Two years ago, Josephine Timperman entered college with a clear plan. She declared a major in business analytics, aiming to acquire niche skills that would make her resume stand out and secure a good job after graduation. However, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has disrupted those plans. The fundamental skills she was learning in statistical analysis and coding can now be easily automated. "Everyone has a fear that entry-level jobs will be taken by AI," said the 20-year-old student at Miami University in Ohio.
Recently, Timperman switched her major to marketing. Her new approach is to use her undergraduate studies to develop critical thinking and interpersonal abilities—areas where humans still hold an advantage. "You don't just want to be able to code. You want to be able to have a conversation, form relationships, and think critically, because that's what AI can't replace," she explained. She continues to minor in analytics and plans to pursue a one-year master's program to deepen her expertise.
Uncertainty Drives Major Changes
Today's college students feel that choosing an "AI-proof" major is like aiming at a moving target, as they prepare for a job market that could be fundamentally different by the time they graduate. Many are reconsidering their career paths. According to a 2025 poll by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School, about 70% of college students view AI as a threat to their job prospects. Gallup polling also indicates that U.S. workers are increasingly worried about being replaced by new technologies.
The uncertainty is most pronounced among students pursuing degrees in technology and vocational fields, where they feel pressured to develop AI expertise while fearing replacement. A Quinnipiac poll found that a vast majority of Americans believe it is important for college students to be taught how to use AI, as Gallup Workforce polling shows AI adoption is higher in technology-related fields. Conversely, students in health care and natural sciences may be less affected by AI disruptions, according to Gallup.
Expert Opinions and Student Anxiety
Courtney Brown, a vice president at Lumina, an education nonprofit, noted that while students frequently change majors, the fact that so many cite AI as the reason is startling. "We see students all the time change majors. That's not new or different. But it's usually for a ton of different reasons. The fact that so many students say it's because of AI—that is startling," she said.
A recent Gallup poll of Generation Z youth and adults (ages 14 to 29) found increasing skepticism about AI. Although half of Gen Z adults use AI at least weekly, and teenagers report even higher usage, many see drawbacks. About 48% of Gen Z workers believe the risks of AI in the workforce outweigh the possible benefits. Part of the challenge for college students is that experts they typically turn to—advisers, professors, and parents—lack clear answers. "Students are having to navigate this on their own, without a GPS," Brown added.
This uncertainty was evident at a Stanford University panel discussion on the future of higher education, where university leaders debated the AI revolution's impact on learning and teaching. Brown University President Christina Paxson emphasized the need to rethink what students should learn for future job markets. "We need to think really hard about what students need to learn to be successful in the job market in 10, 20, 30 years. And none of us know. We don't know the answer to that. I think it's communication, it's critical thought. The fundamentals of a liberal education are probably more important than learning how to code in Java right now," she said.
Computer Science Majors Also Affected
Even computer science majors are not immune. Ben Aybar, 22, graduated last spring from the University of Chicago with a computer science degree but applied for about 50 jobs in software engineering without a single interview. He pivoted to a master's degree in computer science and now works part-time doing AI consulting. "People who know how to use AI will be very valuable," Aybar said, noting that new jobs requiring AI skills are emerging, especially for those who can explain complexities in layman's terms. "Being able to talk to people and interact with people in a very human way I think is more valuable than ever."
At the University of Virginia, data science major Ava Lawless questions whether her major is worthwhile but cannot get concrete answers. Some advisers believe data scientists will be safe because they build AI models, but gloomy job reports suggest otherwise. "It makes me feel a bit hopeless for the future," Lawless said. "What if by the time I graduate there's not even a job market for this anymore?" She is considering switching to studio art, her minor. "I'm at a point where I'm thinking if I can't get a job being a data scientist, I might as well pursue art. Because if I'm going to be unemployed, I might as well do something I love."
