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# AI Higher Education is Booming

AI degree programs have become ubiquitous on university websites. But where is all this higher education activity in the USA coming from? And what does it mean for the future of the AI workforce?

It’s no surprise to anyone reading this that AI is one of the most overused buzzwords in higher education — hardly a day goes by without a school announcing a new degree in artificial intelligence or robotics. So it may be useful to know that MastersInAI.org has crunched the data to create a snapshot of program growth in their latest 2025 AI Degree Report. For educators, employers, and policymakers tracking how the AI talent pipeline is shifting, the report’s analyses and data visualizations provide a roadmap to what’s happening on the ground.

# Inside the 2025 Degree Report

The rate of expansion in artificial intelligence learning in the last 5 years has been breathtaking. Within 304 colleges and universities in the USA, the report identifies 503 AI and AI-related degree programs. Master’s degrees in AI have leapt from 116 in 2022 to 310 in 2025 — a 167% increase in three years. Undergraduate offerings in AI have jumped to 193 degrees, more than doubling in one year (2024 to 2025).

The surprising fact is where this growth is being generated. The South is the top regional provider of AI programs in the nation, accounting for 38.4% of all degrees, followed by the Midwest (23.9%), Northeast (22.7%), and West (15.1%). AI higher education has become a nationwide priority, stretching well beyond traditional tech corridors like Silicon Valley and NYC/Boston.

# Why Certain States and Schools Are Getting Ahead

One of the most compelling stories in the report is how the efforts of individual states and schools are generating results. In 2025, Texas was the #1 state for AI degrees, hosting 39 programs across 21 universities, driven by a mix of R1 research activity and strong state-level funding for applied AI. The densely populated states of Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, and California round out the top five However, smaller Midwest states like Iowa and South Dakota are the true disruptors, showing some of the fastest percentage growth since 2022.

In the South, Midwest and West, it’s usually public research universities that are funding developments in AI, especially in sectors such as manufacturing, agtech, and engineering. But in the Northeast, it’s richly endowed private R1 universities that are fostering innovation. Pennsylvania is dominated by AI degree offerings from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pennsylvania. In New York, it’s Columbia University, Cornell University, and NYU that are the major providers of AI education.

# Leveling the Playing Field in AI Higher Education

If R1 and R2 universities are the largest suppliers of AI degree programs in the States, it raises questions of access and equity. After all, it’s not easy to be admitted to a degree program in a highly regarded department of computer science or college of engineering. What’s more, only 5% of Historically Black Colleges and Universities currently offer AI degrees, signaling a need for targeted investment and partnerships to help ensure diversity within the AI workforce.

On a more positive note, the report highlights that schools of business are now serious AI players, with AI-focused MBAs and business degrees exploding from five programs in 2022 to 68 in 2025 — a 1,260% increase. In addition, GRE requirements are being phased out for master’s degrees and distance learning programs have become mainstream. 51% of master’s in AI degrees are now delivered online. These developments should help graduate students who are currently stranded in AI education deserts.

# The Bottom Line

The key takeaway? AI higher education isn’t just expanding in the USA — it’s evolving, democratizing, and decentralizing. Forward-thinking universities are moving quickly to meet local workforce demands and integrate AI into every department and program. For the full data tables, regional/state breakouts, and methodology, read the 2025 AI Degree Report: The Landscape of AI Degrees in the United States on MastersInAI.org.

Masters in AI is the artificial intelligence education guide. Learn about degree programs in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and more!