Two years ago, Josephine Timperman arrived at college with a plan. She declared a major in business analytics, thinking she would learn specific skills that would stand out on a resume and land a good job after college.
But the rise of artificial intelligence has shattered those calculations. The basic skills he learned in things like statistical analysis and coding can now be easily automated. “Everyone’s afraid that AI will take over entry-level jobs,” said the 20-year-old from Miami University in Ohio.
A few weeks ago, Timperman switched his major to marketing. Her new strategy is to use her undergraduate studies to build critical thinking and interpersonal skills—areas where people still have an edge.
“You don’t just want to be able to code. You want to be able to communicate, make connections and think critically, because at the end of the day, that’s something that AI can’t replace,” said Timperman, who minored in analytics and plans to dive deeper into the subject for a one-year master’s program.
Today’s college students say that choosing a major that is “AI-proof” feels like shooting at a moving target as they prepare for a job market that could be radically different after graduation.
As a result, many are rethinking their career paths. Nearly 70% of college students see AI as a threat to their job prospects, according to a 2025 survey by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, while a recent Gallup poll found that American workers are increasingly worried about being replaced by new technologies.
Students seeking majors that teach ‘human’ skills
Uncertainty appears to be most concentrated among those pursuing degrees in technology and professional fields of study, where students feel the need to develop expertise in AI but fear replacing it. A recent Quinnipiac poll found that most Americans believe it is “very” or “somewhat” important to teach college and university students how to use AI, as Gallup Workforce polling shows high adoption rates in fields related to AI technology. Meanwhile, students studying health care and the natural sciences may be less affected by AI overhauls, Gallup found.
“We see students change majors all the time. That’s not new or different. But it’s usually for a number of reasons,” said Courtney Brown, vice president of Lumina, an education nonprofit focused on increasing the number of students seeking education beyond high school. “The fact that so many students say it’s because of AI is surprising.”
A Gallup poll of Generation Z youth and adults, ages 14 to 29, found growing skepticism and anxiety about AI. Although half of Gen Z adults use AI at least “weekly” and teenagers report higher use, many in this generation see shortcomings in the technology and worry about AI’s impact on their cognitive abilities and job prospects. Almost half – 48% – of Gen Z workers say the risks of AI in the workforce outweigh the potential benefits.
Part of the challenge for college students is that the experts they usually go to for advice, such as counselors, professors and parents, don’t have answers. “Students have to navigate it without GPS,” says Brown.
That uncertainty was evident last month at Stanford University, where several prominent university leaders gathered for a wide-ranging panel discussion on the future of higher education. Concerns include the AI revolution that is changing how students learn and forcing teachers to rethink pedagogy.
“We need to really think about what students need to learn to be successful in the job market in 10, 20, 30 years,” said Brown University President Christina Paxson.
“And none of us know. We don’t know the answer to that,” Paxson said. “I think it’s communication, it’s critical thinking. The fundamentals of a liberal education are more important than learning how to code in Java right now.”
Concern extends to computer science majors as well
Computer science major Ben Aybar, 22, graduated from the University of Chicago last spring and applied for about 50 jobs, mostly in software engineering, without an interview. He earned a master’s degree in computer science and in the meantime got a part-time job doing AI consulting for companies.
“People who know how to use AI will be very valuable,” said Eibar, who noted that new jobs will emerge that require AI skills, especially for people who can explain complexities in layman’s terms. “Being able to talk to people and interact with people in a more human way is more valuable to me than ever.”
At the University of Virginia, data science major Ava Lawless is wondering if her major is worthwhile but can’t seem to get concrete answers. Some consultants feel data scientists will be protected because they’re the ones building AI models, but she’s seeing dismal job reports indicating the opposite.
“It makes me feel a little hopeless for the future,” Lawless said. “What if there isn’t even a job market for it when I graduate?”
She is considering switching to studio art, which is her minor.
“I’m at the point where I’m thinking if I can’t get a job being a data scientist, I might as well pursue art,” she said. “Because if I’m going to be unemployed, I might as well do something I like.”
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