Undergraduate Artificial Intelligence Majors Multiply
The number of U.S. universities offering dedicated AI bachelor's degrees has nearly doubled in one year.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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U.S. universities are rapidly expanding undergraduate artificial intelligence degree programs to meet student and industry demand. The number of institutions offering dedicated AI majors has nearly doubled in the last year, with over 100 schools now offering specific paths of study.
Why it matters
The surge in specialized AI curricula reflects a broader institutional push to address student workforce anxiety while ensuring graduates possess the technical literacy required by an evolving job market. This shift integrates interdisciplinary ethics requirements alongside standard machine learning training.
Current programs, such as those at MIT and Bentley University, enroll hundreds of students, with more than one-third of 66 surveyed institutions now mandating ethics coursework for AI majors.
The players
MIT
A preeminent research university that launched an AI and decision making major with 354 students currently enrolled.
Northeastern University
A research institution that recently rebranded its data science program to align with artificial intelligence.
Bentley University
A private university that established its AI major in 2024 and currently serves approximately 100 students.
The details
Universities are structuring these degrees by embedding traditional computer programming and data science curricula within a machine learning-focused framework. Programs increasingly require coursework on responsible artificial intelligence, which focuses on the ethical implications and governance of automated systems. Institutions are moving beyond isolated computer science departments to incorporate these curricula across a wider range of academic fields.
Timeline
Fall 2022: MIT launched its artificial intelligence and decision making major.
Fall 2024: Bentley University launched its artificial intelligence major.
May 2026: Northeastern researchers published findings on ethics requirements in AI programs.
Fall 2026: Northeastern University renamed its data science degree and Worcester Polytechnic Institute began enrollment in its AI bachelor's.
2027: Suffolk University and Endicott College are scheduled to launch their AI majors.
The Tech Race
The rapid expansion of undergraduate artificial intelligence curricula across U.S. higher education marks a departure from traditional, siloed computer science degree models. This growth tracks the institutional shift toward embedding AI literacy into the standard bachelor's degree path as a response to industrial and student-led demand.
Students pursuing degrees in 2027 and beyond will have significantly more access to specialized AI credentials as new programs roll out at schools like Suffolk University. These degrees now increasingly include mandatory ethics and responsible AI coursework, preparing undergraduates for roles that require both technical and governance-related skills.
The takeaway
Universities are rapidly pivoting to address the demand for AI-specific credentials, signaling that foundational AI literacy is becoming a standard graduation requirement. Prospective students should look for the specific integration of ethics and governance curricula, which are currently present in more than one-third of surveyed programs.
What happens next
Suffolk University and Endicott College are scheduled to begin offering their respective AI undergraduate degree programs in 2027.
Further reading
For more on the development of AI tools and talent, explore our coverage of Artificial Intelligence.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WBUR 90.9 mHz.
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