University of Pennsylvania Master of Science in Engineering in Artificial Intelligence (MSE-AI Online)

This is an online engineering master's from a top-name university. You pay for the Penn name at $38,590 for ten courses, and in return you get an engineering degree you can finish completely online and on your own schedule. It's built for people who already have a computer science background.

The University of Pennsylvania is a private nonprofit Ivy League university in Philadelphia, and Penn Engineering Online runs this degree. The Master of Science in Engineering in Artificial Intelligence (MSE-AI Online) is described by Penn as completely online and asynchronous.

The price is set per course, and Penn lists ten courses in total. That makes the program easy to plan, because you can see your cost one course at a time.

The fastest path is 16 months on a full-time schedule. The extended part-time schedule takes 3 years.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

Penn describes the program as completely online and asynchronous. You won't be asked to log in at a set hour, which is the main reason people with full-time jobs choose it.

The flexible pace is real, but so is the workload. Deep learning and statistics courses are demanding no matter how you take them. Ask how many hours students typically spend per course each week. You can study part time or full time and switch between them any semester.

Who It Fits

• You already hold an undergraduate degree in computer science, computer engineering, information science or a related field. Penn lists that as the admissions requirement.
• You work full time and need an asynchronous program, so you can fit lectures in around your day.
• You want a recognized engineering school's name on your résumé.
• You want to go deep on machine learning, deep learning and language, not just survey AI tools.

Who Should Skip It

• Your undergraduate degree is in an unrelated field. Penn asks for a computer science or related degree, so you'd probably need a bridge program first.
• You need the lowest possible price. At $38,590 plus fees, Penn costs more than public-university options such as the University of North Texas.
• You want live classes and a cohort. This program is asynchronous.

Penn's course list includes Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language, Machine Learning for Data Science, Statistics for Data Science and Principles of Deep Learning. Technology Ethics and the Legal Landscape is also on the list, which is a useful addition if you expect to work on products that touch real people.

Penn lists an Artificial Intelligence Capstone among the technical electives. That means a capstone is available, but it's an elective choice, not a required finish. If a capstone project matters to you, check that it fits into your ten-course plan.

Courses the School Names

• Artificial Intelligence
• Natural Language
• Machine Learning for Data Science
• Statistics for Data Science
• Principles of Deep Learning
• Technology Ethics and the Legal Landscape

Standout Features

• Artificial Intelligence Capstone offered as a technical elective
• Ivy League master's degree earned fully online and asynchronously
• Study part-time or full-time and switch between them any semester

Penn charges $3,859 per course, and the program totals ten courses, so tuition comes to $38,590 plus applicable fees. Penn says tuition and fees may be adjusted on a yearly basis. If you stretch the program across the full 3 years, you may see a rate change partway through.

Fees are extra, so ask Penn for a full cost sheet. If your employer offers tuition help, a per-course price makes it easier to request reimbursement one course at a time.

Veterans with 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility can use the Yellow Ribbon Program to fund tuition. Penn awards and the VA match are first-come, first-served, so apply early if you plan to use that aid.

The degree is a Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.), issued by Penn. The name and the engineering school behind the degree are the main credential value.

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

• At $38,590 plus fees, this is a significant investment, so compare it with the other programs on our master's list.
• You need an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related field to be considered.
• Fees are extra, and tuition can change from year to year.
• The capstone is listed as a technical elective, so it isn't guaranteed to be part of your degree.

• What's the full cost, including fees, for all ten courses?
• How are admissions decisions made, and what counts as a related field?
• Which ten courses would I take, and which ones are electives?
• If I choose the capstone as an elective, what does the project look like?
• How many hours a week should I plan for each course?
• If I spread the program over 3 years, how much could tuition rise?

A private nonprofit Ivy League university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Penn Engineering Online offers the online master's degrees.

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