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PhD in AI / ML in United States for international students

🇺🇸 World-leading research universities and the broadest course catalogue on earth. Here is what a phd in AI / ML there actually involves — costs, entry tests, deadlines and what graduates earn.

Tuition
See the university-published fees below
Official living-cost benchmark
Your university's first-year cost of attendanceDHS Study in the States · 2026
Tests accepted
TOEFL · GRE
Intakes
Fall (Aug/Sep) primary · Spring (Jan) limited
Student visa
F-1 Student Visa — USD 185 visa fee + USD 350 SEVIS I-901
After you graduate
12-month OPT (36 months for STEM)

PhD programmes in AI / ML we track in United States

UniversityProgrammeDurationTuitionDeadlineApply
Carnegie MellonPhD Machine Learning5 yrsFull tuition and stipend guaranteedOfficial source · 2026Dec 1Apply

Fee labels cite official university pages and their stated academic year. “Check current fee” means the institution does not publish one stable programme figure.

What AI / ML graduates earn in United States

Official earnings benchmark
Benchmark scope
National median pay for software developers; occupation-specific, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Post-study work
3 years

Common roles include Research Scientist, ML Engineer. Employer examples are editorial, while the earnings benchmark above comes from the cited national source.

How to apply for the 1971 intake

  1. 1Shortlist universities and confirm test requirements
  2. 2Send GRE/GMAT + TOEFL/IELTS scores via ETS to each university
  3. 3Submit applications by Dec 15 – Jan 15 for Fall intake
  4. 4Receive I-20 from your chosen university
  5. 5Pay SEVIS I-901 and complete DS-160 form
  6. 6Book and attend your F-1 visa interview

Frequently asked questions

What does a PhD in AI / ML in United States cost per year?

Current official programme figures shown in this guide are: Carnegie Mellon: Full tuition and stipend guaranteed. The country planning range is separate from these university-published fees. Open each cited source before paying a deposit.

Which tests do I need for a PhD in AI / ML in United States?

The programmes we track ask for TOEFL, GRE. Most United States universities accept an English test plus, where relevant, a graduate admissions test. Always check the exact minimum score on the programme page.

Can I work in United States after this degree?

12-month OPT (36 months for STEM). Salary outcomes vary by role, location and experience; use the official benchmark source shown on this page rather than treating a national figure as a guaranteed starting salary.

When should I apply for the 1971 intake?

Fall (Aug/Sep) primary · Spring (Jan) limited. Deadlines for the programmes we track fall on Dec 1, so start test prep and documents 8–12 months earlier.

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