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A recent poll reveals nearly half of US college students have considered changing their major due to AI's potential impact, with higher rates among male students and those in tech and vocational fields.

AI Significantly Influences College Major Choices

According to Axios, a recent poll by the Lumina Foundation and Gallup indicates that nearly half of US college students have seriously considered changing their major due to the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI). 14% of respondents thought 'a great deal' and 33% thought 'a fair amount' about altering their field of study. This consideration was higher among male students (60%) compared to female students (38%), and among those studying technology (70%) and vocational fields (71%) compared to other majors.

Major Changes and AI Usage Trends

16% of students have already changed their major due to AI's potential impact, a trend also more prevalent among men (21%) than women (12%), and in vocational (26%) and tech (25%) majors. Christina Eid, a student at American University, found in her survey that 30% of potential employers inquired about AI skills in 2025. Meanwhile, 42% of college students reported that their institutions discourage AI use in coursework, and even in schools where AI is prohibited, 10% of students use it daily.

*Source: Axios (2026-04-02)*

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