The University at Albany is a public research university in New York's state capital and part of the SUNY system. It is best known for public affairs, criminal justice, atmospheric science, cyber security and business, and opened the first US college of artificial intelligence in 2024. Choose it for an affordable degree next to New York State government and a growing chip-making corridor.
Albany, United States
Official website: albany.edu
#851
Top 20 public affairs school in the US (U.S. News)
Top 5 in the US (U.S. News)
The first US college dedicated to AI, opened 2024
$22,000 – $30,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$14,000 – $18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on albany.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Information Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Master of Public Administration (Rockefeller)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Cybersecurity
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
First US college of artificial intelligence, opened in 2024.
Rockefeller College — a top-20 public affairs school in the state capital.
Atmospheric science — home to New York's weather-research centre and a national mesonet.
Albany — a chip-making corridor with GlobalFoundries and IBM's research labs nearby.
Graduates join New York State agencies, GlobalFoundries, IBM, KeyBank and Albany's health and tech firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Public administration alumni enter state government, federal agencies and non-profits.
Cyber security graduates work at federal contractors and New York's financial firms.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The Uptown campus is a modernist site designed by Edward Durell Stone, with the academic podium, four residence towers and a large fountain at its centre, and buses to downtown.
Albany is New York's state capital, a mid-sized city with low rent, the Adirondacks and Berkshires nearby and New York City about two and a half hours by train.
Form I-20 issued by the University at Albany
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 1 December 2026 priority date for fall 2027 that gives the best chance at scholarships; international applicants should apply by May to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most computing and public affairs master's closing between January and April.
Undergraduates can start in fall (late August) or spring (January). Most master's programmes, including computer science, data science, information science and cybersecurity, admit for both fall and spring, while the Rockefeller MPA is fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. International Student and Scholar Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, data science, information science, public administration and cybersecurity attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
The University at Albany offers limited merit scholarships to international undergraduates, considered automatically if you apply by the priority date; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are common in computing, atmospheric science and public affairs.
