Washington University in St. Louis is rolling out a new AI-infused graduate degree at Olin Business School, paired with a scholarship aimed squarely at people whose careers have been disrupted by automation and generative AI. At the same time, university leaders are leaning on existing financial-aid policies they say are already cutting the net cost of a WashU degree for many students.
Olin Launches MS in AI for Business
Olin is launching a one-year Master of Science in AI for Business and introducing a $10,000 AI Workforce Transformation Scholarship intended to help recent graduates and displaced professionals, as reported by WashU Source. Joe MacDonald, deputy dean at Olin, said, "AI is creating one of the most significant opportunities for reinvention in the workforce we’ve seen in decades," according to the university. The scholarship is designed to lower barriers for people whose careers have been disrupted by automation and other AI-driven changes.
Program Cost and Curriculum
The MS in AI for Business runs for two semesters on campus and offers industry tracks in finance, marketing and technical specialties, and the program page lists estimated tuition for Fall 2026 at about $60,000 total. The program page on Olin Business School says admitted applicants impacted by artificial intelligence, automation or related technological change will be considered for the $10,000 AI Workforce Transformation Scholarship, and that merit-based awards are automatically evaluated during admission. The curriculum was developed with corporate partners to align classroom work with employer needs.
WashU's Affordability Push
WashU has been expanding financial aid and has adopted a "no-loan" undergraduate policy intended to replace need-based loans with grants and scholarships, according to the university's admissions office. The university's tuition FAQ also notes a roughly $433 million investment in aid in 2025 that administrators point to when describing efforts to lower net degree costs for students. Officials say those measures, together with targeted scholarships like Olin's, are part of a broader strategy to make reskilling and degrees more affordable.
Local Reporting and National Trend
KSDK first highlighted the university's lower-cost framing of the Olin announcement, noting the school told local reporters it would offer scholarship opportunities for people whose lives have been disrupted by AI. National coverage shows a broader pivot: outlets report business schools are rolling out specialized AI degrees and scholarship packages as workers and employers adjust to automation-driven change, per reporting by Yahoo Finance. For students weighing a return to school, the moves are being marketed as a quicker, cheaper bridge into AI-oriented roles than a traditional two-year MBA.
How to Learn More
Olin's program page has application details, cost breakdowns and the scholarship description for prospective students, and the school says the first full-time cohort will begin in the fall. Applicants should review the Olin page and WashU financial-aid pages for deadlines and eligibility details.
