The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Online Bachelor of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence

Tennessee's online Bachelor of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence is a good fit if you want a flagship public university name on a four-year AI degree and you need classes with no live sessions. It runs 120 credits at $490 per credit in-state or $565 out-of-state, so the full tuition lands near $58,800 or $67,800.

This is the University of Tennessee-Knoxville's fully online route into AI. The degree is built through the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies and delivered by Vols Online, the university's online arm. You earn a B.S. in Applied Artificial Intelligence, which is a four-year undergraduate degree, so it's meant for people starting out or finishing a bachelor's, not for people who already hold one.

The word applied matters. It points toward using AI tools and methods on real problems, as opposed to a heavier theory-first computer science degree. Read the course list on the program page before you commit, so you know how much programming and math you'll actually be asked to do.

Tennessee describes the program this way: asynchronous, fully online, no live sessions. You do the work on your own schedule inside each course's deadlines, and you never have to log in at a set hour. That's a real advantage if your shifts change from week to week.

Starts happen three times a year, in Fall, Spring and Summer. The program page estimates 48 months to finish, which is four years of steady part-time or full-time work depending on how many courses you take at once and how many credits transfer in.

Who It Fits

• You're starting a bachelor's and want AI as your major, with a state flagship's name on the diploma.
• You work or care for family during the day and need coursework with no required live sessions.
• You live in Tennessee and can use the $490 in-state rate instead of the $565 out-of-state one.
• You like having three start dates a year (Fall, Spring and Summer), so a missed deadline doesn't cost you a full year.

Who Should Skip It

• You already have a bachelor's degree and want a credential in AI. A master's or a graduate certificate will get you there faster.
• You want live classes, group sessions or a cohort that meets together, because this program is asynchronous.
• Price is your top concern. At $565 per credit out-of-state, the total is $67,800, and several online AI degrees on this site cost far less.

The program requires 120 credit hours, the standard length for a bachelor's degree. Tennessee describes the degree as applied artificial intelligence and delivers it through the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies. Pull the full degree plan from the Vols Online page and check it against what you want to build or do.

If you're bringing in credits from a community college or earlier coursework, ask how they map. Tennessee estimates 48 months for the degree, and that figure depends on transfer credits.

Standout Features

• Built through the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies
• Project-based learning and applied coursework
• Stackable certificates, concentrations and minors available within the degree

Tuition is $490 per credit hour for Tennessee residents and $565 per credit hour for everyone else. Across the 120-credit degree, that works out to $58,800 in-state and $67,800 out-of-state. Price is the main thing to weigh here.

Those totals are tuition from our data. Fees, books and technology costs aren't included, so ask for a full cost sheet before you plan your budget. Transfer credits are the biggest lever you have, since every credit you bring in is a credit you don't pay for at these rates.

120 credits at $565 a credit comes to $67,800 in tuition, before fees. At the in-state rate of $490, the same 120 credits come to $58,800.

You graduate with a B.S. in Applied Artificial Intelligence from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, a public university. About 38,728 students attend the university overall, and 42% of applicants are admitted, based on federal IPEDS data. The university's overall graduation rate is 74%.

Our wage data lists a median salary of $116,580 for the broader field these degrees feed into. That's a field figure, not a promise for this program's graduates.

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

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• The price is steep for an online bachelor's. In-state total tuition is $58,800 and out-of-state is $67,800 before fees.
• Asynchronous means less live contact. If you learn best from talking through problems with an instructor in real time, you'll have to make that happen yourself.
• The 48-month estimate is a long commitment, and it only shrinks if you bring in transfer credits.
• Confirm the concentration list and course list yourself so you know the technical depth.

• How many of my existing credits will transfer, and can I get a written evaluation before I apply?
• Which courses are required, and how much programming and math do they involve?
• What fees come on top of the $490 or $565 per credit rate?
• Do I qualify for the in-state rate if I live in Tennessee but work or study elsewhere?
• Are there any proctored exams or in-person requirements I should plan for?
• What does advising look like for a fully online student, and who do I contact when I get stuck?

Public flagship university in Tennessee. The online degree is built through the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies and delivered by Vols Online.

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