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# AI is on the rise in higher education
AI degree programs have become ubiquitous on university websites. But where is all this higher education activity in the United States coming from? And what does this mean for the future of the AI ​​workforce?
It’s no surprise to anyone to read 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 might be useful to know Mastersini.org The data has been crunched to create a snapshot of the program’s growth in its latest 2025 AI Degree Report. For educators, employers and policymakers that AI is changing the talent pipeline, this report’s analyzes and data visualizations provide a roadmap to what’s happening on the ground.
# 2025 within the degree report
The rate of expansion in artificial intelligence education over the past 5 years has been breathtaking. Within 304 colleges and universities in the United States, the report identified 503 AI and AI-related degree programs. Master’s degrees in AI have grown from 116 in 2022 to 310 in 2025 — a 167 percent increase in three years. Undergraduate offerings in AI have risen 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, accounting for 38.4% of all degrees, followed by the Midwest (23.9%), the Northeast (22.7%), and the West (15.1%). AI higher education has become a nationwide priority, extending beyond traditional tech corridors like Silicon Valley and NYC/Boston.
# Why some states and schools are moving forward
One of the most compelling stories in the report is how the efforts of individual states and schools are paying off. In 2025, Texas was the #1 state for AI degrees, hosting 39 programs at 21 universities, driven by a combination 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 real disruptors, showing some of the fastest percentage growth since 2022.
In the South, Midwest, and West, it is usually public research universities that provide funding in AI, particularly in areas such as manufacturing, ag tech, and engineering. But in the Northeast, it has heavily endowed private R1 universities that are promoting innovation. Pennsylvania is dominated by AI degree offerings from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pennsylvania. In New York, it is Columbia University, Cornell University, and NYU that are the major providers of AI education.
# AI is leveling the playing field in higher education
If R1 and R2 universities are the largest suppliers of AI degree programs in states, this raises questions of access and equity. However, getting into a degree program in a highly regarded department of computer science or a college of engineering is not easy. Moreover, only 5% of historically black colleges and universities offer AI degrees, indicating the need for targeted investments and partnerships to help ensure diversity in the AI ​​workforce.
On a more positive note, the report highlights that school businesses are now serious AI players, with AI-based MBA and business degrees exploding from five programs in 2022 to 68 in 2025. In addition, GRE requirements for master’s degrees are being phased out and distance learning programs have become mainstream. 51% of Master’s in AI degrees are now provided online. These developments should help graduate students currently stuck in the AI ​​education wilderness.
# The bottom line
The key takeaway? AI higher education isn’t just expanding in America—it’s evolving, democratizing, and decentralizing. Forward-thinking universities are moving quickly to meet the demands of the local workforce and integrate AI into every department and program. For complete data tables, regional/state breakouts, and methodology, read on 2025 AI Degree Report: The AI ​​Degree Landscape in the United States at mastersini.org.
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