Charlotte guide · Updated November 10, 2026
Degrees, certificates, free training and hands-on workshops in the Charlotte area, sorted by how much time and money each route takes.
You can learn AI in Charlotte four main ways: a degree or graduate certificate at UNC Charlotte, the two-year Artificial Intelligence A.A.S. at Central Piedmont Community College, a short professional certificate through UNC Charlotte's School of Professional Studies, or free routes such as Per Scholas training, library online courses and hands-on meetup workshops like ours.
| Route | Best for | Time commitment | Cost level |
|---|---|---|---|
| University degree (UNC Charlotte) | Academic depth and research | Multiple semesters to several years | Tuition |
| Graduate certificate (UNC Charlotte) | Professionals with a technical bachelor's | 12 to 18 credit hours | Tuition |
| Associate degree (Central Piedmont) | Career changers and students starting from zero | Two years | Tuition |
| Professional certificate (UNC Charlotte School of Professional Studies) | People who want structure without a degree | 5 to 47 weeks | Tuition |
| Workforce training (Per Scholas) | Eligible adults moving into tech jobs | 12 to 16 weeks, full-time | Free |
| Library online courses | Self-starters with a library card | Self-paced | Free |
| Meetup workshops | People who learn by building | An evening a month | Free |
The College of Computing and Informatics announced both degrees for a fall 2026 start. M.S. program page · Launch announcement
Coursework can count toward the M.S. in Artificial Intelligence or the M.S. in Computer Science. Program page
A master's degree and a graduate certificate, with electives that include AI and deep learning. The school also lists a Graduate Certificate in AI for Data Science Practitioners and a Ph.D. in Data Science. Program overview · All School of Data Science programs
Covers Python, machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, chatbots and generative AI, with hands-on labs. Program page
Queens University of Charlotte offers an undergraduate Data Analytics major, Davidson College a data science interdisciplinary minor, and Johnson C. Smith University a Computer Science/Information Systems major. None of those pages names AI or machine learning directly, so ask the department which courses cover it. Northeastern University's Charlotte campus currently lists health programs, not AI degrees.
The bootcamp-style programs we could verify under a Charlotte name are delivered online. We could not confirm an in-person AI bootcamp running in Charlotte today, so check the provider's own site before you pay for one.
The catalog also lists role-based certificates such as AI for Marketing, AI for Sales Professionals and AI for HR Professionals. For cost, see the program page. Continuing education catalog · Tech certificates
Central Piedmont has also offered non-credit AI classes: in 2025 it announced a continuing education class called AI Foundations: From Curiosity to Career. Ask the continuing education office what is on this term's schedule.
No-cost tech job training. Current North Carolina listings include AI-Enabled IT Support, AI-Native Business Intelligence and Cybersecurity with AI Tools. Official page
A library card gets you LinkedIn Learning and O'Reilly for Public Libraries, which carry technology courses, books and video. Branches also host technology programs, so check the events calendar for anything on AI. Research and learn · Library home
Job seekers can also talk to Charlotte Works, which oversees the local NCWorks Career Centers. It does not teach AI, but it offers career services and is a sensible place to ask about training support.
We are a free, non-profit meetup for people building apps and companies with AI. On Wednesday, December 2, 2026 the workshop is a small-group session on building a self-improving voice agent, with groups split by experience and no coding required. See upcoming meetups or RSVP on Meetup.
Other Charlotte groups run workshops, hackathons and talks, including campus sessions from UNC Charlotte's Charlotte AI Institute. Our guide to AI groups in Charlotte covers them one by one.
A common pattern is an online course for theory and a local group for practice. Check each page for current cost.
Whichever route you pick, build something small early. If you want a reminder before each meetup, join the mailing list.
Last checked November 10, 2026. Details change, so confirm on the organizer's page before you go. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
UNC Charlotte offers AI degrees, graduate certificates and online professional certificates, and Central Piedmont Community College offers a two-year Artificial Intelligence A.A.S. Free options include Per Scholas, library online courses and meetup workshops.
Yes. UNC Charlotte's College of Computing and Informatics announced a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence starting in fall 2026.
Yes. Per Scholas offers no-cost tech training to eligible adults, a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card includes LinkedIn Learning and O'Reilly for Public Libraries, and Building with AI Charlotte runs free workshops at its monthly meetup.
As of November 10, 2026 we could not confirm one that is currently running. UNC Charlotte's AI & Data Science Tech Certificate and similar programs are delivered online.
No. Courses such as AI Essentials, Google AI Essentials and Elements of AI need no programming, and our December 2 workshop is open to non-coders.
Next meetup: Wed, Dec 2 · 6:30 PM · Hygge Coworking, Charlotte. Free.