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Master's Program in Machine Learning (2021)

By Towards AI Team

These are the best universities to pursue a master’s degree in machine learning, with research rankings in AI and machine learning research.

Research Ranking in Machine Learning University Research Ranking in AI Program Name
1 Carnegie Mellon University 1 Master of Science in Machine Learning
2 University of California — Berkeley 15 Masters in Data Science, Masters in EECS
3 Stanford University 3 Masters of Science in Computer Science
4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 5 Master of Science in EECS
5 Cornell University 2 Masters in Computer Science
6 University of California — San Diego (UCSD) 12 Masters in Computer Science
7 Georgia Institute of Technology 13 Masters in Computer Science
8 University of Washington 6 Masters in Computer Science, Master of Science in Data Science
9 University of California — Los Angeles (UCLA) 7 Masters of Science in Computer Science
10 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) 4 Master of Science in Computer Science


Carnegie Mellon University

Program Name: Master of Science in Machine Learning

Duration: 9 months to 2 years

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Core courses: Advanced machine learning, statistics, research, statistical machine learning, data analysis, artificial intelligence, data science.

Tracks available: Masters of Science in Machine Learning, Fifth Year Masters in Machine Learning, Secondary Masters of Science in Machine Learning, Masters of Computational Data Science, Master of Science in Computer Science.

Focus areas: Machine learning, artificial intelligence, NLP, computer vision, robotics, deep learning, data mining, web and information retrieval, computer science, and others.


University of California - Berkeley

Program Name: Masters in Data Science, Masters in EECS

Duration: 1–2.5+ years

Location: Berkeley, California

Core courses: Research design, data engineering, machine learning, data mining, ethics and privacy, data visualization, computer science, statistical analysis. Tracks available: Masters in Data Science, Masters in EECS with a focus on machine learning.

Focus areas: Machine learning, artificial intelligence, NLP, computer vision, deep learning, data mining, web and information retrieval, and others.


Stanford University

Program Name: Masters of Science in Computer Science

Duration: 1–2+ years

Location: Stanford, California

Core courses: Mathematical and theory foundations, computer systems, applications, research, artificial intelligence.

Tracks available: Masters of Science in Computer Science with a focus on machine learning.

Focus areas: Computer science, Machine learning, artificial intelligence, NLP, computer vision, deep learning, data mining, web and information retrieval, and others.


Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Program Name: Master of Science in EECS

Duration: 1–2+ years

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Core courses: Computer architecture and logic design, computer science, high-level mathematics, electrical engineering basis, artificial intelligence. Tracks available: Masters in EECS with a focus on machine learning.

Focus areas: Machine learning, artificial intelligence, NLP, computer vision, deep learning, data mining, web and information retrieval, and others.


Cornell University

Program Name: Masters in Computer Science

Duration: 1–2+ years

Location: Ithaca, New York

Core courses: Mathematical and theory foundations, computer systems, applications, research, artificial intelligence. Tracks available: Masters in Computer Science.

Focus areas: artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer science, programming languages and logic, scientific computing and applications, systems, theory, and computation.


University of California - San Diego (UCSD)

Program Name: Masters in Computer Science

Duration: 1 to 2+ years

Location: San Diego, California

Core courses: Computer architecture and logic design, computer science, high-level mathematics, electrical engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning. Track available: Masters in Computer Science.

Focus areas: Machine learning, artificial intelligence, NLP, computer vision, deep learning, data mining, web and information retrieval, and others.


Georgia Institute of Technology

Program Name: Masters in Computer Science

Course Duration: 1 to 2+ years

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Core courses: Advanced machine learning, statistics, research, statistical machine learning, data analysis, artificial intelligence. Tracks available: Masters in Computer Science with a specialization in Machine Learning.

Focus areas: Machine learning, artificial intelligence, NLP, computer vision, deep learning, data mining, web and information retrieval, computer science, and others.


University of Washington

Program Name: Masters in Computer Science, Master of Science in Data Science.

Duration: 1 to 2+ years

Location: Seattle, Washington

Core courses: Computer architecture and logic design, computer science, high-level mathematics, electrical engineering basis, artificial intelligence, data science, machine learning, applied machine learning, statistical analysis.

Tracks available: Master of Computer Science, Master of Science in Data Science. Focus areas: Machine learning, artificial intelligence, NLP, computer vision, deep learning, data mining, web and information retrieval, and others.


University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA)

Program Name: Masters of Science in Computer Science

Duration: 1 to 2+ years

Location: Los Angeles, California

Core courses: Computer architecture and logic design, computer science, high-level mathematics, electrical engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning. Tracks available: Master of Science in Computer Science.

Focus areas: Machine learning, artificial intelligence, NLP, computer vision, deep learning, data mining, web and information retrieval, and others.


University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)

Program Name: Master of Science in Computer Science

Course Duration: 1 to 2+ years

Location: Champaign, Illinois

Core courses: Computer architecture and logic design, computer science, high-level mathematics, electrical engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning. Tracks available: Master of Science in Computer Science.

Focus areas: Machine learning, artificial intelligence, NLP, computer vision, deep learning, data mining, web and information retrieval, and others.