Something unusual occurred at University of California campuses this fall. For the first time since the dot-com crash, computer science enrollment took a hit. System-wide, it dropped by 6% this year after a 3% decline last year, according to recent reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle. While overall college enrollment has risen by 2% nationally, per data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, students are turning away from traditional CS degrees.
The only outlier is UC San Diego, which introduced a dedicated AI major this fall.
This trend may seem like a temporary anomaly linked to reports of fewer CS graduates landing jobs post-college. However, it likely signals a shift toward the future, especially as China embraces these changes with enthusiasm. As MIT Technology Review highlighted last July, Chinese universities are focusing heavily on AI literacy, viewing it as essential infrastructure rather than a threat. Almost 60% of Chinese students and faculty use AI tools multiple times a day, and institutions like Zhejiang University have made AI courses mandatory. Meanwhile, leading schools such as Tsinghua University have established entirely new interdisciplinary AI colleges. In China, being fluent in AI is becoming a necessity.
U.S. universities are rushing to keep pace. Over the past two years, numerous schools have introduced AI-specific programs. MIT’s “AI and Decision-Making” major is now their second-largest. The New York Times reported in December that the University of South Florida enrolled over 3,000 students in a newly launched AI and cybersecurity college this fall. Last summer, the University at Buffalo kicked off a new “AI and Society” department with seven specialized undergraduate programs, attracting more than 200 applicants before officially opening.
However, the transition hasn’t been smooth everywhere. In an October chat with UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts, he described a mixed landscape — some faculty eager to embrace AI while others seemed hesitant. Roberts, who came from a finance background, was advocating strongly for AI integration despite some pushback from faculty. Just a week earlier, UNC had announced plans to merge two schools to form an AI-focused unit, which met resistance from faculty members. He had also appointed a vice provost dedicated to AI. “No one’s going to tell students after graduation, ‘Do your best, but if you use AI, you might get in trouble,’” Roberts noted. “Yet that’s essentially the message some faculty are sending.”
Parents are also influencing this tricky transition. David Reynaldo, who manages the admissions consultancy College Zoom, noted to the Chronicle that parents who once encouraged their children toward CS are now steering them toward majors that seem less vulnerable to AI automation, like mechanical and electrical engineering.
Enrollment statistics suggest that students are making their preferences known through their choices. A survey in October by the nonprofit Computing Research Association — which includes computer science and engineering departments from various universities — revealed that 62% of respondents reported a decline in undergraduate enrollment in their computing programs this fall. However, with AI programs on the rise, it seems less like a tech exodus and more like a shift in focus. The University of Southern California plans to launch an AI degree this coming fall, along with Columbia University, Pace University, and New Mexico State University, among others. Students aren’t abandoning tech; they’re opting for AI-focused programs instead.
It’s too early to determine if this shift is permanent or just a fleeting reaction. Nevertheless, it serves as a wake-up call for administrators who have been grappling with how to integrate AI into the classroom. Debates about banning ChatGPT have become old news. The pressing question now is whether American universities can adapt quickly enough, or if they will continue to debate while students transfer to schools that already have solutions.
