Computer Science Enrollment Drop Signals Major Shift
The computer science enrollment drop is raising eyebrows across U.S. campuses. This fall, University of California schools reported a 6% decline. That follows a 3% decrease the previous year.
Meanwhile, overall college enrollment increased nationwide. Therefore, students are not leaving higher education. Instead, many are moving away from traditional CS paths.
One campus stands out. University of California San Diego added a dedicated AI major and saw growth.
Students Choose AI-Focused Programs
Across the country, universities are expanding AI offerings. For example, Massachusetts Institute of Technology says its AI and decision-making major ranks second in size. In addition, University of South Florida enrolled more than 3,000 students in a new AI college.
Similarly, University at Buffalo launched an AI and Society department. Applications topped 200 before classes even began. As a result, the shift looks more like migration than decline.
Globally, the trend appears stronger.
Chinese universities such as Zhejiang University and Tsinghua University now require AI coursework. Nearly 60% of students and faculty reportedly use AI tools daily. Back home, some faculty resist change. Leaders at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill described mixed reactions. However, administrators continue pushing AI integration.
Parents also influence decisions. Many now steer students toward engineering fields they see as automation-resistant. Still, survey data from the Computing Research Association shows 62% of programs reported undergraduate declines. Even so, universities including University of Southern California and Columbia University plan new AI degrees. Students are not abandoning technology. Instead, they are redefining it. The real question now is whether institutions can adapt fast enough.
