Best Online AI Bachelor’s Degrees (2026)

University of Tennessee–Knoxville ranks #1 among the dedicated online AI bachelor’s programs EDsmart evaluated for 2026, based on school-wide student outcomes—not an AI-department ranking. Indiana University Indianapolis has the lowest school-wide average net price in this guide at $11,668 (what typical undergraduates pay after aid). Unlike lists that mix CS concentrations with AI majors, this ranking includes only standalone online AI bachelor’s programs; Western Governors University’s competency-based B.S. AI Engineering (you progress by proving skills, not by seat time) and IU Online’s B.S. in Artificial Intelligence are also worth comparing on our Cheapest list and schools that appear on both lists below.

In this article

• Where to start
• Top 5 Best online AI bachelor’s degrees
• Top 5 Cheapest online AI bachelor’s degrees
• How we ranked
• AI vs CS vs data science
• Choose a path that fits
• Program comparison
• What programs have in common
• Other programs to compare
• How to choose
• Accreditation
• Careers and pay
• Frequently asked questions

Top 5 Best online AI bachelor’s degrees

Our top five schools by EDsmart school-wide grade among dedicated online artificial intelligence bachelor’s programs (BS AI, applied AI, and related major titles). Every school below offers a dedicated online AI bachelor’s—not a CS or cybersecurity concentration alone. Kennesaw State’s B.S. in AI is approved for Fall 2026 online launch—confirm enrollment terms on the school’s program page before you apply.

Top 5 Cheapest online AI bachelor’s degrees

Ranked by average net price after grants and scholarships—what typical undergraduates at each school pay, not the school’s published AI-major tuition.

The lowest school-wide average net price among accredited dedicated online AI bachelor’s options in this guide (lowest to highest). This is not a quality ranking—pair it with the Best-by-grade list and program fit. Competency-based schools such as WGU are ordered by the same federal average-net-price figure; total tuition may differ substantially by time to completion. Kennesaw State carries a Fall 2026 online launch caveat.

Published tuition vs average net price: Flat-term pricing (for example WGU’s $4,200 per six-month term) can bring total tuition below average net price if you finish faster. Run each school’s net price calculator for your situation.

EDsmart Top 5 Best (by school-wide grade) and Top 5 Cheapest (by average net price) online AI bachelor’s degrees, 2026.

How we ranked online AI bachelor’s degrees

We ranked schools that offer a fully online, dedicated AI bachelor’s—an online artificial intelligence degree at the undergraduate level (not CS or cybersecurity concentrations alone). Unlike many competitor lists that mix AI concentrations into “best AI bachelor’s” rankings, we only include schools with a standalone or dedicated bachelor’s-level AI major available online.

We publish two lists from programs that meet those rules: Top 5 Best by EDsmart school-wide grade (then overall rank), and Top 5 Cheapest by school-wide average net price. Grades, retention, graduation, and earnings on school cards are school-wide—not AI-department or AI-graduate outcomes. Cheapest is not the same as Best. Average net price is what undergraduates at that school typically pay after grants and scholarships. It is not the school’s published AI-major tuition, and it is not a personal cost quote.

Competency-based schools such as WGU remain in the Cheapest list using the same federal average-net-price figure as term-based schools; actual total tuition can be lower if you finish faster under flat-term pricing. Figures come from U.S. Department of Education data and EDsmart school profiles unless labeled as school-published tuition. For calculations, see our rankings methodology.

AI vs computer science vs data science

Many people search for an “AI degree” when a computer science or data science bachelor’s may fit better. Use this quick compare before you lock onto a dedicated AI major.

Degree	Best for	Typical emphasis
Artificial intelligence	Machine learning, intelligent systems, applied AI product work	Earlier ML, data, ethics, and model/application coursework
Computer science	Broad software engineering and systems roles	Algorithms, software design, systems; AI often via electives or a concentration
Data science	Analytics and predictive modeling	Statistics, data pipelines, visualization, and applied ML

Neither AI nor CS is universally “better.” A dedicated AI bachelor’s moves you into machine learning and intelligent systems earlier. A CS bachelor’s (with or without an AI concentration) keeps broader software foundations that many employers still hire against. Data science is the stronger default if your goal is analytics-heavy work rather than building software systems. Match required math and programming to the job you want. CS-only concentrations (for example SNHU’s generative AI cybersecurity track) are not ranked in either Top 5 here.

Choose a path that fits

The Top 5 lists answer who leads on grade and net price. These questions help you match delivery and career focus before you dig into the comparison table.

Online AI bachelor’s program comparison

Delivery and cost angles for schools on either Top 5, plus ASU and UMGC pathway options. Sorted for comparison, not a third outcomes ranking. For fuller program write-ups, see the school cards above.

School / program	Grade	Delivery / cost	Best fit
University of Tennessee–KnoxvilleB.S. Applied Artificial Intelligence	A-	Online (no live sessions); about $490/credit (OOS $565)	Best-list leader; applied AI
Texas Tech UniversityB.S. Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence	B+	100% online (no required live sessions); 8-week classes; about $415–$500/credit	Human-centered / UX + AI
Indiana University IndianapolisIU Online B.A. or B.S. in Artificial Intelligence	B+	Lowest avg. net price in this set ($11,668)	On both Best and Cheapest
University of the CumberlandsB.S. in Artificial Intelligence	B+	About $220/credit on major hours (120-credit total)	On both Best and Cheapest
Kennesaw State UniversityB.S. Artificial Intelligence	B+	Online + Marietta; Fall 2026 launch	On both Best and Cheapest
Western Governors UniversityB.S. AI Engineering	B	Flat six-month term; competency-based; #2 cheapest by net price	Self-paced adults; check math/programming gates
Northeastern State UniversityB.S. Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics	B-	Avg. net price $12,710	Cheapest-list value pick
Arizona State University (Digital Immersion)B.S. Artificial Intelligence in Business	C	W.P. Carey + ML/big data; average net price not available	Business analytics / tech managers
University of Maryland Global CampusB.S. Artificial Intelligence (Applications or Developer)	C+	Up to 90 transfer credits; $337 / $499 / $250 per credit (in-state / OOS / military)	Military / transfer-heavy adults
Southern New Hampshire UniversityCybersecurity + Generative AI concentration	C	No standalone AI bachelor’s	Concentration only—not a standalone AI major

Grades vs fit: A strong net-price rank can pair with a mid-range overall grade. Weigh grade alongside course depth, transfer policy, admissions requirements, and your timeline.

What dedicated online AI bachelor’s programs have in common

Across the dedicated online AI bachelor’s programs featured in this guide, a few design patterns show up often when you compare program pages side by side.

• Capstone or culminating project: Six of the nine dedicated majors we feature require a capstone, team project, or similar final project (for example Cumberlands, Kennesaw, WGU, NSU, UMGC, and ASU Online’s business pathway).
• Required minor: Only Kennesaw State requires a minor where AI is applied (Fall 2026 launch).
• No live classes or self-paced study: Six of nine advertise fully online schedules with no required live sessions, or competency-based pacing (UT Knoxville, Texas Tech, IU Online, Cumberlands, WGU, UMGC).
• Ethics / responsible AI: Most dedicated majors include ethics, governance, or human-centered AI coursework—not only model-building electives.

Texas Tech HCAI and IU Online’s AI bachelor’s do not list a formal capstone on their published program pages—check each school’s program page before you assume a portfolio-ready final project is built in.

Other online AI bachelor’s programs to compare

Other directories often list additional dedicated AI bachelor’s degrees. These three also offer standalone AI majors worth checking against our Top 5 lists—they are not ranked in the tables above.

Primary sources: GCU B.S. AI · APU B.S. AI · CTU B.S. AI program page

How to choose an online AI bachelor’s

Expect math and programming depth. Technical AI bachelor’s programs commonly include calculus, linear algebra, probability, statistics, and Python (sometimes a second language such as C#). Business-oriented AI majors still usually require statistics and programming for analytics. Check the program requirements before you enroll if math was a weak spot.

Responsible AI is part of the job. Many dedicated AI majors now teach ethics, bias, governance, privacy, and responsible AI practices. That matters for hiring and for roles that touch regulated data or public-facing systems. Look for required ethics or human-centered courses, not only model-building electives.

Build proof of work. Employers increasingly expect AI graduates to show project portfolios, GitHub repositories, internships, or undergraduate research, not just a degree title. Prefer programs with capstones, industry projects, or for-credit internship options, and plan portfolio work alongside coursework. Six of the nine dedicated majors featured here require a capstone or similar final project—see program patterns above.

Avoid: unaccredited “AI diplomas,” programs that teach only chat interfaces without programming/math, and borrowing for a short certificate when an accredited bachelor’s from a U.S. Department of Education–recognized school fits. Check StudentAid.gov and each school’s net price calculator. If you already hold a bachelor’s, a master’s in AI or a related field is usually the better next step than a second undergraduate major.

Accreditation matters

Every program highlighted here is offered by an accredited university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. (Readers who still search for “regionally accredited” are usually looking for that same school-level check.) Accreditation affects credit transfer, graduate school eligibility, employer recognition, and federal student aid. Use the Department’s accreditation database (DAPIP) to confirm the school, then recheck the program page for the exact major and any extra approvals your career path may need. School accreditation does not automatically mean the AI major itself has a separate program approval (for example ABET)—verify that if your employer or licensure path requires it.

What jobs and pay look like after an AI bachelor’s

Graduates commonly start in software development, data science, machine learning support, business analytics, or AI product and solutions roles, then move into more specialized AI engineering as experience builds. Titles vary by employer. A bachelor’s can open many of these doors; research-heavy AI scientist roles more often prefer a master’s or Ph.D.

Earnings on school cards are school-wide, not AI-major salaries. They reflect typical undergraduate outcomes at each school. Use Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) occupation medians below for role context—not as pay for graduates of a specific AI program.

Common career paths include machine learning engineer, AI developer, data scientist, AI business analyst, AI product manager, solutions architect, and (in some applied teams) prompt or applied AI specialist roles. Internships and portfolios matter as much as the major name.

Pay context (not school-specific outcomes): According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2024 median wages), software developers earned a median of $133,080; data scientists earned $112,590; and computer and information research scientists earned $140,910 (that occupation often lists a master’s as typical entry-level education). Pay varies by occupation, experience, industry, and location. These figures are national medians, not guarantees for AI majors.

FAQ: online AI bachelor’s degrees

Related EDsmart research

• Online AI Degrees hub
• Best AI Degrees (campus majors & Top 30)
• How we rank schools
• AI job risk report

Note: AI curricula change rapidly. Schools may update courses, concentrations, tuition, admissions requirements, and delivery formats from year to year. Check each program page and the Department’s accreditation database before you apply. CS or cybersecurity programs with AI concentrations only (for example SNHU) appear in comparison notes, not either Top 5. Kennesaw State’s online B.S. in AI is scheduled to open Fall 2026—confirm enrollment terms and tuition when applications open.

Sources

EDsmart analysis links to primary program and federal sources below. School-wide grades and average net prices draw on U.S. Department of Education data and EDsmart’s rankings methodology.

Federal and EDsmart data

• EDsmart rankings methodology
• U.S. Department of Education — accreditation database (DAPIP)
• U.S. Department of Education / NCES — outcomes and cost data used in EDsmart grades and average net price

Program and school sources

• University of Tennessee–Knoxville — B.S. Applied Artificial Intelligence (BSAAI)
• Texas Tech University — B.S. Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence
• Indiana University Indianapolis / IU Online — Artificial Intelligence bachelor’s
• University of the Cumberlands — B.S. in Artificial Intelligence
• Kennesaw State University — B.S. in Artificial Intelligence (Fall 2026 launch)
• Western Governors University — B.S. AI Engineering
• Northeastern State University — B.S. AI & Data Analytics
• University of Maryland Global Campus — B.S. Artificial Intelligence
• Arizona State University Online — B.S. Artificial Intelligence in Business
• Southern New Hampshire University — Cybersecurity + Generative AI concentration (comparison only)
• Grand Canyon University — B.S. in Artificial Intelligence
• American Public University — B.S. in Artificial Intelligence
• APUS — B.S. in Artificial Intelligence degree requirements (ARIN499 capstone)
• Colorado Technical University — B.S. in Artificial Intelligence program page

Career pay context

• BLS — Software developers (May 2024 median wage)
• BLS — Data scientists (May 2024 median wage)
• BLS — Computer and information research scientists (May 2024 median wage)

About this guide: Written by EDsmart Staff to help students compare fully online AI bachelor’s programs. We cite institutional and federal sources and do not guarantee admission, cost, or employment outcomes.