Top 10 Schools for Artificial Intelligence Research in 2027
By Kory White · Updated Nov 2026 · 5 min read
Direct answer
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is the best school for artificial intelligence research in 2027: it is #1 in the world for computer science in the QS 2026 subject ranking (score 94.9) and runs CSAIL. Stanford (#2) and Carnegie Mellon (#3) follow, and NUS and Oxford tie at #4.
#10 in the world, overall score 85.9 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Computer Science and Information Systems)
The lowest tuition on the list at a top-10 computer science school
Pick by what you want
Best overall
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (CSAIL)
Best near Silicon Valley
Stanford University
Best dedicated machine learning department
Carnegie Mellon University
Best public university
University of California, Berkeley
Best lowest tuition
ETH Zurich
The ranking
1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (CSAIL)
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Answrs VerdictThe world #1 for computer science, home of CSAIL.
QS 2026 computer science rank: #1 in the world, overall score 94.9 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Computer Science and Information Systems)CSRankings AI rank: #27 in the world for AI research publications, 2016-2026 (78 faculty counted)AI lab: Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), formed on July 1, 2003, the largest laboratory on the MIT campus with over 600 personnel at its creationPublished graduate tuition: $66,720 for the 9-month academic year 2026-27 ($89,775 for 12 months including summer)
MIT is #1 in the world for computer science in the QS 2026 subject ranking, with an overall score of 94.9. Its Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory was formed on July 1, 2003 and had over 600 personnel at its creation. Graduate tuition is $66,720 for the 9-month 2026-27 year.
Go ifStudents who want the top-ranked computer science school in the world and a giant AI lab
Skip ifYou want the school with the most AI papers per CSRankings
Why #1 over #2: Its QS score of 94.9 is above Stanford’s 92.9.
2
Stanford University
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Answrs VerdictThe world #2, with HAI and the original SAIL.
QS 2026 computer science rank: #2 in the world, overall score 92.9 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Computer Science and Information Systems)CSRankings AI rank: #23 in the world for AI research publications, 2016-2026 (50 faculty counted)AI institute: Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI), launched in 2019, with the mission to advance humanity through AI and data scienceAI lab: Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL), started in 1963 by John McCarthyPublished graduate tuition: $23,239 per quarter for 11-18 units, Graduate School of Engineering, 2026-27
Stanford is #2 for computer science in QS 2026 with a score of 92.9. It runs the Institute for Human-Centered AI, launched in 2019, and the AI Lab started in 1963 by John McCarthy. Graduate School of Engineering tuition is $23,239 per quarter for 11-18 units in 2026-27.
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Why #2 over #3: Its QS score of 92.9 is above Carnegie Mellon’s 90.9.
3
Carnegie Mellon University
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Answrs VerdictThe AI-publication leader among the US picks.
QS 2026 computer science rank: #3 in the world, overall score 90.9 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Computer Science and Information Systems)CSRankings AI rank: #6 in the world for AI research publications, 2016-2026 (113 faculty counted)AI department: Machine Learning Department, founded in the spring of 2006 as the world’s first machine learning academic departmentPublished graduate tuition: $62,200 per academic year ($31,100 per semester) for School of Computer Science master’s programs, 2026-27
Carnegie Mellon is #3 in QS 2026 with a score of 90.9 and #6 in the world on CSRankings AI, the highest of the US picks. Its Machine Learning Department, founded in the spring of 2006, was the world’s first. School of Computer Science master’s tuition is $62,200 per academic year for 2026-27.
Go ifStudents who want a dedicated machine learning department and the most AI papers of any US school here
Skip ifYou want a big-city coastal campus
Why #3 over #4: Its QS score of 90.9 is above NUS at 89.8.
4
National University of Singapore
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Answrs VerdictTied for the best computer science school outside the US.
QS 2026 computer science rank: #4 (tied) in the world, overall score 89.8 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Computer Science and Information Systems)CSRankings AI rank: #13 in the world for AI research publications, 2016-2026 (63 faculty counted)AI institute: NUS AI Institute, operational from 25 March 2024, with more than 20 principal investigators leading more than 10 research programmesPublished graduate tuition: S$43,750 a year for PRs and international students (S$41,700 for Singapore citizens) in computing research programmes without MOE subsidy, AY2026/2027, GST included
NUS ties Oxford at #4 in QS 2026 with a score of 89.8 and ranks #13 on CSRankings AI. Its NUS AI Institute has been operational since 25 March 2024, with more than 20 principal investigators. Computing research programme fees for AY2026/2027 are S$43,750 a year for PRs and international students without MOE subsidy.
Go ifThe top-ranked computer science school in Asia, with a new university-wide AI institute
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Why #4 over #5: It ties Oxford at 89.8, and ranks #13 on CSRankings AI where Oxford ranks #77.
5
University of Oxford
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Answrs VerdictTied for the best computer science school outside the US.
QS 2026 computer science rank: #4 (tied) in the world, overall score 89.8 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Computer Science and Information Systems)CSRankings AI rank: #77 in the world for AI research publications, 2016-2026 (40 faculty counted)AI institute: Institute for Ethics in AI, launched in 2021 thanks to a donation from Stephen A. Schwarzman, part of the Faculty of PhilosophyPublished graduate tuition: MSc in Advanced Computer Science: £20,100 Home and £46,350 Overseas per year (fees for the 2027-28 academic year)
Oxford ties NUS at #4 in QS 2026 with a score of 89.8. Its Institute for Ethics in AI launched in 2021 thanks to a donation from Stephen A. Schwarzman. The MSc in Advanced Computer Science costs £20,100 Home and £46,350 Overseas per year for 2027-28.
Go ifStudents who want a top-5 computer science school plus AI ethics and governance research
Skip ifYou want a school high in raw AI publication counts
Why #5 over #6: Its QS score of 89.8 is above Berkeley’s 89.1.
6
University of California, Berkeley
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Answrs VerdictThe top public university for AI research.
QS 2026 computer science rank: #6 in the world, overall score 89.1 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Computer Science and Information Systems)CSRankings AI rank: #32 (tied) in the world for AI research publications, 2016-2026 (61 faculty counted)AI lab: Berkeley AI Research (BAIR): over 30 faculty and 200 graduate students and postdocs affiliated, per BAIR in March 2019Published graduate tuition: $13,036.75 per semester for California residents and $20,587.75 for nonresidents, new master’s students in graduate academic programs, 2026-27 (estimates)
UC Berkeley is #6 in QS 2026 with a score of 89.1. Berkeley AI Research counted over 30 faculty and 200 graduate students and postdocs in March 2019. New master’s students in graduate academic programs pay an estimated $13,036.75 per semester as California residents and $20,587.75 as nonresidents for 2026-27.
Go ifThe best public university here, with the lowest US tuition on the list
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Why #6 over #7: Its QS score of 89.1 is above Harvard’s 89.
7
Harvard University
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Answrs VerdictTop-10 computer science with a $500 million AI institute.
QS 2026 computer science rank: #7 in the world, overall score 89 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Computer Science and Information Systems)CSRankings AI rank: #109 (tied) in the world for AI research publications, 2016-2026 (31 faculty counted)AI institute: Kempner Institute for the Study of Natural and Artificial Intelligence, announced on December 7, 2021 with a $500 million gift from Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg that funds 10 new faculty appointmentsPublished graduate tuition: $59,048 full tuition per year for Griffin GSAS master’s and PhD students, 2026-2027
Harvard is #7 in QS 2026 with a score of 89. Its Kempner Institute for the Study of Natural and Artificial Intelligence was announced on December 7, 2021 with a $500 million gift that funds 10 new faculty appointments. Griffin GSAS full tuition is $59,048 per year for 2026-2027.
Go ifStudents who want AI research tied to the study of the brain
Skip ifYou want a school with a large AI publication record
Why #7 over #8: Its QS score of 89 is above Cambridge’s 88.5.
8
University of Cambridge
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Answrs VerdictA top-10 school with a 9-month MPhil.
QS 2026 computer science rank: #8 in the world, overall score 88.5 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Computer Science and Information Systems)CSRankings AI rank: #68 in the world for AI research publications, 2016-2026 (40 faculty counted)AI centre: Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, a £10million centre launched in October 2016 with Oxford, UC Berkeley and Imperial College London as partnersPublished graduate tuition: MPhil in Advanced Computer Science: University Composition Fee £19,674 Home and £48,192 Overseas (2026-27, 9 months full-time)
Cambridge is #8 in QS 2026 with a score of 88.5. Its Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, a £10million centre, launched in October 2016. The 9-month MPhil in Advanced Computer Science has a University Composition Fee of £19,674 Home and £48,192 Overseas for 2026-27.
Go ifStudents who want a 9-month advanced computer science master’s in the UK
Skip ifYou want the lowest Overseas fee in the UK picks
Why #8 over #9: Its QS score of 88.5 is above Nanyang Technological University’s 88.1.
9
Nanyang Technological University
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Answrs VerdictThe most AI papers of any school on the list.
QS 2026 computer science rank: #9 in the world, overall score 88.1 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Computer Science and Information Systems)CSRankings AI rank: #5 in the world for AI research publications, 2016-2026 (91 faculty counted)AI lab: MMLab@NTU, founded in 2018 with around 40 members, works on computer vision, multimodal AI, generative AI and embodied AIPublished graduate tuition: S$65,748.80 for the whole MSc in Artificial Intelligence, inclusive of 9% GST (Academic Year 2027/2028 and after)
Nanyang Technological University is #9 in QS 2026 with a score of 88.1, and #5 in the world on CSRankings AI, the highest of all 10 picks. MMLab@NTU, founded in 2018, has around 40 members. The MSc in Artificial Intelligence costs S$65,748.80 for the whole program, including 9% GST, for Academic Year 2027/2028 and after.
Go ifStudents who want a one-year master’s named for AI at the top AI-publishing school on this list
Skip ifYou want a school ranked higher by QS
Why #9 over #10: Its QS score of 88.1 is above ETH Zurich’s 85.9.
10
ETH Zurich
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Answrs VerdictEurope’s low-cost top-10 pick.
QS 2026 computer science rank: #10 in the world, overall score 85.9 (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Computer Science and Information Systems)CSRankings AI rank: #59 in the world for AI research publications, 2016-2026 (33 faculty counted)AI centre: ETH AI Center, established in 2020; as of July 2026 it has 145 professors (37 core faculty and 108 associated faculty)Published graduate tuition: CHF 730 per semester for Swiss and resident students and CHF 2190 per semester for other foreign students (from Autumn Semester 2025)
ETH Zurich is #10 in QS 2026 with a score of 85.9. The ETH AI Center, established in 2020, has 145 professors as of July 2026. Tuition is CHF 730 per semester for Swiss and resident students and CHF 2190 for other foreign students from Autumn Semester 2025, the lowest on this list.
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How we ranked these
The order follows the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for Computer Science and Information Systems: these are its 10 highest-ranked schools, best first, and NUS and Oxford tie at #4. We also show each school’s CSRankings AI rank (AI, vision, machine learning, language and web research papers, world, 2016-2026), which measures publication output, and each school’s named AI institute. No school pays for placement. Tuition comes from each school’s own page with its year; programs and billing periods differ, so compare carefully. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best school for artificial intelligence research?
MIT is ranked #1 in the world for computer science by QS for 2026, with an overall score of 94.9, and runs CSAIL, which had over 600 personnel at its creation.
Which school publishes the most AI research?
Among these 10, Nanyang Technological University ranks highest on CSRankings AI at #5 in the world for 2016-2026, followed by Carnegie Mellon at #6.
Which school on the list has the lowest tuition?
ETH Zurich charges CHF 730 per semester for Swiss and resident students and CHF 2190 per semester for other foreign students from Autumn Semester 2025.
Which school has a master’s named for artificial intelligence?
Nanyang Technological University offers an MSc in Artificial Intelligence, priced at S$65,748.80 for the whole program including 9% GST for Academic Year 2027/2028 and after.
QS 2026 computer science overall score (higher is better) at a glance
ETH Zurich85.9 score
Nanyang Technological University88.1 score
University of Cambridge88.5 score
Harvard University89 score
University of California, Berkeley89.1 score
National University of Singapore89.8 score
University of Oxford89.8 score
Carnegie Mellon University90.9 score
Stanford University92.9 score
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (CSAIL)94.9 score
QS 2026 computer science overall score (higher is better), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
