University of North Texas
TX · AI Readiness #102 of 227
AIREDEX™ Score: 7.3 /10
UNT launched a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence in fall 2026, one of the first standalone undergraduate AI degrees in Texas, housed in the College of Engineering with a full-time program coordinator guiding students through it.
UNT undergrads can pair that degree with certificates in AI for Professional Communication, AI in Business, or a general AI certificate open to all majors, and every student gets free access to UNiTyAI, the university's own Azure-hosted AI agent platform. The Responsible AI Lab, led by Dr. Yunhe Feng, gives undergrads a research home, while the NSF-funded AI Scholars program provides scholarships and paid research for students in the pipeline. With the Sinha College of AI and Advanced Analytics now taking shape under a named dean overseeing its curriculum and research agenda, UNT is positioning itself among the more complete undergraduate AI ecosystems in Texas.
Pillar grades
- Commitment: C+
- Curriculum: A-
- Partnerships: D+
- Research: B+
A(I)ttitude™: neutral
Selected Highlights
- $25M total Sinha family philanthropic commitment: $20M (Sept 2026, Sinha College of AI and Advanced Analytics), $3M (2024, Dept of Data Science), $2M (2025, Sinha Innovation Lab). Strongest capital signal in corpus.
- BS in Artificial Intelligence launched Fall 2026, housed in CSE/College of Engineering, with planned move to new Sinha College of AI. Program Coordinator: Dr. Lotfi ben Othmane. Described as one of first standalone undergrad AI degrees in Texas.
- Responsible AI Lab (RAIL) directed by Dr. Yunhe Feng, with documented active projects (ProMCP, HALO), external funding (NSF, Microsoft, DOE/Oak Ridge), and ethics as a required course in the BS AI program.
- UNiTyAI is a university-built, Azure-native AI agent platform deployed institution-wide, distinct from Microsoft Copilot. Qualifies as university-built platform under rubric.
- Multiple named AI literacy programs confirmed: 'Learning with AI: Critical Literacy for College Students' free microcredential; AI Resources Hub; 'Beyond the Prompt' faculty workshop with student component; AI Community of Practice. Available to all students.