Master's Program Review

Pennsylvania State University-World Campus Online Master of Artificial Intelligence, AI Engineering Option

MAI program at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus in University Park, PA, fully online. It ranks 46 of 49 online master's programs in our methodology.

Taylor Rupe, Founder & Editor, B.S. in Computer Science

Edited by , Founder & Editor · B.S. in Computer Science

Last updated

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Online Program Score

41.2

Ranks 46 of 49 at this level

Cost per Credit

$1,089

Online rate

Credits

30

Semester credits

Format

Fully Online

Verdict

Our Verdict on the MAI

Penn State World Campus' Master of Artificial Intelligence with the AI Engineering Option is a 30-credit online degree at $1,089 per credit, which works out to $32,670 for 2026-27. Federal data shows only 13 awards under the AI codes we track at this campus, a thin completions record that says nothing about the coursework. Its stackable certificates are the standout feature.

Penn State World Campus is the online campus of Pennsylvania State University, a public university. The master's comes in two options, each with its own page: the AI Engineering Option reviewed here, and an Applied and Generative AI Option. Both are fully online and both are 30 credits.

Federal data shows only 13 awards under the AI codes we track at this campus. That reflects a thin completions record, not a judgment of the coursework, which we haven't evaluated.

If price and a stackable path matter more to you than a long track record, this one deserves a close look.

Online

The Online Format

The program is delivered fully online through Penn State World Campus, which describes more than two decades of online learning.

Ask whether courses run asynchronously, how many terms a year start new students, and whether a part-time student can finish in a reasonable time. If you work full time, those answers decide whether the schedule fits your life.

Terms
12- to 15-week semesters, three semesters per year (spring, summer, fall)
Start Dates
3 starts a year

Source: worldcampus.psu.edu (format and schedule), verified September 30, 2026

Fit

Who Should Apply, and Who Should Not

Who It Fits

  • You want the engineering-flavored option of Penn State's AI master's, from a large public university.
  • You'd like to earn graduate certificates on the way. The page says up to three related certificates can be earned along the way.
  • You want a flat, published per-credit rate you can multiply yourself.
  • You want a capstone that produces a written paper based on an applied project.

Who Should Skip It

  • You want a program with a long record of graduates. Our data shows 13 awards at this campus, versus 58 at Northeastern.
  • You're more interested in using generative AI tools in business than in engineering systems. The Applied and Generative AI Option may suit you better.
  • You need federal aid for a certificate. Certificate students are nondegree and not eligible for federal student aid, though that applies to certificates, not the master's.

Curriculum

Two Concentrations and the Core Courses

The degree is 30 credits at the 400, 500 or 800 level, and you must keep a GPA of 3.0 or better. It ends with a capstone course and a written paper based on an applied project.

World Campus offers two options for the same Master of Artificial Intelligence: AI Engineering, and Applied and Generative AI. Ask for the plan of study and compare it with the other option before you apply.

Standout Features

  • Faculty-led AI student group fielding teams for DataFest, Kaggle competitions and the Nittany AI Challenge
  • Up to three related graduate certificates can be earned along the way (stackable credentials pathway)
Concentrations
AI Engineering Option, Applied and Generative AI Option
Capstone
Capstone course with a written paper based on an applied project.

Source: worldcampus.psu.edu (curriculum and experience), verified September 30, 2026

Cost

How Much It Costs at $1,089 a Credit

Penn State's 2026-27 rate is $1,089 per credit for 11 or fewer credits per semester, or $13,062 per semester for 12 or more. At 30 credits, that's $32,670 in tuition.

The page also says the 2027-28 rate is higher. If you take several semesters part time, you'll cross into that year, so budget above $32,670. Ask what fees apply, and ask about the full-time semester rate if you plan to take 12 or more credits.

30 credits at $1,089 a credit comes to $32,670 in tuition, before fees.

Cost per Credit
$1,089 per credit
Credits Required
30 credits
Estimated Tuition
$32,670
Military Benefits
Veterans and active-duty service members receive a discounted graduate application fee of $40; accepts Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill (Chapters 30 and 1606), Tuition Assistance and Tuition Assistance Top-Up.
Fees and Notes
2026-27 rate of $1,089 per credit for 11 or fewer credits per semester, or $13,062 per semester for 12 or more credits; 2027-28 rate is higher.

Sources: worldcampus.psu.edu (cost and aid), worldcampus.psu.edu (cost and aid), verified September 30, 2026

Credentials

Accreditation and Where It Leads

You'd earn a Master of Artificial Intelligence from Pennsylvania State University through World Campus. We haven't recorded a programmatic accreditation for it, and we don't claim one.

The stackable pathway is the credential story. You can earn up to three related graduate certificates along the way, which gives you something to show employers before you finish the full degree. Ask which certificates fit this option, and whether their courses count toward the 30 credits.

Where this degree can lead: Data Scientist Jobs, Jobs You Can Get With an AI Degree.

Score

Where It Loses Points

Each factor is scored 0 to 10 against other online master's programs. The weights are the same for every program, and the overall score is relative to the top online master's program, which scores 100.

  • Cost30% of score 4.4 / 10

    $1,089 per credit

  • Outcomes25% of score 0.2 / 10

    34% of students graduate (school-wide, IPEDS)

  • Online Flexibility20% of score 6 / 10

    Fully online, 12- and 15-week terms

  • Program Depth10% of score 4 / 10

    2 concentrations

  • Track Record15% of score 0.9 / 10

    13 Master's completions a year in this field (IPEDS)

Online Program Score 41.2 / 100

Darker bars mean stronger factor scores. Every bar also shows its number.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

Trade-Offs

Drawbacks to Weigh

  • Federal data shows only 13 awards under the AI codes we track at this campus, a thin completions record.
  • The 2027-28 rate is higher than $1,089, so part-time students should expect the total to rise.
  • Confirm admission requirements, start dates and class format with the school before you apply.

Before You Apply

Questions to Ask Pennsylvania State University-World Campus Before You Apply

  • What are the admission requirements, and do I need a computer science degree or specific math?
  • What will the per-credit rate be in 2027-28, and are there technology or program fees?
  • Which graduate certificates stack into this degree, and do all their credits apply to the 30?
  • How do the AI Engineering and Applied and Generative AI options differ in required courses?
  • What does the capstone paper involve, and can I use a project from my job?
  • How many terms start each year, and how long do part-time students usually take?

School

About Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

Penn State World Campus is the online campus of Pennsylvania State University. The page describes more than two decades of online learning leadership.

Degree
MAI, Master's
School
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus, University Park, PA
Institution Type
Public
Delivery
Fully Online

Source: worldcampus.psu.edu (program and school), verified September 30, 2026

Graduation Rate
34%
Admit Rate
91%
Total Enrollment
13,774
Master's Completions a Year in This Field
13
Campus Setting
City

Source: nces.ed.gov (school data from ipeds), verified September 30, 2026

Rankings

Rankings This Program Appears In

Rank is the program's position among the online programs on that list at its degree level.

Same School

Other Online Programs at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

Compare

Online Master's Programs With Similar Scores

Other online master's programs with the closest scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pennsylvania State University's Online Master of Artificial Intelligence, AI Engineering Option a Good Program?

It ranks #46 of 49 online master's programs in our 2026 rankings, because it offers 2 concentrations and a capstone, and it charges $1,089 per credit, but its school's IPEDS graduation rate is 34% (the lowest among the online master's programs we rank).

It also places #2 among master's programs on the Best Generative AI Programs list and #3 among master's programs based in Pennsylvania.

How Much Does Penn State's Online AI Master's Cost?
The 2026-27 rate is $1,089 per credit for 11 or fewer credits a semester, or $13,062 per semester for 12 or more. Over 30 credits, that's $32,670, and the page says the 2027-28 rate is higher.

What Is the Difference Between the Two Options?
The same Master of Artificial Intelligence has an AI Engineering Option and an Applied and Generative AI Option, each with its own page. Both are 30 credits and fully online. Compare their required courses before you choose.

Can I Earn Certificates on the Way to the Degree?
Yes. The program page says you can earn up to three related graduate certificates along the way. Ask which ones, and whether their credits count toward the master's.

How Thin Is Its Completions Record?
Federal data shows 13 awards under the AI codes we track at this campus. The price of $1,089 per credit and the online format are separate from that record.

Sources

All sources retrieved .

Best Online Master's ProgramsThe full ranking at this level.Online Programs by StatePrograms based in each state, with in-state rates.How We RankThe five factors and the checks behind every score.