What Americans Think About The College Experience Today

Imagine walking into your first college class and having the realization that AI is about to shape your entire learning experience. Some students may find that thought genuinely exciting, but others probably think that sounds pretty terrifying.

Americans across the country are still debating how much of a role AI should have in higher education, and the latest Quinnipiac University Higher Ed poll gives us a window into their thoughts.

Quinnipiac’s polls use random samples of more than 1,000 adults ages 18 and up, giving every person an equal chance of being selected. This type of random selection is what makes their results a strong reflection of national opinion.

AI IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT NOT IN CONTROL

One of the biggest takeaways is that Americans want students to learn AI, but they’re not ready to hand over the keys entirely.

A majority, 74%, said they think it’s important for college students to learn how to use AI. Nearly half of those respondents said they feel it’s very important.

On the flip side, they found that most Americans were against the idea of colleges using AI to screen applications, and more than half weren’t comfortable with AI stepping in as a tutor.

Even on the question of whether AI helps students learn or helps them avoid learning, the country is split almost down the middle. From these survey results, it seems as though most agree that AI should be in the classroom but not in the driver’s seat.

MOST THINK A COLLEGE DEGREE STILL HAS VALUE

The poll also looked at the questions that many are asking themselves today, like is a college degree actually worth it?

According to the people who’ve already earned their degree, the answer is mostly yes. A solid 78% of Americans with an associate’s degree or higher say their degree paid off when they weigh the costs against the personal benefits.

Only a small slice, 20%, thought their degree wasn’t worth obtaining.

Another standout finding was that Americans are overwhelmingly positive about international students studying in the U.S.

A majority of 76% said they think that having students from abroad in America is a good thing for the country.

Senior writer Diana Roy with the Council on Foreign Affairs says that international students, “Contribute tens of billions of dollars to the economy each year, support job creation, and advance cutting-edge research and innovation efforts.”

CAN COLLEGES DO BETTER?

When it comes to how well colleges are doing at educating students overall, the grades respondents gave them are decent but not perfect.

A majority of 58% of people think that colleges are doing a good or excellent job educating students, while about a third think they’re falling short.

There’s also growing support for rethinking the traditional college model. Nearly half of Americans think the federal government should increase student loan funding, and many are open to alternatives like a three‑year applied bachelor’s degree. A good 36% said that might actually be a better choice for most students.

Looking at the survey results collectively, it looks like the United States is cautiously optimistic about higher education, curious about innovation, aware of the challenges, and still believing in the value of a degree.

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