3 Top AI Masters Degree Programs in Nebraska
AI masters degree programs in Nebraska are gaining momentum. The state has become a pioneer in artificial intelligence education. UNO made history as Nebraska’s first college to create an AI-focused academic degree program. More than 30 students now major in artificial intelligence studies, and 70 people have enrolled in AI-related classes.
Nebraska offers options to advance your AI career. These include traditional on-campus programs and AI master’s programs online. This guide explores the three top AI masters degree programs available in the state and helps you choose the right path for your goals.
1. University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) – MS in Artificial Intelligence
Program Overview and Vision
The Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Nebraska Omaha represents a collaborative initiative between UNO’s College of Information Science and Technology and UNL’s College of Engineering. This partnership creates Nebraska’s first MS in AI program, positioned uniquely to serve both on-campus students and working computing professionals across the Great Plains region.
Two distinct pathways make up the program. Track A provides an on-campus experience following a traditional 16-week semester format, with options to complete a thesis, project, or capstone. Track B delivers an online pathway featuring an 8-week course format, allowing professionals to enroll in up to two non-overlapping courses per 16-week semester. Both tracks require 30 credit hours for graduation.
The on-campus pathway can be completed in two years at a cost of approximately $21,675, inclusive of project and thesis options. The online pathway operates as a course-only program and enables students to finish the degree in roughly two years at about $21,000.
The program’s vision centers on cultivating a research and teaching ecosystem that advances computational and AI-driven solutions, strengthening society to address complex challenges in an era of faster technological transformation. The mission focuses on producing AI-specialists and leaders to meet the exploding demand for AI-related jobs across the nation.
UNO’s current Computer Science and AI undergraduates can fast-track into the MSAI program and earn both their BS and MS degrees within five years. This accelerated pathway provides an efficient route for students already immersed in the university’s AI ecosystem.
The educational goals target graduates who attain successful professional careers in AI or related fields, design and implement AI systems and AI-driven technologies to push boundaries of technological research, solve legitimate problems with ethical decision making and empathy, and enable organizations to meet the opportunities and challenges of an AI-driven economy while improving the lives of people and communities.
Core Curriculum and Concentrations
The MS in Computer Science program at UNO features a specialized concentration in artificial intelligence and provides students with in-depth understanding of the principles and technologies used to embody machines with human-like intelligent capabilities. Students taking this concentration gain opportunities to learn and perform hands-on experiments in different areas of artificial intelligence.
Structured requirements make up the AI concentration curriculum. Students must complete CSCI 8456 Principles of Artificial Intelligence as the required core course. Students select three elective courses from a menu that has CSCI 8110 Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence, CSCI 8300 Image Processing and Computer Vision, CSCI 8360 Machine Learning for Text, CSCI 8450 Advanced Topics in Natural Language Understanding, CSCI 8476 Pattern Recognition, CSCI/MATH 8480 Multi-Agent Systems and Game Theory, CSCI 8486 Algorithms for Robotics, and CSCI 8590 Fundamentals of Deep Learning. This totals 12 credits for the AI concentration.
Both tracks deliver an extensive foundation in core AI topics that has machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, generative AI, and game theory. They also explore deeply various AI applications that have computer vision, the Internet of Things, robotics, business intelligence, and linguistics.
The program addresses accessibility concerns for students without prior computing backgrounds. A bridge program features two primer courses in Python programming and data structures and algorithms for informatics. These courses are provided online through UNL every semester to give wide accessibility and compatibility with both tracks in the degree program.
Students must satisfy provisional admission requirements in certain cases. Those who have not taken an undergraduate data structures course with a grade of B- or better must complete this requirement before continuing in the program. They need CSCI 2030 Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science and CSCI 3320/8325 Data Structures or equivalent.
The curriculum prepares students for hands-on experiments in areas such as software agents, multi-agent and multi-robot systems, machine vision and image processing technologies, neural network-based adaptive software systems, heuristics and stochastic optimization techniques for critical decision making, and machine learning and knowledge engineering techniques for embedding intelligence in computers and information systems.
Students must take any three of the five core courses listed in the program requirements. This flexibility allows learners to tailor their education based on career interests and technical strengths while maintaining rigorous standards across the AI discipline.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
The minimum undergraduate grade point average requirement for the MS in Computer Science program is 3.0 or equivalent score on a 4.0 scale. Applicants should possess the equivalent of a four-year undergraduate degree.
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required. Those applying for a graduate assistantship are encouraged to submit official GRE results. GRE scores cannot be older than five years. Successful applicants have had GRE scores of 150 verbal and 160 quantitative or better.
English language proficiency requirements apply to specific applicants. Those who do not hold a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from the United States, or a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from a predetermined country on the waiver list, must meet minimum language proficiency score requirements. The accepted scores have Internet-based TOEFL of 80, IELTS of 6.5, PTE of 53, and Duolingo of 110.
Application materials have a detailed resume that indicates work experience and background. Applicants may submit one letter of recommendation from a reference who can evaluate their work and academic achievements. Those interested in graduate assistant positions should submit an application for Graduate Assistant Position with a letter stating research area interests and explaining why they would make a good GA. Program admission does not guarantee receiving a GA position, which is considered after admission.
Application deadlines vary based on visa requirements and semester. Spring 2027 international applicants requiring a new student visa must apply by October 1, while all other applicants have until November 1. Summer 2027 international applicants needing a new student visa face a March 1 deadline, with March 15 for all other applicants. Fall 2027 deadlines have May 1 for international applicants requiring a new student visa and July 1 for all other applicants.
Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, especially if applying for assistantships or scholarships. Some scholarships may have earlier deadlines or run out of funding.
Any applicant who has completed undergraduate or graduate coursework at an international higher education institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course transcript evaluation from World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), SpanTran, or Educational Perspectives.
The program maintains flexibility for working professionals through its online Track B option, which accommodates professionals from anywhere who need to balance education with career demands. The 8-week course format allows for efficient progression through the curriculum while maintaining full-time employment.
Career Opportunities and Skills Development
The MS in AI program positions graduates for diverse career paths in technology sectors. Career advancement opportunities include Senior Software Engineer, Network and Cloud Architect, IT Project Manager, Enterprise Architect, AI/Machine Learning Engineer, System Architect, Systems Analyst, and Database Administrator.
The program prepares students for careers in a faster advancing field and gives them tools to tackle AI’s evolving demands and ethical challenges. Jobs in AI and related fields are projected to grow by more than 30 percent in the next decade and create diverse opportunities across multiple sectors.
Skills development has both technical and ethical dimensions. The curriculum emphasizes ethical implications and societal impacts of AI and prepares students to develop responsible AI solutions. Students gain foundational skills through courses covering core AI topics like machine learning, data analysis, and algorithm development.
Partnerships with local businesses allow students to work on real-life projects and bridge academia and industry. This hands-on experience makes graduates competitive in the job market. The goal extends beyond coding to create critical thinkers who can approach problems with creativity.
The program has electives in fields such as psychology, philosophy, and ethics, though this applies more to the undergraduate program. This interdisciplinary approach gives students a well-rounded understanding of AI’s broader implications and enables them to contribute to its development.
The MSAI program creates a steady flow of skilled professionals who can help organizations guide technological frontiers for businesses seeking to remain competitive in an AI-driven economy. This talent development helps reverse Nebraska’s brain drain and encourages both in-state and out-of-state students to stay in the state and contribute to its growth.
The program is different from the current MS in Data Science offered by IS&T, Arts & Sciences, and Data Science. While the Data Science program prepares students to apply tools of data science to problems in domains like business intelligence and corporate leadership, the AI program’s coursework prepares students to advance the state of the art in artificial intelligence technologies.
Graduates emerge prepared to design and implement AI systems and AI-driven technologies that push boundaries of technological research. They develop capabilities to solve problems with ethical decision making and enable organizations to meet opportunities and challenges of an AI-driven economy.
The transformative power of AI evident in daily life makes it imperative for urban research universities to offer state-of-the-art academic programs that prepare AI-ready leaders for workforce needs. The program lines up with many strategic goals of the college and university while meeting important workforce needs.
UNO integrates artificial intelligence into career services and student success initiatives and enhances opportunities for personalized guidance and effective interactions. This initiative strengthens students with tailored guidance and gives staff tools for efficient support. UNO gives students access to resources and opportunities they need to thrive by using state-of-the-art tools.
The certificate in artificial intelligence, offered alongside the master’s program, exposes students to principles and technologies used to embody machines with human-like intelligent capabilities to assist humans in performing complex and hazardous tasks. Students completing the certificate program learn and perform hands-on experiments in areas of artificial intelligence that have automated systems and technologies such as software agents, multi-agent and multi-robot systems, machine vision and image processing technologies, neural network-based adaptive software systems, heuristics and stochastic optimization techniques for critical decision making, and machine learning and knowledge engineering techniques that enable artificial intelligence functions in computers and information systems.
2. University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) – MS in Artificial Intelligence
Program Overview and Vision
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s School of Computing delivers a dedicated MS in Artificial Intelligence designed to give both current and aspiring computing professionals foundational understanding of AI along with practical proficiency in exploiting AI technologies to develop holistic AI solutions for their respective fields. This program is one of the premier AI masters degree programs in Nebraska and offers students access to advanced computing research infrastructure.
The program establishes six main goals that shape its educational approach. Students develop a solid understanding of fundamental principles of AI first. This includes introduction to AI, constraint processing, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, neural networks, game theory, multiagent systems, image processing, data mining, information retrieval, and computer vision. The curriculum emphasizes application of AI across different sectors, such as healthcare, engineering, commerce, agriculture, media, finance, robotics, and autonomous systems to solve practical problems.
Research and innovation form the third pillar and give students skills needed to conduct advanced industrial research in AI and contribute to advancements in the field. The fourth goal centers on ethical and responsible AI development. It encourages understanding of ethical, legal, and societal implications of AI with focus on fairness, accountability, and transparency. The program also aims to close the skills gap by addressing increasing demand for AI specialists in the state and ensures a steady pipeline of skilled professionals. It seeks to increase career opportunities through lifelong learning, enhancing expertise and employability of the workforce while enabling professionals to advance their careers or transition into AI-focused roles.
The School of Computing houses advanced computing research infrastructure, including the Holland Computing Center, with over 121 trillion floating-point operations per second (121 TFlops) computation rate and over 7 petabytes of storage. Graduate students access state-of-the-art research facilities, including unmanned aerial vehicle testbeds, a city-wide gigabit wireless network testbed, advanced embedded systems facilities, and dedicated research labs.
Core Curriculum and Concentrations
The curriculum covers core AI topics such as introduction to AI, constraint processing, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, data mining, game theory, and information retrieval. Students have the option to focus on applying AI techniques to other disciplines including data science, cognitive science, engineering, and business to address complex AI challenges.
This interdisciplinary approach allows you to tailor your education based on career interests. The program emphasizes hands-on experience with AI tools and technologies across multiple application domains. You gain practical exposure to developing AI solutions for healthcare systems, engineering processes, commercial applications, agricultural innovations, media technologies, financial systems, robotics development, and autonomous systems.
The foundation courses ensure mastery of neural networks, multiagent systems, image processing techniques, computer vision applications, and information retrieval systems. The curriculum integrates constraint processing methodologies and game theory principles to prepare you for complex decision-making scenarios in AI development.
Students pursuing this program can concentrate on various AI application areas. Data science integration allows you to combine statistical analysis with AI methodologies. Cognitive science applications enable exploration of human-computer interaction and intelligent system design. Engineering concentrations focus on AI-driven automation and optimization. Business applications prepare you to develop AI solutions for enterprise challenges.
The program structure supports both theoretical learning and practical implementation. You work with advanced tools and technologies in dedicated research labs and gain experience that translates to professional settings. The Holland Computing Center’s massive computational capacity enables you to run complex AI models and conduct large-scale experiments that would be impossible with standard computing resources.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
The application process begins with submitting an Application for Admission with a $50.00 non-refundable application fee. You must upload unofficial transcripts as part of the application form. All college- or university-level transcripts or mark sheets (records of courses and marks earned), with certificates, diplomas, and degrees plus certified English translations need to be included by international applicants. Official documents are required from all students who are admitted and enroll after admission, with photocopies of certified records not acceptable.
English proficiency verification is required if your native language is not English. The institution code is 6877 when sending TOEFL scores, and a department code is not needed. Financial information must be provided by international students not holding US citizenship who expect an F or J visa.
This program requires a resume or CV beyond standard requirements. You may submit one optional letter of recommendation. This lighter recommendation requirement, compared to other graduate programs, makes the application process more efficient for working professionals seeking to advance their careers through AI master’s programs online or on-campus study.
Application deadlines follow a two-tier structure. You should apply by January 15 for Fall admission or by September 1 for Spring admission to consider financial aid. Regular admission deadlines are March 1 for Fall or October 1 for Spring. These deadlines provide flexibility for planning your educational path while ensuring timely processing of applications.
The program maintains accessibility through its admission structure. Standard graduate requirements apply across all programs and ensure consistent academic standards. Applicants must fulfill any additional requirements the department specifies at the time of application.
Application Timeline Table:
The program accepts students with diverse academic backgrounds, particularly those with computing-related bachelor’s degrees. Students without formal computing education but with proficiency in at least one high-level programming language may need to take foundational courses such as CSCE 802: Data Structures and Algorithms for Informatics prior to taking any required or elective courses.
Career Opportunities and Skills Development
The MS in Artificial Intelligence positions you for diverse career paths across sectors growing faster than ever. The World Economic Forum reported a 450% increase in AI demand since 2013 and projected 40% growth in AI-related jobs from 2023-2025. LinkedIn data highlights AI Specialist as the #1 emerging job in the U.S. and shows a 74% annual increase in job postings over the past five years.
There were 23,758 AI-related job postings from 3,825 employers between September 2023 and August 2024, with a median advertised salary of $162,700. This demonstrates the significant earning potential and market demand for graduates of AI masters degree programs.
The program prepares you to design and implement AI systems and AI-driven technologies to challenge boundaries of technological innovation and research, solve authentic problems, and enable organizations to meet opportunities and challenges of an AI-driven economy while improving lives of people and communities. You develop capabilities for ethical decision making and empathy in AI development and ensure responsible technology deployment.
Skills development extends beyond technical competencies. The curriculum encourages you to know how to provide leadership, integrate multiple views, mentor others, and take responsibility for ethical and safe data collection and governance of data in emergent AI systems. You learn to adapt to the AI landscape evolving faster than ever through lifelong learning, community involvement, and strive to make AI technologies work for the larger social good.
The School of Computing’s research areas line up with career preparation. Informatics and Algorithmics Foundations cover algorithms, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, computational complexity, computational game theory, computer vision, computing education, constraint processing, data mining, databases, geoinformatics, machine learning, multiagent systems, simulation and modeling, and visualization. Software Engineering areas include eye tracking, empirical software engineering, program analysis and verification, programming languages, and software testing and reliability. Systems and Networking cover computer networks, cyber-physical systems, wireless networking, Internet of Things, molecular communication, synthetic biology, deep learning architectures, security and privacy, robotics, embedded systems, sensors and sensor networks.
These research areas create opportunities for you to work on advanced projects that translate into marketable skills. Access to unmanned aerial vehicle testbeds prepares you for careers in autonomous systems development. Experience with city-wide gigabit wireless network testbeds builds expertise in large-scale network design. Work in advanced embedded systems facilities develops skills for IoT and edge computing applications.
The program’s emphasis on ethical and responsible AI development addresses growing industry demands for professionals who understand fairness, accountability, and transparency in AI systems. Organizations seek specialists who can balance technical innovation with ethical thinking more than ever, making this training particularly valuable for career advancement.
Your expertise becomes applicable across numerous industries. Healthcare organizations need AI specialists to develop diagnostic tools, treatment optimization systems, and patient care innovations. Engineering firms seek professionals who can implement AI-driven automation and predictive maintenance solutions. Commerce sectors require AI experts for recommendation systems, fraud detection, and customer behavior analysis. Agricultural applications include crop yield prediction, precision farming, and resource optimization. Media companies need AI specialists for content recommendation, automated production, and audience analytics. Financial institutions seek experts in algorithmic trading, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance systems. Robotics and autonomous systems developers need professionals with deep AI knowledge for next-generation products.
The graduate certificate in AI, also offered by the School of Computing, provides an alternative pathway for professionals seeking to build AI expertise. The certificate requires 15 credit hours of graduate-level coursework and can be extended toward a master’s degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. This creates flexibility for your career development and allows you to start with a certificate and progress to a full master’s degree as your goals evolve.
3. Bellevue University – AI Master’s Programs Online
Program Overview and Vision
Bellevue University offers a fully online Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence that distinguishes itself through a business-centric approach to AI education. This program delivers understanding of AI by combining data science, programming and advanced machine learning techniques to help you create influential, practical solutions.
The program costs $680.00 per credit hour with 30 total credit hours required for completion. This pricing structure makes the total program investment around $20,400, positioning it as an available option among AI masters degree programs in Nebraska. The 100% online learning format removes geographical barriers and allows you to pursue advanced AI education while you maintain professional commitments.
Bellevue University’s AI programs focus on the use of AI in business contexts. This distinguishes the curriculum from research-intensive programs by helping you gain a strong foundation in AI tools, platforms, ethics and integration usages. The educational philosophy prepares you to use emerging technologies in any organization with effectiveness and responsibility.
Dr. Mary Dobransky, Dean of the College of Science and Technology, explains that students in this program build the skills needed to design and implement artificial intelligence solutions that address business needs. The curriculum combines technical knowledge with applied learning so graduates can contribute to organizations that rely on data and automation.
The program’s vision extends beyond technical training to address workplace transformation in practice. Learning AI can help you work smarter by streamlining repetitive tasks, analyzing information faster, improving communication and supporting better decision-making, even if you don’t work in tech. AI skills are becoming a core workplace expectation, like computer or internet skills once were, making this education essential for staying competitive and forward-thinking.
Core Curriculum and Concentrations
The curriculum has foundational courses such as Artificial Intelligence Foundations, Basic Machine Learning and Engineering an Artificial Intelligence System. These courses build technical knowledge and support the development of AI systems in industries such as healthcare, cybersecurity, finance and engineering.
You learn to apply statistical methods, develop programs and design AI architectures throughout the coursework. The program also has elective options in deep learning platforms, applied deep learning and generative AI. This structure allows you to tailor your education toward industry applications or technical interests.
The capstone project serves as the culminating experience where you design and develop an AI solution that addresses a tangible problem. This project requires you to apply statistical methods, engineering practices and ethical considerations. The experience demonstrates your ability to use AI in professional settings and provides tangible evidence of your capabilities to potential employers.
Bellevue University also offers a certificate program called Essentials of AI for Business, designed to give learners a practical introduction to using artificial intelligence in the workplace. Dr. Matt Davis, Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology and Management, notes that this certificate is for anyone curious about AI, those just starting out and looking for a practical way to understand how it works.
The certificate consists of two six-week, four-credit courses where you create AI accounts, work with large language models and apply AI tools to real business scenarios. Topics covered are partnering with generative AI to increase personal and workplace productivity, prompt engineering and refining ideas to produce high-quality results, strengths and weaknesses of different generative AI models, and the ethical and safe use of generative AI in the workplace.
Kent Burkholder, Assistant Dean of the College, emphasizes that certificates provide a great starting point because they don’t require a long-term commitment. They provide the skills you need to apply generative AI in any field and help you stay competitive and advance your career.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Bellevue University simplifies the application process by not requiring entrance exams like GRE or GMAT. As a non-profit, open-access university, Bellevue prioritizes accessibility for working professionals seeking to advance their education.
You begin by completing an online application with a $75.00 application fee. Bellevue University alumni may waive this fee. The application requires you to demonstrate that you have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution.
Academic requirements are holding a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or a U.S. equivalent degree from a nationally or internationally accredited institution. You must have managed to keep a GPA of 2.5 or better from the most recent 60 credits of coursework earned toward the bachelor’s degree, or have managed to keep a GPA of 3.0 in a previous graduate degree.
You may choose to submit previous official transcripts for transfer credit. Bellevue provides free professional transfer credit evaluations, though transfer credits must be from a regionally accredited college or university. The university makes no promises to prospective students regarding the acceptance of credit awarded by examination, credit for prior learning or credit for transfer until an evaluation has been conducted.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, meaning you can apply at any time. You should allow time for processing, scholarship and financial aid applications, and enrollment in classes prior to your desired term start date, however. Fall term classes start in September.
International students have additional requirements and should connect with staff at the International Programs Office and Global Student Services. Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
The program is considered a non-licensure degree and is not intended for those seeking licensure or the practice of a licensed profession. It may be relevant to multiple occupations that do not require licensure and was not designed to meet educational requirements for any professional license or certification.
Career Opportunities and Skills Development
A certificate in AI shows employers that you’re forward-thinking and dedicated to helping your organization use technology to positively impact and streamline business outcomes. It gives you practical skills to work more efficiently, think more critically to solve problems and stand out in new roles or for advancement.
The program prepares you to design, build and deploy intelligent systems that solve actual challenges across multiple sectors. Students complete coursework that builds technical knowledge supporting the development of AI systems in healthcare, cybersecurity, finance and engineering industries.
Bellevue University’s instructors have careers in a variety of fields of study. They have worked with both prominent institutions and organizations from around the world. Through their expertise, you gain valuable insights and develop essential concepts and skills in your area of study.
The hands-on learning approach through the capstone project enables you to demonstrate practical capabilities in professional AI development. By applying statistical methods, engineering practices and ethical considerations to real-life problems, you build a portfolio piece that showcases your abilities to potential employers.
The business focus of the curriculum prepares you for roles where AI integration drives organizational efficiency. You learn to identify opportunities for automation, optimize business processes through intelligent systems and make analytical decisions that improve outcomes. The emphasis on ethics and responsible AI use ensures you can guide the complex considerations organizations face when deploying AI technologies.
Bellevue offers career-focused programs with 100% online and flexible learning options tailored to your needs, whether you’re preparing for your next promotion or changing careers to better support your family. The program structure accommodates working professionals who need to balance education with existing career and personal responsibilities.
Next Steps
Nebraska’s three AI master’s programs provide pathways suited to different career goals and learning priorities. You can choose UNO’s collaborative research environment, UNL’s technical depth, or Bellevue’s business-focused online format. Each program delivers quality education at approximately $20,000-$21,675. AI jobs are projected to grow by more than 30 percent in the next decade. Now is the right time to invest in your AI education. Pick the program that lines up with your professional objectives and apply early to secure funding opportunities. You’ll position yourself as a leader in this field.