Key factors:
AI is reworking the way in which college students uncover, consider, and select schools, in line with a nationwide survey of greater than 5,000 highschool college students carried out by training firm EAB.
The survey reveals 46 p.c of scholars now use AI instruments resembling ChatGPT throughout their school search, up sharply from 26 p.c in spring 2025. Almost one in 5 college students (18 p.c) eliminated a university from consideration primarily based on info surfaced by way of AI-generated search outcomes.
“AI has, in a matter of months, moved from the margins to the mainstream of how youngsters discover schools,” mentioned Madeleine Rhyneer, Vice President of Consulting Providers and Dean of Enrollment Administration at EAB. “AI is now shaping first impressions, serving to households slender their choices, and influencing actual enrollment selections, usually earlier than a university ever has direct contact with a potential applicant.”
Whereas college students are quickly adopting AI for a lot of totally different functions within the school search course of, many don’t welcome AI-generated messages from establishments, and they’re changing into adept at recognizing them. Greater than half of scholars mentioned they’d react negatively to messages they perceived to be generated by AI.
“Schools that succeed on this new surroundings will use AI to enhance relevance and responsiveness whereas preserving a transparent, genuine voice that fosters ongoing scholar engagement and real relationships with precise faculty representatives,” Rhyneer added.
EAB’s survey additionally confirmed that AI is amplifying scholar nervousness about careers and the worth of faculty itself:
- 43 p.c of scholars say AI will affect the profession they pursue.
- 38 p.c consider AI will scale back the variety of jobs requiring a university diploma.
- 39 p.c say AI is pushing them to contemplate alternate options to varsity, together with beginning a enterprise or coming into an apprenticeship.
“College students are utilizing AI to assist them navigate a few of the most elementary questions on larger training, together with whether or not school is price it in any respect,” Rhyneer continued. “EAB is advising our companion establishments to focus messaging round tangible outcomes like talent improvement and profession placement, whereas additionally making certain the curricula evolve to combine AI fluency.”
This press launch initially appeared on-line.
