Why major in artificial intelligence?
An undergraduate artificial intelligence major trains you in the math, algorithms, and systems behind machine learning, computer vision, robotics, and natural language processing, rather than treating AI as one elective inside a computer science degree. What was once a graduate specialization is becoming a full bachelor’s-level discipline.
This path goes deeper than a computer science degree with an AI concentration: foundational computing and math, then machine learning, statistics, and the ethics of building intelligent systems.
The tradeoff is selectivity. These programs are new, cohorts are small, and applicant interest is climbing fast, making a strong application essential.
How Prepory supports AI and machine learning applicants
Work one-on-one with your Prepory coach to build a strategy tailored to undergraduate AI admissions, including how to position yourself for computing and engineering colleges that admit by major or division.
Get a clear evaluation of your academic profile, math and programming preparation, and technical experience, then a plan to strengthen the areas that matter most to AI admissions committees.
Build a balanced list that includes standalone AI degrees at schools like Carnegie Mellon, UPenn, USC, and UC San Diego alongside strong computer science programs with AI tracks, structured across reach, target, and likely schools.
Develop technical projects, research, and competition involvement that demonstrate genuine initiative in AI and machine learning, so your application shows what you can build rather than only what you have studied.
Submit unlimited written materials to Prepory's Writing Specialists for feedback on your personal statement and supplemental essays, so your reasons for pursuing AI come through clearly and authentically.
Practice with mock interviews and, once decisions arrive, compare your offers with your coach to choose the AI or computer science program that best fits your academic and career goals.
Which colleges offer a bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence?
A handful of top universities now offer a standalone undergraduate degree in artificial intelligence, while many more offer AI as a concentration within computer science. The dedicated programs below are among the most recognized as of the 2025-2026 admissions cycle.
| University | Location | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | $68,096 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | $64,730 |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | $68,544 |
| University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | $55,323 (out-of-state), $17,721 (in-state) |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA | $35,092 (out-of-state), $12,008 (in-state) |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL | $38,398 (out-of-state), $18,046 (in-state) |
School list and tuition and fees are based on U.S. News & World Report's Best Undergraduate Artificial Intelligence Programs.
How do you write a strong essay for an AI major application?
A strong AI application essay connects a specific, genuine experience to a clear reason for wanting to study artificial intelligence, rather than restating that AI is an exciting or important field. Admissions readers at competitive programs see thousands of essays that describe AI in the abstract, so the ones that stand out are grounded in something you actually did.
Through our AI/machine learning admissions counseling program, you can submit an unlimited number of application materials for your applications and elevate your writing with objective professional critiques from an entire team of Writing Specialists.
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