Nearly Half of High School Students Now Use AI in College Search
New survey of 5,000+ teens finds AI has growing influence on whether students go to college, where they apply, and what they study
Washington, D.C., Feb. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AI is transforming the way students discover, evaluate, and choose colleges, according to a national survey of more than 5,000 high school students conducted by education company EAB. The survey shows 46 percent of students now use AI tools such as ChatGPT during their college search, up sharply from 26 percent in spring 2025. Nearly one in five students (18 percent) removed a college from consideration based on information surfaced through AI-generated search results.
“AI has, in a matter of months, moved from the margins to the mainstream of how teenagers explore colleges,” said Madeleine Rhyneer, Vice President of Consulting Services and Dean of Enrollment Management at EAB. “AI is now shaping first impressions, helping families narrow their options, and influencing real enrollment decisions, often before a college ever has direct contact with a prospective applicant.”
While students are rapidly adopting AI for many different purposes in the college search process, many do not welcome AI-generated messages from institutions, and they are becoming adept at spotting them. More than half of students said they would react negatively to messages they perceived to be generated by AI.
“Colleges that succeed in this new environment will use AI to improve relevance and responsiveness while preserving a clear, authentic voice that fosters ongoing student engagement and genuine relationships with actual school representatives,” Rhyneer added.
EAB’s survey also showed that AI is amplifying student anxiety about careers and the value of college itself:
- 43 percent of students say AI will influence the career they pursue.
- 38 percent believe AI will reduce the number of jobs requiring a college degree.
- 39 percent say AI is pushing them to consider alternatives to college, including starting a business or entering an apprenticeship.
“Students are using AI to help them navigate some of the most fundamental questions about higher education, including whether college is worth it at all,” Rhyneer continued. “EAB is advising our partner institutions to focus messaging around tangible outcomes like skill development and career placement, while also ensuring the curricula evolve to integrate AI fluency.”
About the Survey
EAB’s student survey, conducted across October and November 2025, includes responses from more than 5,000 high school students nationwide. Students were asked about their perceptions of and experiences with AI, their use of AI tools in college search, and their expectations of how AI might change their career path. Click on this link to access the full survey report: AI’s Influence on Education and Career Choices.
About EAB
At EAB, our mission is to make education smarter and our communities stronger. We work with more than 2,800 institutions to drive transformative change through data-driven insights and best-in-class capabilities. From kindergarten to college to career, EAB partners with leaders and practitioners to accelerate progress and drive results across enrollment, student success, institutional strategy, data analytics, and advancement. We work with each partner differently, tailoring our portfolio of research, technology, and marketing and enrollment solutions to meet the unique needs of every leadership team, as well as the students and employees they serve. Learn more at eab.com.
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John Michaels EAB (202) 747-1788 jmichaels@eab.com
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