According to the National Student Clearinghouse, enrollment in computer and information science programs at US universities has dropped significantly this fall. Undergraduate enrollment fell by more than 12%, while graduate program enrollment decreased by over 10%.
This decline follows a multi-year trend of falling interest in the field. Over the past two years, the number of undergraduate students in computer science programs has dropped by 18.4%, and graduate student numbers have fallen by 27.1%.
Experts attribute the shift to the rise of artificial intelligence, which has led companies to reduce entry-level programming roles. Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that computer and mathematics-related jobs are among the most affected by AI adoption.
While overall undergraduate enrollment across US universities remained stable with a 0.6% increase, graduate enrollment declined by 1.6%. International student interest is also waning, with applications from abroad dropping by approximately 10% this year.
Community colleges remain an exception, reporting a 1.2% increase in undergraduate enrollment. Matthew Holsapple of the National Student Clearinghouse noted that students are increasingly seeking alternative educational paths, often driven by tuition costs.
