A notable shift has begun to unfold across University of California campuses this fall, marking a significant change in the landscape of higher education. For the first time since the dot-com crash, computer science (CS) enrollment has experienced a decline. System-wide, this year saw a 6% drop, following a 3% decrease in 2024, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. This trend starkly contrasts with the national collegiate enrollment, which climbed 2% overall, according to January data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Students appear to be actively moving away from traditional CS degrees, with one notable exception: UC San Diego, which stands as the only UC campus to have introduced a dedicated AI major this fall.

While this might appear to be a temporary fluctuation, perhaps linked to recent news about fewer CS graduates securing immediate employment, it is more likely indicative of a broader future trend, one that China is embracing with considerable enthusiasm. As highlighted by MIT Technology Review last July, Chinese universities have aggressively adopted AI literacy, viewing AI not as a threat but as fundamental infrastructure. A substantial nearly 60% of Chinese students and faculty now utilize AI tools multiple times daily. Institutions like Zhejiang University have made AI coursework mandatory, while leading universities such as Tsinghua have established entirely new interdisciplinary AI colleges. In China, fluency with artificial intelligence is no longer an option; it is a foundational requirement.

American universities are now in a race to catch up with this global shift. Over the past two years, dozens of institutions across the United States have launched AI-specific programs. MIT’s “AI and decision-making” major has rapidly grown to become the second-largest major on its campus. As reported by the New York Times in December, the University of South Florida successfully enrolled over 3,000 students in its new AI and cybersecurity college during the fall semester. Similarly, the University at Buffalo launched a new “AI and Society” department last summer, offering seven new, specialized undergraduate degree programs, and attracted more than 200 applicants even before its official opening.

However, this transition has not been universally smooth. UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts, speaking in October, described a spectrum of faculty responses, from some who are “leaning forward” with AI to others with “their heads in the sand.” Roberts, a former finance executive from outside academia, has been a strong proponent of AI integration despite encountering faculty resistance. Just a week prior to his comments, UNC had announced a decision to merge two schools to form an AI-focused entity, a move that also generated pushback from faculty members. Roberts also appointed a vice provost specifically for AI, emphasizing that while students graduating will not be penalized for using AI, some faculty are effectively sending that message today.

Parents also play a significant role in this evolving educational landscape. David Reynaldo, who manages the admissions consultancy College Zoom, informed the Chronicle that parents who previously encouraged their children towards CS are now instinctively guiding them towards other majors perceived as more resilient to AI automation, such as mechanical and electrical engineering. Yet, the enrollment figures strongly suggest that students are making their own choices. An October survey by the nonprofit Computing Research Association, whose members include computer science and engineering departments nationwide, revealed that 62% of respondents reported a decline in undergraduate enrollment in their computing programs this fall.

Despite these declines in traditional computing programs, the simultaneous expansion of AI programs indicates that this is less of a tech exodus and more of a strategic migration. The University of Southern California, Columbia University, Pace University, and New Mexico State University, among many others, are all set to launch AI degrees this coming fall. Students are not abandoning the technology sector; rather, they are actively opting for programs that are specifically focused on artificial intelligence. It remains too early to definitively state whether this recalibration is a permanent shift or a temporary panic. Nevertheless, it serves as a critical wake-up call for university administrators who have spent years grappling with how to incorporate AI into the classroom. The debate over whether to ban ChatGPT now seems like ancient history. The pressing question for American universities is whether they can adapt quickly enough or if they will continue to deliberate while students gravitate towards institutions that have already found answers.