New AI Degree Programs This Year: What Colleges Added

New AI degree programs showed up on a lot of college websites this year, and if you’re trying to figure out whether one of them belongs on your application list, here’s the short answer: these are real, accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees — not certificates or bootcamps — and most of them are standard 120-credit undergraduate programs housed inside a computing or engineering college. They are new, which means they carry both an advantage and a risk you should understand before you commit.

The advantage is focus. Instead of a computer science degree with two AI electives bolted on, these majors build machine learning, data handling, and AI ethics into the core sequence from the first year. The risk is that a brand-new major has no graduates yet, so you can’t look up placement rates or talk to alumni. You’re partly betting on the school’s plan.

This guide walks through which schools actually added new AI degree programs, what’s inside them, what federal wage data says about the jobs they point toward, how switching into one affects your financial aid, and the specific questions to ask an admissions office before you say yes.

What Counts as One of the New AI Degree Programs

Colleges use the word “AI” loosely in marketing, so sort what you’re looking at into three buckets. A full major is a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence — a degree the registrar prints on your diploma. A concentration or track is a computer science or data science degree with an AI emphasis. A minor or certificate is a smaller add-on, usually 12 to 21 credits, attached to a different major.

Only the first bucket is truly one of the new AI degree programs. The other two are worth having, and they’re often the faster route if your school hasn’t launched a standalone major yet. But they are not the same credential, and a recruiter reading your resume will see the difference.

Check the college catalog rather than the marketing page. The catalog lists the actual required course sequence, total credit hours, and which department owns the program. If the catalog doesn’t have a separate degree entry, it’s a track, not a major.

Which Colleges Added New AI Degree Programs This Year

Several public and private universities launched degrees for fall 2026. These are documented in the schools’ own announcements and in local news reporting, not estimates.

Scale matters when you read enrollment news. Louisville Public Media reported that UK’s program has roughly 30 students enrolled this fall, with faculty hoping it grows toward 200, and that Murray State’s started with just a couple of students. Small first cohorts are normal for new AI degree programs — and they mean small class sizes and close faculty access early on.

This list isn’t exhaustive. Boston-area schools including Wentworth and Northeastern added applied-AI and interdisciplinary AI majors too, and more will be approved during the year. Search your target schools’ newsrooms directly.

How New AI Degree Programs Are Actually Built

Under the hood, most new AI degree programs share a similar spine. The first two years look a lot like computer science: programming, discrete math, data structures, calculus, linear algebra, and probability or statistics. That math load is not optional filler — machine learning is applied linear algebra and statistics, and students who skip the fundamentals hit a wall in year three.

Years three and four are where they diverge from a CS degree. You’ll see machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, data engineering, and usually a required course on AI ethics, bias, or policy. Many programs end with a capstone or industry project.

Michigan Tech’s version is a useful reference point because the credit count is published: 120 credits, administered jointly by computer science and data science. Total credits vary by school, so check the specific catalog rather than assuming 120 everywhere.

What the Job Numbers Actually Say

Be careful here, because this is where hype does the most damage. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not yet publish a standalone “AI engineer” occupation, so nobody can quote you a verified AI-major salary. What exists are the adjacent occupations these degrees feed into.

According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median annual wage for computer and information research scientists was $140,910 in May 2024, with employment projected to grow 20 percent from 2024 to 2034 and about 3,200 openings per year. BLS also notes these roles typically require at least a master’s degree.

For software developers, BLS reports a median annual wage of $133,080 in May 2024, with employment of developers, QA analysts, and testers projected to grow 15 percent from 2024 to 2034 and roughly 129,200 openings a year. Median means half earn less — entry-level pay sits well below it.

Financial Aid and New AI Degree Programs

Federal aid follows you into a new major, but the details are school-specific. Federal Student Aid set the maximum Pell Grant at $7,395 for the 2026–27 award year, with a $740 minimum. Eligibility depends on your Student Aid Index, cost of attendance, and enrollment status — not on which major you pick.

Switching into one of the new AI degree programs mid-college is where problems start. Federal rules require Satisfactory Academic Progress, which under studentaid.gov includes a maximum timeframe: you generally can’t take more than 150 percent of your program’s published length and keep federal aid. Losing credits in a transfer eats that cushion fast.

SAP GPA thresholds, credit-completion percentages, and appeal procedures are set by each school and vary widely. Do not assume a rule you read online applies to you. Email your financial aid office, name the exact major you’re moving into, and ask how the switch affects your remaining eligibility in writing. The federal FAFSA deadline for 2026–27 is June 30, 2027, but state and school priority deadlines are much earlier.

What Most People Get Wrong About New AI Degree Programs

The biggest mistake is assuming the degree title does the hiring. It doesn’t. Employers hire on demonstrated work — projects, internships, and code you can show. Two graduates with identical transcripts get very different results based on portfolio.

Second mistake: treating an AI major as easier than computer science because it sounds newer. It’s usually the same math sequence plus additional specialized coursework. If calculus and statistics are where you struggle, that struggle doesn’t disappear.

Third: assuming new AI degree programs are automatically better than a CS degree with AI electives. A mature CS department may have deeper faculty, a bigger alumni network, and established employer relationships. Sometimes the established program is the stronger bet.

Fourth: ignoring accreditation. Ask whether the program is ABET-accredited or on track for it. Because these majors are new, many haven’t been through the review cycle yet — that’s not disqualifying, but you should know before enrolling, not after.

How to Evaluate a Program Before You Commit

• Ask how many full-time faculty teach the upper-level AI courses, and whether adjuncts cover them.
• Ask what computing resources undergraduates get — GPU cluster access matters for real projects.
• Ask what happens if the program is discontinued, and get the teach-out policy in writing.
• Ask which employers recruit on campus for AI and data roles right now.
• Ask how many of your existing credits transfer if you’re switching in.
• Compare the catalog course list against a CS degree at the same school, side by side.

No one can promise you admission, aid, or a job offer from any of these programs. What you can control is picking a program with real faculty depth, keeping your aid eligibility clean, and building a portfolio while you study.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are new AI degree programs worth it compared to a computer science degree?

Both can work. An AI major gives you a focused sequence and a clear signal on your diploma; a CS degree gives you broader coverage and, at most schools, a deeper alumni network. Compare the actual course lists at the specific schools you’re considering rather than deciding on the label.

Can I switch into an AI major after starting college?

Usually yes, but check two things first: which of your completed credits count toward the new major, and how the switch affects your Satisfactory Academic Progress maximum timeframe for federal aid. Both answers are school-specific — ask your registrar and financial aid office directly.

Do I need a master’s degree to work in AI?

It depends on the role. BLS notes that computer and information research scientists typically need at least a master’s degree, while many software developer roles are open to bachelor’s holders. Plenty of AI engineering jobs hire at the bachelor’s level with a strong project portfolio.

How do I check whether a program is legitimate and accredited?

Look the school up in the Department of Education’s database of accredited institutions, and ask the department directly about programmatic accreditation such as ABET. Verify the degree exists in the official course catalog, not just on a marketing page.

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Sources & How to Verify

The facts on this page are drawn from official government and primary sources. Rules, figures, and program details change, so always confirm the current details with the official agency, your school’s financial aid office, or the program’s own published rules.

• Federal Student Aid: studentaid.gov — the official source for FAFSA, grants, work-study, and aid rules
• FTC Consumer Advice: consumer.ftc.gov — scholarship and financial aid scam guidance
• IRS: irs.gov — how scholarships and fellowships are treated for taxes
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: bls.gov/ooh — official wage and job-outlook data for every career
• Your school’s financial aid office: aid rules vary by school — for your specific situation, their answer is the one that counts

Content last reviewed August 2026. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.

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