Pennsylvania State University, University Park

How this program compares

At an estimated $12.9K in total tuition, the Graduate Certificate in Natural Language Processing sits about 13% above the $11.4K average for AI certificate programs in our database — placing it in the 68th percentile on cost among the 236 we track at this level. It is one of the 57% of programs in our database offered fully or partly online.

Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: Applicants typically need a bachelor's degree in computer science, linguistics, mathematics, or a related field, with strong foundational knowledge in programming and statistics. Graduate-level coursework or professional experience in computational linguistics, machine learning, or related areas is often preferred.

About This Program

Offered at University Park, this certificate provides graduate-level training in the subfield of AI concerned with the interaction between computers and human language. Coursework concentrates on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Deep Learning. Most students complete it in about 1 year.

Estimated total tuition is $12.9K, above the $11.4K average for AI certificate programs in our database and in the 68th percentile on cost at this level. Applicants should weigh that premium against the program's outcomes and brand.

Gain natural language processing skills to advance as NLP Engineer in Cross-Industry AI Graduates frequently move into roles such as NLP Engineer, with reported salaries around $115,000.

Career Outcomes

Gain natural language processing skills to advance as NLP Engineer in Cross-Industry AI

• 1. NLP Engineer
• 2. Machine Learning Specialist
• 3. Computational Linguist
• 4. AI Research Scientist

What You'll Learn

• Design and implement NLP systems for text classification, sentiment analysis, and named entity recognition
• Apply machine learning algorithms to language modeling, sequence labeling, and parsing tasks
• Construct and analyze linguistic corpora using computational tools and statistical methods
• Develop solutions for real-world NLP applications such as information retrieval and machine translation

Curriculum Highlights

The 9-credit curriculum consists of required coursework in deep learning, natural language processing, and the ethics of artificial intelligence.

Top Employers

Top employers in NLP include major technology companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and OpenAI, as well as specialized AI firms and research institutions.

Admissions

Applicants typically need a bachelor's degree in computer science, linguistics, mathematics, or a related field, with strong foundational knowledge in programming and statistics. Graduate-level coursework or professional experience in computational linguistics, machine learning, or related areas is often preferred.

Application Materials

• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Letters of Recommendation: 2–3
• Resume: Required
• Transcripts: Official transcripts required

Academic Requirements

• Degree Required: Graduate Certificate
• GRE/GMAT: Optional (may be waived for strong technical backgrounds)
• TOEFL/IELTS: Required for international students (TOEFL 80+ / IELTS 6.5+)