When asked how they felt about the impact of AI on their future work, half of the respondents answered, “Not sure.”
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Nearly half—42 percent—of college-eligible students say artificial intelligence will affect what career they pursue, and 10 percent report they have already made major changes to their plans because of concerns about AI, according to a report released Tuesday.
“AI is increasing the value equation in higher education,” said Pam Royall, head of research at EAB education consultancy and co-author of the report. “Colleges must demonstrate that they are preparing graduates by providing learning experiences and emphasizing the necessary, long-term job skills that may become obsolete in an AI-driven economy.”
In the annual survey conducted in February and March, EAB surveyed 9,516 students who were eligible to enroll in college in the fall of 2025 about their college plans. Nearly nine in 10 survey respondents said they are attending or planning to attend college—the same share as two years ago, but down from 2015, when 98 percent of respondents said the same.
Their attitudes toward the impact of AI mirror those captured in other surveys; for example, a survey by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation released earlier this month showed that 47 percent of students thought of a “great” or “fair amount” of change during the rise of AI.
“I planned to be a therapist, but the way the world is going, by the time I get my degree, AI will have my job,” one student wrote in response to an EAB survey. One student said that “after seeing AI take over entry-level jobs,” they made a big switch from computer science to electrical and computer engineering.
When asked how they felt about the impact of AI on their future work, half of the respondents answered, “Not sure.” About 10 percent said they felt “stressed,” 32 percent said they were “worried” and 31 percent said they were “scared/worried.” Only 7 percent of respondents said they felt “happy,” and 13 percent were “optimistic” about the impact of AI on their future work.
Their worries are unwarranted; between 2022 and 2025, employment of young workers in “AI-exposed” jobs such as software development and clerical work will decrease by 16 percent compared to employment of more experienced workers in those roles. As AI expands, unemployment among college graduates increases. In June 2025, the unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree holders between the ages of 22 and 27 was 6.6%—2.6 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate of 4 percent.
“I am not sure if my job opportunities will still be there, but there is no way to know fully,” wrote one student responding to the EAB survey.
About a third of students said that, because of advances in AI, they believe fewer jobs will require a college degree. A quarter said they think most jobs will require a college degree, while 29 percent are unsure.
In determining the value of a college degree, 44 percent of students consider post-graduation job placement, EAB research shows. About 35 percent of students consider access to internships as an indicator of college value, 30 percent consider financial aid and 29 percent consider tuition.
Cost of living was the most commonly cited reason for deciding not to enroll in college—66 percent of students said the most important factor was finances, up from 51 percent the year before. About a quarter of students said they chose not to go to college because they wanted to take a break before enrolling, and another quarter said it was because they didn’t have any money to go to college. About 12 percent of students said they chose to drop out because they needed to work—a three percent increase from the previous class.
While concerned about the impact of AI on their future careers, students are using the tools to aid in their college search. This year, 26 percent of students reported using AI to help in their college search, compared to 14 percent last year. Students of color are especially turning to the tools—37 percent of black students and 29 percent of Asian students said they used AI in their college search, compared to 21 percent of white students.
