Interest in traditional computer science is declining in the US — students are switching to AI programs

Statistics and Early Signals

This fall, something unusual happened at the campuses of the University of California. For the first time since the dot-com crash, enrollment in the “computer science” major declined. Across the system, it fell by 6% last year after a 3% drop in 2024, according to an article published last week in the San Francisco Chronicle. Even though overall college enrollment nationwide grew by 2% — according to January data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center — students are leaving traditional computer science programs.

The only exception is UC San Diego, the sole UC campus that added a separate artificial intelligence major this fall.

All of this might look like a temporary blip linked to news that CS graduates are finding it harder to secure jobs after graduation. But it is more likely a sign of the future — a future that China is embracing with far greater enthusiasm. As MIT Technology Review reported last July, Chinese universities have actively bet on AI literacy, viewing AI not as a threat but as essential infrastructure. Nearly 60% of Chinese students and faculty now use AI tools several times a day, and universities such as Zhejiang University have made AI courses mandatory, while leading institutions like Tsinghua University have created entirely new interdisciplinary AI colleges. In China, AI proficiency is no longer optional — it is a baseline requirement.

Rise of Dedicated AI Departments

U.S. universities are trying to catch up. Over the past two years, dozens of them have launched specialized AI programs. MIT’s “AI and Decision Making” major is now the second-largest on campus, the university reports. As the New York Times wrote in December, the University of South Florida enrolled more than 3,000 students in its new College of AI and Cybersecurity in the fall semester. The University at Buffalo opened a new Department of AI and Society last summer, offering seven new undergraduate specializations, and received more than 200 applications even before its official launch.

However, the transition has not been smooth everywhere. When I spoke with UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts in October, he described the situation as a spectrum: some faculty are “moving forward” with AI, while others are “hiding their heads in the sand.” Roberts, a former top executive in finance who came from outside academia, has actively pushed for AI integration despite resistance from faculty. Just a week earlier, UNC announced the merger of two schools to create an AI-focused structure — a decision that sparked discontent among faculty. Roberts also appointed a vice chancellor responsible for AI development and implementation. In his view, no one will demand that students work without using artificial intelligence after graduation, nor will they be penalized for using such tools. However, as he noted, some faculty members are currently sending the opposite message.

How Universities and Applicants Are Responding

Parents also play a role in this difficult transition. David Reynaldo, who runs the college admissions consulting firm College Zoom, told the Chronicle that parents who previously pushed their children toward CS are now reflexively steering them toward other majors that seem more resistant to AI automation, including mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.

However, enrollment data suggests that students are “voting with their feet.” According to an October survey conducted by the nonprofit Computing Research Association — which includes computer science and computer engineering departments from a wide range of universities — 62% of respondents reported a decline in student numbers in computing programs this fall. But given the rapid growth of AI programs, this looks less like an exodus from technology and more like a migration. The University of Southern California is launching an AI degree this fall, as are Columbia University, Pace University, and New Mexico State University, among many others. Students are not abandoning technology — they are choosing AI-focused programs to secure jobs.

It is too early to say whether this realignment is permanent, a temporary panic, or a short-term fix for a longer-term problem. But it is certainly a warning signal for administrators who have spent years grappling with how to handle AI in classrooms. The debate over whether to ban ChatGPT has already become ancient history. The question now is whether American universities can move fast enough — or whether they will continue arguing about what to do while students transfer to institutions that already have answers.