MS Artificial Intelligence at Boston U: Fees 2026 Dates & Requirements

Boston University Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence is a 32-unit, on-campus Boston degree normally completed in three semesters, with a one-year route available. It suits computer science graduates or applicants with equivalent training; no course minimum GPA is published, and Fall 2027 is the only intake. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished; 2026-27 tuition and mandatory fees were US$92,403 (INR 87.73 Lakhs) for the typical three-semester route, as a prior-cycle reference.

The curriculum builds depth in machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision and artificial intelligence, then lets students use electives, independent study or a thesis to shape the degree. It best fits applicants who already code confidently and want either AI engineering roles or PhD preparation, because the four required courses assume technical foundations.

• Applicants may submit the Fall 2027 application without Graduate Record Examination scores.
• Students with approved equivalents for required core courses may replace them with suitable electives.
• The first-round deadline also gives applicants priority consideration for available merit scholarships.

Also Check: Boston University MS AI admission

Boston University MS AI Fees and Living Costs 2027

Fall 2027 tuition and mandatory fees are not published. The live programme, tuition and admitted-student pages were checked for the 2027-28 rate. Verify the target fee on the official fee page.

Prior-cycle planning reference: The programme charges below use Boston University’s 2026-27 schedule. The Fall 2027 application fee is the only current target-cycle item in this table.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of US$1 = INR 94.94 as of 26 October 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

Source: Boston University 2026-27 master’s tuition schedule and current Graduate School application fee.

The two-semester route lowers direct charges and finishes quickly, but it requires four courses in each semester. The typical three-semester route spreads eight courses across two full-time terms and a part-time final term. International students may study part-time only in that final term, so the four-semester domestic pattern is not a valid F-1 plan.

Cost of Living in Boston for MS AI Students

Boston University’s cached 2026-27 immigration estimate covers nine months at the Charles River Campus. It keeps living expenses separate from tuition and health insurance, preventing either figure from being mistaken for an academic charge.

A prior-cycle planning illustration for the accelerated route is US$74,072 (INR 70.32 Lakhs) plus US$27,274 (INR 25.89 Lakhs) and US$4,054 (INR 3.85 Lakhs). The calculated one-year total is US$105,400 (INR 1.00 Crore), excluding travel, visa charges and the application fee.

The typical three-semester path needs additional living money beyond this nine-month estimate. It may still suit applicants seeking a summer internship or thesis because the lighter final term creates planning space. Secure funding for the extended stay before choosing that route, since the target-cycle tuition and living allowances may both change.

Read More: cost of living in the USA

ROI reality: The accelerated prior-cycle illustration reaches US$105,400 (INR 1.00 Crore), while the typical route needs another term of living support. Choose the faster route only if four technical courses per semester are manageable.

Boston University MS AI Admission 2027

Admission requires a bachelor’s degree with computer science preparation or equivalent technical training, but BU publishes no course minimum GPA. The on-campus MS AI admits only for Fall 2027, so applicants cannot shift this application to Spring.

Academic Eligibility for Indian Applicants

BU evaluates academic readiness through the transcript, two recommendations, personal statement and resume. The table separates formal eligibility from the evidence that helps an Indian applicant show readiness for the programme’s technical core.

The programme’s four required courses cover natural language processing, machine learning, image and video computing and artificial intelligence. Applicants changing fields should therefore show working code and mathematics preparation, not rely on broad interest in AI. BU makes the final international equivalency decision, and its GRS page does not require a World Education Services evaluation.

English Language Proficiency

GRS publishes recommended competitive scores, not guaranteed admission thresholds. The current policy names both TOEFL scales, which prevents applicants testing after 21 January 2026 from making an unsupported score conversion.

• India is not on BU’s automatic country-waiver list, so confirm an English-medium waiver before deciding not to test.
• Two consecutive years of recent English-medium study can qualify when the transcript or an official institutional letter confirms the teaching language.
• TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo results remain valid for two years, while Cambridge English Qualifications do not expire under the current policy.

Check Out: Boston University courses and fees

Tip for Indian students: With no published minimum GPA, technical preparation becomes the decisive evidence. Connect each prerequisite area to a graded course, project or research output before requesting recommendations.

Boston University MS AI Application 2027

Fall 2027 applications are open, with a 15 January priority deadline and a 15 March final deadline. BU recommends the priority date for international applicants seeking first-round and merit consideration.

Fall 2027 schedule: BU publishes dates but no portal cutoff time or timezone. Submit by 14 January 2027 IST as an internal safeguard, while treating the university portal as the controlling record.

Prepare the file in dependency order because recommendations and English-test reporting can delay completion. The official Fall 2027 application page remains the controlling source if BU later adds a cutoff time.

• Order every postsecondary transcript early and check whether an English translation is required.
• Assign two recommenders who can evaluate separate evidence of programming, mathematics or research readiness.
• Use the personal statement to connect prior work with the programme’s required AI courses and chosen electives.
• Upload a concise resume or curriculum vitae that makes technical outputs and individual contributions verifiable.

BU does not list an interview among the standard MS AI requirements, and Graduate Record Examination scores are optional. Applicants should therefore make the submitted documents self-contained rather than expecting a later interview to explain missing preparation.

Application tip: Complete the file by 15 January 2027 because that date combines first-round review with merit priority. The 15 March deadline preserves admission access but not the same funding position.

Boston University MS AI Scholarships 2027

Every admitted MS applicant receives automatic merit consideration, but funding is partial and competitive. The current published awards below remain available routes, although BU has not assigned every award a Fall 2027 deadline.

Current published funding: Award mechanics are reproduced without estimating target-cycle tuition savings. Percentage and full-tuition awards cannot be converted because Fall 2027 tuition remains unpublished.

The Computer Science award requires full-time enrolment, a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and grades of B-minus or higher. BU gives additional consideration to women and underrepresented applicants, while the department does not offer need-based aid.

Teaching and research assistantships are generally considered only after a student completes one semester and receives faculty support. They should not fund the arrival budget because neither appointment nor timing is guaranteed at admission.

• Submit by 15 January 2027 because first-round review is the programme’s published merit-priority route.
• BU alumni should verify Double Terrier eligibility before comparing offers because the automatic 25% award can materially change tuition exposure.
• Applicants needing full funding should treat Lu Lingzi as a nomination pathway, not a generally available scholarship application.

Also Check: Boston University scholarships

Scholarship reality: The 15 January 2027 priority date is the only controllable funding advantage before admission. Build the visa budget around confirmed awards, since assistantships normally become possible only after enrolment.

Boston University MS AI Salary 2027

BU publishes no MS AI-only salary or offer rate. Its closest official outcome evidence groups computer science master’s alumni, so these figures establish employer access rather than an individual placement probability.

Official grouped outcome scope: BU’s February 2026 analysis covers alumni from its computer science master’s programmes between 2015 and 2025, including graduates from the MS AI family.

The evidence confirms that graduates have reached major technology employers, but it cannot reveal how many students sought work or how quickly they secured roles. Ask the department for MS AI-specific destinations before treating the grouped history as a forecast.

Salary Benchmarks and ROI

Current United States occupation medians provide market context where BU course salaries are absent. They are national May 2025 medians for all experience levels, not MS AI starting salaries or guaranteed graduate outcomes.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 national occupational medians.

The accelerated prior-cycle planning cost is US$105,400 (INR 1.00 Crore). The typical route starts with US$92,403 (INR 87.73 Lakhs) in direct charges before extended living costs. Because Fall 2027 tuition and course-specific salaries are unpublished, a credible payback period cannot be calculated.

• Target tuition remains unpublished, so secure the final bill and confirmed scholarship before deciding how much debt the programme requires.
• National salary medians are gross figures, so model take-home pay with the IRS tax estimator before setting a repayment target.
• The 296 grouped alumni records show employer access, so request MS AI-specific destinations and internship evidence before assigning placement odds.
• The potential 36-month work window depends on STEM eligibility and a qualifying employer, so verify the Form I-20 code before valuing United States earnings.
• United States medians do not transfer to India, so applicants planning an immediate return should compare current Indian offers against total borrowing.

The four required AI courses support engineering depth, while the optional thesis can strengthen preparation for research roles or doctoral study. However, the faster two-semester route compresses recruiting and coursework, making preparation before arrival financially important.

ROI reality: The available evidence supports access to a broad employer network but not an MS AI placement rate. Treat funding certainty and route length as the controllable return drivers.

USA Visa for Boston University MS AI Students 2027

Admitted international students need F-1 status for this on-campus degree. Graduates may use OPT (Optional Practical Training). This work authorization can combine 12 months with a 24-month science and technology extension when every eligibility condition is met.

• The F-1 visa application costs US$185 (INR 17,564) and the I-901 fee costs US$350 (INR 33,229), as detailed by the official student visa process.
• BU classifies Artificial Intelligence under code 11.0102, so verify that code on Form I-20 before relying on the additional 24-month work period.
• An H-1B employer must meet the higher applicable prevailing or actual wage, while this degree creates no fixed permanent-residence timeline.
• An F-2 spouse or unmarried child under 21 may accompany the student, but an F-2 spouse cannot receive employment authorization.

Read More: post-study work options in the USA

Visa reality: The potential 36-month work window can improve the career case, but it depends on the I-20 code and a qualifying employer. Confirm both before assigning future earnings to the budget.

Boston University MS AI Ranking 2027

Boston University places in the 101 to 125 global band for Computer Science in the Times Higher Education 2026 subject ranking. This is a discipline result, not a separate MS AI rank.

Ranking scope: The table retains the published edition and subject because an overall university position would not measure the programme’s academic field.

The ranking provides broad evidence about BU’s computer science environment, while curriculum and route length determine individual programme fit. Compare the four AI core courses and available electives before using rank as a deciding factor.

Check Out: Boston University rankings

Honest take: The 101 to 125 subject band describes BU Computer Science rather than MS AI outcomes. Use it as institutional context, then prioritise technical fit and verified funding.