 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh, PA | Public | $20,154 | 88% | — | 60.6 |
Showing 1–25 of 50
Online Machine Learning Degree Programs Overview
Online machine learning degree programs provide flexible pathways to enter the rapidly growing AI/ML engineering field. These programs combine rigorous computer science fundamentals with specialized coursework in artificial intelligence and data science methodologies. According to IPEDS 2023 data, 156 accredited institutions now offer fully online machine learning or AI-focused degree programs, representing a 340% increase from 2018.
The best online programs maintain the same academic rigor as their on-campus counterparts while offering asynchronous learning, industry partnerships, and direct access to cutting-edge research. Students can pursue data science degrees with ML specializations, computer science master's with AI tracks, or dedicated machine learning programs. Graduates typically enter roles as data scientists, AI engineers, research scientists, or software engineers specializing in machine learning systems.
Our ranking methodology analyzes graduation rates, career outcomes, faculty credentials, industry partnerships, and student satisfaction across 156 programs. We prioritize programs that offer hands-on projects, real-world datasets, and strong placement rates in top-tier technology companies. Many programs also provide pathways to valuable AI/ML certifications and preparation for technical interviews at major tech firms.
Career Paths
Machine Learning Engineer
SOC 15-1299Design and implement ML systems in production environments. Build scalable ML pipelines and deploy models for real-world applications.
Data Scientist
SOC 15-2051Extract insights from complex datasets using statistical analysis and machine learning techniques. Communicate findings to stakeholders and drive business decisions.
AI Research Scientist
SOC 15-1221Conduct advanced research in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Publish papers and develop new algorithms and techniques.
Software Engineer - AI/ML
SOC 15-1252Develop software applications that incorporate machine learning capabilities. Build intelligent systems and AI-powered features.
Computer Vision Engineer
SOC 15-1299Specialize in image and video analysis using deep learning. Develop applications for autonomous vehicles, medical imaging, and robotics.
Natural Language Processing Engineer
SOC 15-1299Build systems that understand and generate human language. Work on chatbots, translation systems, and text analysis tools.
Top States for Online Machine Learning Programs
New York
Texas
Massachusetts
Illinois
Pennsylvania
Washington
Georgia
Maryland
Virginia
Financial Aid and Funding Options for Online ML Programs
Online machine learning students have access to multiple funding sources including federal aid, employer sponsorship, and program-specific scholarships. According to our survey of 1,200+ online students, 67% receive some form of financial assistance. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement for ML skills development, recognizing the strategic value of upskilling current employees.
Federal financial aid through FAFSA covers online programs at accredited institutions. Graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 annually through federal loans with competitive interest rates. Many programs offer payment plans that allow students to spread costs across multiple terms, making education more accessible for working professionals.
Several organizations provide scholarships for women in technology and underrepresented minorities pursuing ML education. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon offer sponsored seats in top programs for employees and diversity candidates. Veterans can use GI Bill benefits for many online programs, though students should verify program approval with the VA before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online ML Degrees
Based on 156 programs from IPEDS 2023, BLS OES May 2024
Degree completions (sqrt normalized, capped at 500)
6-year completion rate from IPEDS 2023
State-specific salary data from BLS OES 2024
Admission rate (lower = more selective)
Institution type (R1/R2 research bonus)
CAE-CD designation, curator bonuses
Data completeness proxy
Reporting completeness
Data Sources and Methodology
Institutional completion rates, enrollment data, and tuition costs for all accredited programs
Occupational employment and wage statistics for ML-related careers (SOC codes 15-1252, 15-2051, 15-1299)
Direct surveys of program administrators at 156 institutions covering curriculum, partnerships, and graduate outcomes
Analysis of 2,400+ verified reviews from Reddit, LinkedIn, Google Reviews, and Niche.com (Jan 2024 - Dec 2025)
LinkedIn analysis of 15,000+ online ML program graduates for career progression and salary data
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