Mississippi now offers a full range of AI education options, from free online courses to graduate degrees. This directory from the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) brings them together in one place so you can find the right starting point for your goals.
MAIN is Mississippi’s coordinated statewide AI initiative and the first of its kind in the nation. MAIN connects learners to AI pathways across the state. Partner institutions own and operate their own degree and certificate programs. Program details on this page come from each institution’s official pages and were last reviewed in June 2026. Always confirm current details with the institution before applying.
Start free with MAIN
The fastest way to begin is with MAIN’s free training. No application process, no cost, and no prior experience required.
Free AI Courses. Short online courses in AI fundamentals, prompting, and workplace AI skills, offered through Mississippi community college partners. Browse free AI courses
NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute resources. Technical training and faculty ambassador pathways for Mississippians who want hands-on AI skills. Explore NVIDIA AI education resources
CEUs for educators. K-12 teachers and higher ed faculty can earn continuing education credit for MAIN training. Claim professional learning credit
AI degree and certificate programs at Mississippi institutions
These programs are owned and operated by the institutions that offer them. MAIN highlights them as part of Mississippi’s broader AI education and workforce ecosystem.
Program details can change. Use the official institutional links for the most current information.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, AI and Data Technology
MGCCC offers a stackable career-technical pathway in AI and Data Technology at the Harrison County Campus through its School of Engineering, Mathematics, Data Science, and IT. Students can earn a certificate, then a technical diploma, then an Associate of Applied Science degree, with each credential building on the last.
Coursework includes Python and SQL programming, data analysis and visualization, machine learning, natural language processing, AI for computer vision, IoT, cloud fundamentals, and an AI capstone. The program prepares graduates for employment as data and AI technicians, and students who want to transfer to a four-year program can plan that path with an MGCCC advisor.
MGCCC lists scholarship information through the Gulf Coast Center of Security and Emerging Technology Tech Fusion Program on the official program page.
MAIN is anchored at MGCCC, and this program sits at the center of the Gulf Coast’s AI workforce pipeline. MGCCC owns and operates the academic program.
View the AI and Data Technology program at MGCCC
Belhaven University, Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence
Belhaven University offers the state’s first online AI master’s degree, announced in July 2025. The Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence is a 30 credit hour program built for working professionals. Students take ten courses in focused seven-week sessions, one course at a time. Belhaven says the program prepares graduates for roles in technology, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and related fields, with an emphasis on practical application and ethical leadership.
Belhaven also offers an online Applied AI Graduate Certificate for professionals who want a shorter graduate credential.
View the MS in Applied Artificial Intelligence at Belhaven · View the Applied AI Graduate Certificate · Read MAIN’s coverage
Mississippi State University, Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence
Mississippi State’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers a 31 credit hour Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence with thesis and non-thesis tracks. The curriculum combines foundational AI and machine learning courses with computing theory, a course on legal and ethical issues in AI, and electives that let students apply AI in different domains. An online option is available through Mississippi State Online.
MSU was among the first universities in the country to offer undergraduate study in artificial intelligence and continues to offer AI study at the bachelor’s level.
View the MS in Artificial Intelligence at MSU · MSU Online program page · Read MAIN’s coverage
Workforce and non-credit AI training
Mississippians can build job-ready AI skills without enrolling in a degree program. MAIN’s free courses run through community college workforce divisions across the state, including MGCCC Workforce AI Courses and public enrollment catalogs at Pearl River, Mississippi Delta, Southwest Mississippi, and Coahoma community colleges, plus the Mississippi Online Workforce College. All current enrollment links are maintained on one page.
See all free AI course enrollment options
Mississippi’s growing AI workforce investment
The state is investing in AI education beyond individual programs. In June 2025, Mississippi launched the Mississippi AI Talent Accelerator Program (MAI-TAP), a partnership between AccelerateMS, the Mississippi Development Authority, and Amazon Web Services that awarded $9.1 million in grants to seven institutions of higher learning to build AI and machine learning training capacity. The AI Workforce Readiness Council, chaired by MAIN’s director, coordinates this work statewide.
As new degree and certificate programs launch through these investments, this directory will be updated.
Learn about the AI Workforce Readiness Council · Read the MAI-TAP announcement
Not sure where to start?
Most Mississippians start with a free MAIN course to build confidence, then decide if a certificate or degree fits their goals. Students can explore career pathways on our student hub, and educators can earn CEUs while they learn.
Start with free AI courses · Visit the student hub · Visit the educator hub
Frequently asked questions
Does Mississippi have AI degree programs?
Yes. Mississippi institutions offer AI credentials at multiple levels, including a stackable certificate, diploma, and associate degree at MGCCC, an online master’s and graduate certificate at Belhaven University, and a master’s with thesis and online options at Mississippi State University. More programs are in development through state workforce investments.
Can I learn AI in Mississippi for free?
Yes. MAIN offers free AI courses through community college partners statewide, along with NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute resources and free CEU opportunities for educators. There is no cost and no prior experience required.
Does MAIN award degrees?
No. MAIN provides free AI training, resources, and statewide coordination. Degree and certificate programs are owned by the institutions that offer them. MAIN helps you find the right pathway and connects you to official program pages.
Do I need a computer science background to start?
No. Free MAIN courses and several of the programs listed here are designed for beginners and working professionals from any field. Programs with technical prerequisites state them on their official pages.
How do I choose between a free course, a certificate, and a degree?
Start with what you need. A free course builds practical skills fast. A certificate or diploma adds a workforce credential. An associate or master’s degree provides the deepest preparation for AI and data careers. Many learners begin free with MAIN and stack credentials from there.