Best Master’s Programs for Machine Learning

The University of Arizona offers a STEM designed master’s in information technology with a focus on machine learning. The program is offered on-campus and students attend courses face to face. Students can complete their degree in just 18 months.

The machine learning subplan if focused on teaching students how to interpret and management large amounts of data by automating processes. Students will take core courses in machine learning and choose from a variety of focused electives. Courses include:

• Data Analysis and Visualization
• Introduction to Machine Learning
• Artificial Intelligence

All students complete either an internship or a capstone project. Students may have the opportunity to intern at top organizations like Amazon or Tesla. The capstone project allows students to showcase the skills they have mastered in the program.

New students are accepted for the fall and spring semesters each year. Potential students need to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants should have completed undergraduate level mathematics coursework. They should also have computer programming experience.

The College of Computing at Georgia Tech features an online Master of Science in Computer Science with a Machine Learning specialization. The OMS CS program was created in collaboration with Udacity and AT&T to be an affordable degree students could earn exclusively through a massive online format.

The OMS CS program is a flexible program. Students can adjust their course schedule to have time for full-time employment. Most students can complete their degree in three years, but there is flexibility if students need some extra time. The Machine Learning concentration area requires 15 credit hours of specialized course content. Students can choose from a variety of options including:

• Machine Learning for Robotics
• Data and Visual Analytics
• Deep Learning

While we calculated the ROI based on the average graduate student tuition rate for the school, the specific tuition rate for the OMS CS program may be less. Tuition per credit hour is $180 and students need 30 credit hours to graduate. Students are also eligible for financial aid.

The College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland features an innovative Master of Professional Studies in Machine Learning. This ML degree program is a 30-credit hour non-thesis program. Students will gain the skills they need to be successful in areas like information engineering and data science.

Throughout the program, students engage in cutting-edge technical coursework. They develop a strong foundation in:

• mathematics
• statistics
• computer programming

Students will apply the applications of machine learning to areas like natural language processing and robotics.

The machine learning graduate program is designed for working professionals. Both full and part-time program options are available. Courses take place on-campus with face-to-face instruction. Course offerings include:

• Computer Vision
• Probability and Statistics
• Advanced Machine Learning

To be considered for the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with at least a 3.0 GPA. Applicants should also submit a resume and a description of research or work experience. They should also be proficient in programming languages and have taken previous coursework in quantitative studies. The GRE is optional applicants of the machine learning program.

If you are looking for an online masters degree in machine learning from one of the best tech schools in the country, here it is! The MS in Machine Learning from Milwaukee School of Engineering was designed for working professionals who want to gain advanced skills in ML. MSOE is well respected in the field of ML. They offered the first undergraduate computer science program focused on AI. Their ML graduate degree program is one of the few programs in the country focused on the application of ML to industrial problems. Students benefit from technical content and industry applications in every course. They also get to apply their learning in a hands-on environment using Rosie the supercomputer!

Courses are delivered in a convenient synchronous format. Students can meet with faculty online or in-person. In addition to earning a master’s degree, students can also earn two “stackable” certificates. The courses are built into the program so there are no additional requirements. The Applied Machine Learning Graduate Certificate and the Machine Learning Engineering Graduate Certificates add value to the degree and can help boost a resume. Students can also choose elective courses that align with their professional goals. All students complete a machine learning capstone course that includes a final report and presentation to faculty and industry representatives.

Admission into the machine learning program is competitive. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in a technical field and computer programming experience. Both full and part-time students are encouraged to apply. Full-time students can complete their degree in two years.

Drexel University’s College of Engineering has a long history of producing machine learning experts. Graduates of their Master of Science in Machine Learning Engineering have gone on to work for top companies like Google and Microsoft.

Drexel’s ML program provides students with knowledge in three pillars. These include:

• Fundamentals
• Implementation
• Applications

Students will gain an understanding of modern machine learning to develop solutions to problems. They will also learn how to use industry-leading software like TensorFlow and scikit-learn to create machine learning systems. Finally, the program will show students how ML can be applied to a variety of industries including bioengineering and cybersecurity.

Drexel’s program has many unique opportunities for students. All students in the ML program can participate in research. Full-time students or those planning to pursue a PhD are encouraged to base their master’s thesis on an area of faculty research. There are a variety of ML research labs including:

• Adaptive Signal Processing and Information Theory Research Gruop
• Computational Image Sequence Analysis Laboratory
• Center for Electric Power Engineering

Students can also take advantage of the graduate co-op. Through this optional experience, students can apply theories learning in class to a work experience. These three or six-month work experiences can help provide context and build professional skills. Students can also use resources at the Steinbright Career Development Center to help with a job search or resume writing.

Drexel’s ML program takes place on-campus and is open to both full and part-time students. Full-time students can complete their degree in just 18 months. Part-time students can finish in three to four years.

The McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University features a Master of Science in Machine Learning and Data Science. The ML degree is an accelerated program that students can complete in just 15 months. This full-time program is offered on-campus and students will complete courses during the day. Students move through the curriculum as a cohort, allowing them to form a tight-knit community of like-minded professionals.

The program is limited to just 55 students. The small cohort size supports individualized instruction and attention. The curriculum includes a required summer internship and two industry-supplied projects. Coursework covers areas like:

• maching learning
• artificial intelligence
• data engineering

Students benefit from industry collaboration while they complete their projects, working under the guidance of business and technical advisors. They complete their first project during the first three quarters of the program and their final capstone project during the final quarter. These hands-on learning opportunities prepare students for success after graduation.

Due to the small cohort size, admission to the ML program is competitive. Potential students can submit their applications September 1 through January 15th. Students interested in receiving a scholarship should have their application submitted by December 1st. The program is open to students from a variety of backgrounds. Northwestern holds a two-week bootcamp/orientation at the start of the program to make sure everyone has a solid foundation of key concepts before starting the program.

The Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University is the world’s first academic department of machine learning. The department was created with the goal of bringing together an interdisciplinary group of researchers with a passion for statistics and machine learning.

The Master of Science in Machine Learning is a program primality focused on coursework although research opportunities are available. Machine learning courses include:

• Probabilistic Graphical Models
• Machine Learning in Practice
• Advanced Deep Learning

All students complete a one-semester full-time practicum experience. This could be an internship or research related to machine learning. Most students complete their practicum over the summer.

Motivated students can complete their degree in three semesters. Applications are accepted in December and new students begin the program in the fall. Applicants should have a strong background in computer science and some experience with probability and statistics. Courses are offered in-person so students must be able to come to campus to complete their degree.

Stevens Institute of Technology offers a masters degree in machine learning focused on theoretical foundations and the practical aspects of ML. The program is a great choice for students with an undergraduate degree in an area like computer science or electrical engineering (or a closely related field.)

Stevens’ offers one of the most flexible machine learning programs in our ranking. While students can choose to take courses online or on-campus, they can also choose to take a full or part-time courseload. Interested in a career in research? Students can also choose to complete a thesis as part of the program. Internships are also available for students who want to get professional hands-on experience.

Students can expect to work alongside recognized experts in the field. They’ll take core courses like:

• Statistical Machine Learning
• Applied Modeling and Optimization
• Text Mining and Information Retrieval

Stevens’ graduates are some of the most prepared in the field. Their location and proven history of career placement success gives students valuable networking opportunities. Graduates have what it takes to be successful in industry, academia, or research.

Columbia University in the City of New York offers a fully online master’s in machine learning. The program is designed for students who want to build up on their knowledge and skills in machine learning and its applications.

The ML curriculum is comprised of 30 credit hours. Required courses include:

• Machine Learning Theory
• Neural Networks Deep Learning
• Computational Aspects of Robotics

Students choose two courses from a wide variety of elective offerings.

Admission to the program is competitive. Most applicants have an undergraduate degree in computer science. Applicants with a degree in another area should have completed at least six prerequisite courses. Most students admitted to the program have an undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.5. The GRE is not required for admission. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and new students are accepted each semester.

The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University is a world class research center offering a Master’s degree in Machine Learning/Big Data. Students can choose from either a research-oriented Master of Science (MS) or an industry focused Master of Engineering (MEng). Key courses include:

• Probabilistic Machine Learning
• Programming, Data Structures, and Algorithms in C++
• Natural Language Processing

The MS program allows students to choose from a coursework only option or complete a project or thesis. The MEng program includes a built-in internship and business courses.

One of the unique features about the machine learning program at Duke is that students can participate in cross-campus initiatives. There are several initiatives focused on data science and machine learning. One of the most popular is the Rhodes Information Initiative at Duke or iiD. iiD offers innovative programs for students including Data+. Data+ is an intensive 10-week summer research experience for students who want to learn about new data-driven approaches.

New machine learning students are admitted for the fall semester. Admission is competitive. The GRE is optional for admission, but students should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of a 3.2 for the MS program and a 3.4 for the MEng. Most students will finish their degree in four semesters of study.