AI degree programs – accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees in artificial intelligence have become the fastest-growing kind of degree in the world. This analysis from BTU and BTUAI shows how AI degree programs are expanding globally and where Georgia stands, with 11 accredited AI programs and roughly 450 students already enrolled. One point up front: this analysis is about dedicated AI degree programs, not the general use of AI as a study aid.
In short: key takeaways
- US master’s programs in AI grew 2.7× between 2022 and 2026 (116 to 310).
- Georgia now has 11 accredited AI degree programs and about 450 students (2025/26).
- Enrollment at Georgia’s leading AI program tripled from 100 to 300 in a single year.
- Demand for AI graduates far exceeds the formal seats available, globally and in Georgia.
What is an AI degree program, and what is this analysis about?
An AI degree program is a university’s dedicated, accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree built around artificial intelligence. This analysis is about those programs – not about how students use AI as a study aid. Both are real trends, but here the AI degree programs themselves are the subject, in the world and in Georgia.
How fast are AI degree programs growing worldwide?
The clearest picture comes from the United States. Master’s programs in AI grew about 2.7-fold between 2022 and 2026, from 116 to 310, while bachelor’s degrees doubled in a single year, from 90 to 193. By 2026 roughly 304 US institutions offered an AI degree of some kind. The first mover was Carnegie Mellon, which launched the first bachelor’s in AI back in 2018. Even after this growth, penetration is still low: only about 1% of institutions offer an AI master’s and 2.5% a bachelor’s.
AI degree programs in Europe: what are the trends?
Europe lists somewhere between roughly 140 and 350 dedicated AI bachelor’s, depending on the directory. JKU Linz bills itself as the continent’s first academic AI degree; newer launches include PSL University’s English-taught program in Paris (2025) and a joint bachelor’s across several Italian universities. A recurring European pattern is pairing AI with a domain – AI for business, AI and law, AI and sustainability rather than teaching it as pure computer science. Most new programs, including Georgia’s, follow this model.
Is supply keeping up with AI skills demand?
Not yet. In the US alone nearly 57 million people say they want to learn AI skills, but only about 8.7 million are actively learning, and only a fraction sit in credit-bearing university programs. The labor pull is strong: the World Economic Forum projects more than 5 million unfilled AI-related roles worldwide. The gap between interest and formal seats is the defining feature of the AI education market.
AI degree programs in Georgia: where does the country stand?
For a country of its size, Georgia has moved decisively. As of the 2025/26 cycle there are 11 accredited AI programs, and roughly 450 students have already enrolled through the national exams. Enrollment is uneven: the clearest momentum is at BTU’s bachelor’s in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, where intake tripled from 100 to 300 in a single year. Demand for these graduates is driven largely by the international technology companies operating in Georgia – EPAM Systems Georgia among them which hire AI talent locally and remotely.
What is the real story of AI degrees in Georgia?
Georgia has genuinely joined the global wave of AI degree programs: it has accredited degrees, real and rising enrollment, and an employer base ready to absorb graduates. Measured against the world, it is early but on-trend. The question for the years ahead is no longer whether to offer AI degrees, but whether the system can grow faculty, graduate-level depth and industry links fast enough to turn a strong start into lasting quality.
This analysis was prepared by the academic team of the Business and Technology University (BTU), together with BTUAI, in Tbilisi, Georgia. It draws on publicly available research, official reports and industry sources and is analytical in nature. The full report, with tables and charts, is attached as a separate file.
Citation: Business and Technology University (BTU) & BTUAI. (2026). AI Degree Programs in Georgia: The Global Boom and Where the Country Stands. Tbilisi, Georgia.