Wayne Community College Online Artificial Intelligence Engineer

This is the only associate degree in artificial intelligence (AI) on our list, and it's a low-cost way to start. A North Carolina resident pays $76 per semester hour, which comes to $4,940 for the 65 credits. It's fully online and includes prep for a Microsoft AI exam. It won't get you a senior AI job on its own, but it's a low-risk first step.

Wayne Community College is a public community college in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and its tuition is set by state policy. The Artificial Intelligence Engineer program is an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree of 65 credit hours. The college says all of its degrees and certificates in this program are 100% online.

Wayne describes it as North Carolina's first associate degree program specializing in artificial intelligence. It's aimed at people who want to enter an entry-level AI role, and the course list reflects that, with a mix of AI, machine learning, computer vision and chatbot courses.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

Wayne says the whole program is 100% online. Ask whether classes meet at set times and how many start dates there are. Community college courses often follow a traditional semester calendar, which gives you deadlines and a steady rhythm but less freedom than a self-paced program.

Short certificates in AI Fundamentals and Python Programming for AI sit inside the same fully online program, which gives you a smaller first step before the full degree.

Wayne's enrollment is 3,626 students, so you'd be at a smaller school where instructors may know your name.

Who It Fits

• You live in North Carolina and want the $76 per semester hour in-state rate.
• You're starting from scratch and want a low-cost way to see whether AI is for you.
• You want a hands-on credential aimed at entry-level roles, with an exam to study for along the way.
• You plan to transfer later. An associate degree can be a stepping stone, but confirm transfer terms with the school you want.

Who Should Skip It

• You live outside North Carolina. Out-of-state tuition is $268 per semester hour, or $17,420 across the 65 credits.
• You already have a bachelor's degree. A graduate certificate or master's will probably take you further.
• You want a bachelor's degree outright. This is a two-year associate program, and a bachelor's like the one at Western Governors University is a different path.

Wayne's course list includes AI Fundamentals, Artificial Intelligence I and II, Machine Learning I and II, Computer Vision, and Chatbot Programming I and II. The paired courses mean you see each topic twice, once as an introduction and once at more depth, which helps if you're new.

The program prepares students for the Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals exam, AI-900. That's an entry-level certification, so treat it as a first line on a résumé, not as proof of advanced skill.

Courses the School Names

• AI Fundamentals
• Artificial Intelligence I
• Artificial Intelligence II
• Machine Learning I
• Machine Learning II
• Computer Vision
• Chatbot Programming I
• Chatbot Programming II

Standout Features

• Curriculum covers machine learning, computer vision and chatbot programming
• Described by the college as North Carolina's first associate degree program specializing in artificial intelligence
• Graduates sit for the Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals AI-900 certification (Certiport)
• Short certificates available in the same 100% online program: AI Fundamentals and Python Programming for AI

Tuition is $76 per semester hour for North Carolina residents and $268 per semester hour for out-of-state students. Across 65 credits, that's $4,940 in state or $17,420 out of state.

Fees are extra. Wayne charges a $48 technology fee and a $35 activity fee per semester. The college catalog projects $5,355 in tuition and fees and $1,800 in books for the full program.

Use those numbers as a planning range for a resident, and ask the college for current figures before you register. Active-duty students can use Tuition Assistance, though it does not cover books or fees.

Military spouses can also look at MyCAA funding.

65 credits at $268 a credit comes to $17,420 in tuition, before fees. At the in-state rate of $76, the same 65 credits come to $4,940.

The degree is an A.A.S., which is built for job entry more than for transfer. If you think you'll want a bachelor's later, ask Wayne and your target school how the credits would count. The program prepares you for Microsoft's AI-900 exam, and the college's graduation rate is 49%.

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

• An associate degree is an entry-level credential, and many AI roles ask for a bachelor's or higher.
• Out-of-state students pay $268 per semester hour, which makes the cost much closer to a university's.
• The college's graduation rate is 49%.

• Which four-year schools accept these 65 credits in transfer?
• What are current tuition and fee totals for the semesters I'd take?
• Are classes live at set times, or can I do the work on my own schedule?
• Does the program include a final project I could show employers?
• Does the college pay for the AI-900 exam, or is that on me?
• What kinds of jobs have recent graduates found?

A public community college in Goldsboro, North Carolina, whose tuition is set by state policy.

• Best Online AI Degrees Rank 1 of 1, associate
• Cheapest Online Programs Rank 1 of 1, associate
• 100% Online Programs Rank 1 of 1, associate
• Public University Programs Rank 1 of 1, associate
• Programs With Internships Rank 1 of 1, associate