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Invest In Your Future 

By enrolling in our graduate-level program, you'll be investing in your professional growth to become more confident and capable using AI. We know this is a significant investment. Not just for you, but for 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 Managing AI Systems 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

AI Foundations

3 units

$2,121

Building the AI Organization

7 units

$4,949

Spring 2026

Operationalizing AI Systems

7 units

$4,949

Summer 2026

Responsible AI

7 units

$4,949

Total Investment

$16,968

Additional Fees & Notes

  • $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.

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 Alexander - 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: AI Foundations

$2,121

        Less Scholarship

-$1,000

Course 2: Building the AI Organization

$4,949

        Less Scholarship

-$1,000

Technology Fee

$245

Payment Plan Enrollment Fee

$45

Remaining Tuition & Fees Due

$5,360

20% Down Payment - Due Aug. 20

$1,072

Payment #1 - Due Sept. 1

$1,072

Payment #2 - Due Oct. 1

$1,072

Payment #3 - Due Nov. 1

$1,072

Payment #4 - Due Dec. 1

$1,072

By taking advantage of the monthly payment plan option, Alexander 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. 

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.

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 Taylor - 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: AI Foundations

$2,121

        Less Scholarship

-$1,000

Course 2: Building the AI Organization

$4,949

        Less Scholarship

-$1,000

Technology Fee

$245

Tuition Reimbursement

-$5,000

Remaining Tuition & Fees Due

$315

SPRING

Description

Tuition or Fee

Course: Operationalizing AI Systems

$4,949

        Less Scholarship

-$1,000

Technology Fee

$245

Tuition Reimbursement

-$4,194

Remaining Tuition & Fees Due

$0

SUMMER

Description

Tuition or Fee

Course: Responsible AI

$4,949

        Less Scholarship

-$1,000

Technology Fee

$245

Tuition Reimbursement

-$806

Remaining Tuition & Fees Due

$3,388

As you can see, Taylor is maximizing her tuition reimbursement benefits across two calendar years, resulting in a person contribution of $3,703. 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 four transcripted, credit-bearing courses (not just continuing education units) taught by expert Carnegie Mellon professors from the nationally-ranked Heinz College of Information Systems & Public Policy.
  • Equips you with the technical knowledge to understand AI fundamentals, the communication skills to translate "all things AI" for various stakeholders, and the confidence to manage AI effectively at the enterprise level.
  • Includes customizable, hands-on projects that allow you to practice core concepts. At the end of the certificate, you’ll have a portfolio of tangible artifacts you can use to provide evidence of content mastery or as models for future AI implementation.
  • 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 build critical AI skills, we’re here to help you make that a reality.

The Graduate Certificate in Managing AI Systems is eligible for CMU tuition remission. Review the CMU tuition remission policy to check your eligibility.

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.