6 in 10 Students Say Use of AI Tools in College Diminishes Value of Degree

As the use of AI tools like ChatGPT continues to increase in higher education, students are questioning what that means for the value of their degree.

BestColleges surveyed 1,000 current undergraduate and graduate students and found that 59% believe that if college students regularly used AI tools to complete coursework, it would diminish the value of earning a degree. Only 17% of students disagree.

Further, at least half of surveyed students believe that the value of earning a degree would be diminished if professors regularly use AI tools to create courses, lectures, or lesson plans (50%) or if AI tools become widely used in the workforce (55%).

Across all demographic groups, white students are most likely to agree that the value of earning a degree would be diminished if college students regularly used AI tools to complete coursework (64%).

Black students are notably least likely of all groups to see the increased use of AI tools in coursework as something that would diminish the value of earning a degree (47%).

Students Are Concerned About the Impact of AI on Their Major and Career

Though only 1 in 3 students (33%) say AI is influencing their choice in major, at least 2 in 5 worry about its impacts on their major (40%) and intended career path (43%). Half (50%) also worry about the impact of AI on the workforce in general.

Across varying racial/ethnic groups, white students are notably most likely to worry about the impact of AI on the workforce (56%), while Hispanic and Latino/a students are most likely to say they are worried about the impact of AI on their intended career path (49%).

Millennial students are more likely than Gen Z students to say they are worried about the impacts of AI on their major (46% vs. 37%), intended career path (50% vs. 40%), and the workforce in general (54% vs. 49%). They are additionally more likely to report that AI has already influenced or is currently influencing their choice of major (46% vs. 26%).

And while men are more likely than women to worry about the impacts of AI on their major (44% vs. 36%) and intended career path (46% vs. 40%), they are equally as likely as women to worry about AI's impacts on the workforce in general (50%).

This isn't the first time college students have expressed concerns about AI's impact on their future since the rise of AI in higher education. A July report found that nearly half of college graduates feel threatened by AI, and more than half say competition from AI makes them question their preparedness for the workforce.

Students Expect Education and Computer Science Fields to Be Impacted Most by AI

Though the far-reaching impacts of AI are still yet to be determined, students already believe certain fields are likely to be affected more than others.

Nearly one-third of students (31%) say education is the college major most likely to be the most negatively impacted by AI over the next 4-5 years.

And while just over one-quarter of students (26%) believe computer and information sciences and support services are most likely to be the most positively impacted by AI over the same period, a slightly larger percentage (29%) agree that it is a field that will also be most negatively impacted by AI.

Despite Concerns, Students See Value in Learning New AI Skills

Even amid their worries, half of surveyed students agree that learning new skills related to AI is important to be a competitive job candidate (50%). However, a smaller percentage say it is important for their intended career path (41%) or that it's important for everyone, regardless of their field of study or career path (45%).

First-generation students are more likely than non-first-generation students to agree that learning new AI skills is important for their intended career path (47% vs. 35%) and is important for everyone regardless of their major or career path (50% vs. 39%).

Men are substantially more likely than women to agree that learning new AI skills is important for their intended career path (52% vs. 32%), is important for everyone regardless of their major or career (56% vs. 35%), and is important in order to be a competitive job candidate (59% vs. 42%). This could be a future cause for concern as women are historically underrepresented in technology fields despite continued efforts to increase gender diversity.

Women are also less likely than men to report that they have used AI tools like ChatGPT to complete assignments or exams (48% vs. 64%) and are considerably less likely to say that AI has influenced their choice of major (45% vs. 23%).

Methodology

This survey was conducted from Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2023, and was fielded by Pure Spectrum. Survey participants included 1,000 respondents nationwide who were currently enrolled in an on-campus, online, or hybrid undergraduate or graduate degree program. Respondents were 17-49 years of age, with the majority (95%) ages 18-38, and currently pursuing an associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, or professional degree. The respondents for the survey were screened by various quality checks, including systems like Relevant ID, and responses were manually reviewed to ensure consistency and accuracy.

Note: In this survey, students of other races include students who selected Asian, Asian American, or Asian Indian; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; Middle Eastern or Northern African; Native American, American Indian, or Alaska Native; and those who selected identity/identities not listed.