University of San Diego Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence (Online)

A 30-unit, fully online master's priced at $995 a unit, or $29,850 in tuition, finished in about 20 months. The pricing and calendar are clear, but we found no listed concentrations or admissions details, so confirm those with the school.

The University of San Diego's Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence is 30 units delivered in seven-week courses, two per semester, three semesters a year (Spring, Summer, Fall). The program's page describes a 100% online format across 5 semesters. The school is a private nonprofit in San Diego, California.

The calendar is the program's most distinctive feature. You take two seven-week courses in each semester, and a new semester starts three times a year, so you never wait long to begin. The program lists a length of 20 months.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

The program says its format is 100% online across 5 semesters, with a typical length of 20 months. Seven-week courses move quickly, so expect a steady pace rather than long breaks between classes.

Three starts a year, in Spring, Summer and Fall, give you more entry points than a program that admits only in the fall. Two courses per semester is a manageable load for many people with jobs, though two seven-week courses back to back still add up.

USD lists the format as synchronous, so plan around set class times rather than open-ended deadlines, which suits people who want a predictable weekly rhythm. Ask how large the classes are and how students connect with faculty. Ask how much of the coursework is scheduled and how much you can do on your own time.

Who It Fits

• Students who want a predictable calendar. Seven-week courses, two at a time, and three starts a year make planning easy.
• Anyone comparing master's tuition to the dollar, because the per-unit rate and unit count are both published.
• People who want a private university's name on a fully online degree. The program is 100% online across 5 semesters.
• Learners who prefer a steady stream of shorter courses over fewer, longer ones.

Who Should Skip It

• Anyone who needs a published concentration or specialization list before applying.
• Anyone who wants slack in their schedule. Seven-week courses leave little room if work gets busy.
• Anyone who needs an all-in price today. Student fees apply on top of tuition.

The program totals 30 units. Ask admissions for the current course map before you commit. We found no listed concentrations, capstone or thesis details either.

The name gives a hint about the aim. Applied Artificial Intelligence suggests a focus on using AI methods on practical problems more than on theory, so treat it as a question to ask and not a promise.

A good set of questions for the admissions team covers which courses are required, which are electives, whether programming is taught from scratch, and what the final project or capstone looks like, if there is one.

Standout Features

• Capstone with potential industry partners; showcase of past graduate capstone projects
• Curriculum developed with key industry and government stakeholders
• Ethics, social good and moral responsibility integrated across the curriculum
• Online program launched in 2021 as one of only a few online AI programs in the nation
• Taught by practitioner faculty working in commercial, academic and government organizations

Online tuition is $995 per unit. The total is 30 units x $995, which is $29,850, tuition only. Additional student fees apply, so your final bill will be higher than that figure.

Because the program is priced per unit, it's easy to compare with other master's programs on a per-credit basis.

Ask the school what the student fees add up to per semester, and whether they're charged every term or only some terms. Over five semesters, a modest fee can add a noticeable amount.

30 credits at $995 a credit comes to $29,850 in tuition, before fees.

You earn an M.S. The University of San Diego's graduation rate is 84 percent, which describes the school overall, not this degree.

The graduation rate is a strong point. The credential is the degree itself from a private nonprofit university.

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

• Student fees come on top of the $29,850 tuition.
• Seven-week courses leave little slack if work gets busy.
• We have no published concentrations, course titles or admissions details for this program.
• At $29,850 in tuition, it costs more than the lower-priced online options on our list, such as the Colorado Boulder degree.

• What do the student fees add up to per semester?
• What does the course map look like, and are there electives?
• What do admissions require, including prior math or programming?
• Are classes live or recorded, and how large are they?
• Is there a capstone or final project?
• Can I take a semester off if work gets busy, and how does that change the 20-month timeline?

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