AI is adding pressure to the already heavy decision of choosing a college major.
One in six students, roughly 16%, say they've changed their major because of AI's impact on the job market, according to a survey from Gallup and Lumina Foundation of around 3,800 students.
The report, released Thursday, also found that 47% of college students have given at least a fair amount of thought to switching their field of study for the same reason.
"This is one of the clearest signals we've seen that students are rethinking what their futures are in response to AI," Dr. Courtney Brown, vice president of impact and planning at Lumina Foundation, told Business Insider.
Students enrolled in technology and vocational programs are the most likely to consider switching majors, with about 70% in each group saying they've given it at least a fair amount of thought. By contrast, those studying healthcare and the natural sciences are the least likely to say AI has prompted them to reconsider their major.
Uncertainty in tech
Of the 16% of students who changed their major, 26% enrolled in a social science, 17% in business, and 13% in technology.
"Students are moving in both directions when it comes to tech fields. Some are switching into tech because they see opportunity in AI, while others are moving away because they're worried about disruption," Brown said.
Within technical fields, students are moving away from majors more easily automated by AI, a Niche report found, based on high school seniors' interest. The report, published in March, said students are shifting their interests toward AI development, such as software engineering and AI-focused specialties, rather than traditional programming.
Programming made up 10% of computer science interest in 2026, down from a 14% peak in 2020. AI has, in contrast, attracted greater interest, growing from 1.7% of computer science students in 2023 to 4.7% in 2026. Interest in software engineering also increased, rising 1.2 points from 2025 to 2026 and accounting for 22% of computer science interest.
The Gallup survey found that students in humanities, healthcare, and natural sciences were among the least likely to switch majors because of AI. It also found that students in social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities were the least likely majors to use AI.
"I don't think students are seeing that AI is going to replace those," Brown said.
The findings come as English majors have seen a rebound in recent years, and some universities are rethinking liberal arts curricula to include the intersection of AI and the humanities, as core skills in the discipline gain relevance.
Adapting quickly
Choosing a college major is a big decision, and may seem even more high-stakes as industries evolve quickly and AI reshapes the job market. However, a degree isn't everything.
A March Hirevue report about global hiring for the class of 2026, released in March, found that while 79% of entry-level roles still require a bachelor's degree, nearly 70% of employers say they are adopting skills-based hiring. In the US, more than a quarter of organizations have discussed loosening degree requirements to expand skills-based talent pipelines.
Allison Shrivastava, an economist at Niche and the author of the Niche report, told Business Insider that the fact that more students who are interested in computer software development are considering AI creation fields is a positive indicator of how students are adapting.
"That's efficient sorting," Shrivastava said. "That's a good response in terms of what we will need from the workforce in the future."
Are you an upcoming college grad looking for work? We want to hear about your experience on the job hunt. Reach out to the reporter at aaltchek@insider.com.
