Almost half of college students have considered changing majors due to potential AI impact: Polling

A poll released Thursday found almost half of college students have considered switching majors due to AI as its impact on the workforce grows. 

The Lumina Foundation-Gallup 2026 State of Higher Education survey found 47 percent of all currently enrolled college students have thought about switching majors “a great deal” or a “fair amount” due to AI. 

Men and those going for associate degrees were more likely to say they have thought about switching majors due to AI.  

Around 16 percent of students did switch fields due to AI, with the most popular majors reporting this change including vocational and technology work, while those in health care or natural sciences were the least likely to say they switched.  

While AI has caused some students to reconsider their field of study, it has also changed their college experience in how they interact with coursework. 

The poll found 57 percent of students say they use AI weekly for their coursework, and one in five use it daily. Men are more likely than women to use AI for school, as well as business, technology and engineering majors using it more than humanities and health care.  

The large use of AI for coursework comes as 42 percent say their school discourages its use and 11 percent say it is prohibited altogether.  

The students report using AI particularly to help understand complex material and to save time doing tasks, according to the poll.  

For students who report not using AI, a vast majority say it is unethical, and a majority cite their school ban on AI and privacy concerns as reasons they don’t use the technology for coursework.  

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