Invest in Your Future
By enrolling in our graduate-level programs, you'll be investing in your professional growth to expand your skill set or advance your career. We know this is a significant investment. Not just for you, but your family as well.
Scholarship Opportunities
All students who submit their application by the priority deadline will receive a partial scholarship to help offset the cost of tuition. If admitted to the program, the amount of your award will be communicated with your admissions letter.
Students who submit after the priority deadline may be eligible for any remaining scholarships that are still available. But we highly encourage you to apply by the priority deadline if you are interested in a scholarship award.
In addition, Carnegie Mellon alumni are eligible for a scholarship to the Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning and Data Science Foundations worth up to 20% of tuition. Indicate your alumni status within the application to be eligible.
So, what is the investment per course?
Below is a tuition breakdown for the 2025/2026 academic year:
| Semester | Course | Units | Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fall 2025 |
Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning |
6 units |
$4,242 |
|
Computational Foundations of Machine Learning |
6 units |
$4,242 |
|
|
Spring 2026 |
Python for Data Science 1 |
6 units |
$4,242 |
|
Python for Data Science 2 |
6 units |
$4,242 |
|
|
Summer 2026 |
Foundations of Computational Data Science |
12 units |
$8,484 |
|
Total Investment |
$25,452 |
||
- $245 technology fee will be assessed each semester (subject to change).
- The rates above are for the 2025/2026 academic year only. If the certificate is not completed within that time frame, tuition may increase slightly for the following academic year.
Monthly Payment Plan
CMU provides a monthly payment option, managed by Nelnet Campus Commerce, designed to help students spread out tuition payments into manageable monthly installments. This plan also offers the ease of online enrollment. Should you be admitted and choose to join us, we recommend registering for this plan early to fully benefit from the range of payment options available.
Payment Plan in Action
Meet Jesse - he plans to start the program in the Fall (which includes two courses) and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship per course. Here's an example of what his tuition breakdown could look like with a payment plan:
| FALL | |
|
Description |
Tuition or Fee |
|
Course 1: Math Foundations of ML |
$4,242 |
|
Less Scholarship |
-$1,000 |
|
Course 2: Computational Foundations of ML |
$4,242 |
|
Less Scholarship |
-$1,000 |
|
Technology Fee |
$245 |
|
Payment Plan Enrollment Fee |
$45 |
|
Remaining Tuition & Fees Due |
$6,774 |
|
20% Down Payment - Due Aug. 20 |
$1,354.80 |
|
Payment #1 - Due Sept. 1 |
$1,354.80 |
|
Payment #2 - Due Oct. 1 |
$1,354.80 |
|
Payment #3 - Due Nov. 1 |
$1,354.80 |
|
Payment #4 - Due Dec. 1 |
$1,354.80 |
By taking advantage of the monthly payment plan option, Jesse can break tuition into smaller installments that he can pay throughout the semester.
Please note: Nelnet payment plans do not carry over from one semester to the next. Therefore, students must re-enroll and establish a new payment plan at the beginning of each semester.
Financial Aid & Private Loans
Students pursuing a graduate certificate are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. However, private loans are a viable alternative to consider with competitive interest rates and borrower benefits. See FastChoice, a free loan comparison service to easily research options.
Employer Tuition Reimbursement
Using your company's tuition reimbursement benefits can help significantly offset the cost of tuition, especially if you start in the Fall and your tuition benefits restart every calendar year.
Tuition Benefits in Action
Meet Casey - she plans to start the program in the Fall (which includes two courses) and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship per course. Her company also provides $5,000 in tuition reimbursement per calendar year. Here’s an example of what her tuition breakdown could look like for the whole program with tuition reimbursement benefits:
| FALL | |
|
Description |
Tuition or Fee |
|
Course 1: Math Foundations of ML |
$4,242 |
|
Less Scholarship |
-$1,000 |
|
Course 2: Computational Foundations of ML |
$4,242 |
|
Less Scholarship |
-$1,000 |
|
Technology Fee |
$245 |
|
Tuition Reimbursement |
-$5,000 |
|
Remaining Tuition & Fees Due |
$1,729 |
| SPRING | |
|
Description |
Tuition or Fee |
|
Course 1: Python for Data Science 1 |
$4,242 |
|
Less Scholarship |
-$1,000 |
|
Course 2: Python for Data Science 2 |
$4,242 |
|
Less Scholarship |
-$1,000 |
|
Technology Fee |
$245 |
|
Tuition Reimbursement |
-$5,000 |
|
Remaining Tuition & Fees Due |
$1,729 |
| SUMMER | |
|
Description |
Tuition or Fee |
|
Course: Foundations of Computational Data Science |
$8,484 |
|
Less Scholarship |
-$1,000 |
|
Technology Fee |
$245 |
|
Remaining Tuition & Fees Due |
$7,729 |
As you can see, Casey is maximizing her tuition reimbursement benefits across two calendar years, resulting in a person contribution of $11,187. She can also use the payment plan to spread the cost out even further.
Make a Case To Your Employer
If your employer is hesitant about supporting the program, be sure to highlight the value and benefits of completing an online certificate at Carnegie Mellon. You can share that our program:
- Consists of transcripted, credit-bearing courses (not just continuing education units). You will earn 36 Carnegie Mellon graduate-level credits when you complete the full program.
- Equips you with foundational skills in AI, machine learning, and computational data science, which means you’ll be ready to extract meaningful insights from large, complex data sets right from the get-go. With the #1 program in Artificial Intelligence and the #1 Programming Languages school in the country, CMU is the ideal place to learn these skills and techniques.
- Features coursework taught by CMU faculty experts who are spearheading research in language technologies, computer science, machine learning, and human-computer interaction.
- Is delivered completely online, which means you can take classes on your own time while maintaining your normal work schedule.
Not sure how to approach your employer? Need specific documents to proceed with enrollment? Contact a Program Specialist for assistance. If you’re ready to make more data-informed decisions, we’re here to help you make that a reality.
CMU Employee Tuition Reimbursement
The Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning & Data Science Foundations is eligible for CMU tuition remission. Review the CMU tuition remission policy to check your eligibility.
G.I. Bill Funding
Carnegie Mellon University provides services to veterans and their dependents who are eligible for Veterans Education Benefits under the Montgomery G.I. Bill®, Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. Please note, our online graduate certificates are not currently eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program.
The process starts with an application directly to Veterans Affairs and once approved, you will provide your Certificate of Eligibility to the Carnegie Mellon Veterans Affairs Coordinator. Contact Information and additional details about the process can be found here.
Students eligible for GI Bill funding may receive scholarship awards prior to full GI Bill funding confirmation. Scholarship awards will be adjusted to reflect GI Bill funding and cannot exceed the cost of tuition/fees.