The University of Idaho will launch three artificial intelligence degree programs this fall, ensuring all three of the state's four-year public universities offer AI degrees by the 2026-27 academic year. This addition responds to a surge in regional tech hiring, with Mountain West AI jobs projected to grow 25.5 percent and offer median salaries exceeding $144,000.
Building on a 40-year curriculum
University officials emphasize the new bachelor's, master of science, and master of engineering programs rely on foundational coursework rather than starting from scratch. "The new degrees build on nearly 40 years of concepts and technology that have evolved into AI," the university said in a news release. "These concepts have been taught since 1986 when U of I introduced its first AI course, titled Artificial Intelligence, which included lessons on skills including inductive and deductive reasoning and natural language processing."
The bachelor's and master's degrees will be available at the Moscow and Coeur d'Alene campuses. The master's programs will also operate fully online to accommodate working students.
Meeting workforce demand
The university is targeting professionals who need to update their technical skills for the current market. "The master's degree is more targeted to professionals in the field," said Steve Wang, a professor and computer science department chair who helped develop the curriculum. "There is real demand for retraining employees with skills in AI design."
The U.S. Department of Education reports nearly 891,000 AI-related jobs exist nationally, with a projected 17.3 percent increase across the country. In the Mountain West, that growth rate is expected to reach 25.5 percent, with median regional earnings exceeding $144,000 annually.
A statewide push for AI education
Idaho's higher education system is increasing its technical offerings to match this labor market shift. Boise State University launched the state's first bachelor's degree in AI in 2025 and now offers a doctoral program with an AI emphasis through its School of Computing. Idaho State University will introduce its own bachelor's program in the subject this fall. As universities update their AI for Education initiatives, Idaho joins a broader network of institutions adapting their computer science departments.
Why this matters for education, science and research professionals
Researchers and educators must track how universities structure these new programs to match their own curricula and research priorities with industry needs. The shift toward fully online master's programs and targeted retraining modules offers a blueprint for integrating applied AI skills into existing science and research workflows. Understanding these academic pipelines allows professionals to identify emerging talent, collaborate on university research, or update their own technical competencies in natural language processing and deductive reasoning.
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