As artificial intelligence gains popularity, American universities are grappling with persistent challenges, including declining enrollment, soaring costs, and skepticism over the value of a degree. These pressures have converged, particularly as graduates face one of the weakest entry-level job markets in decades, prompting a reevaluation of the higher education system itself.
The traditional university model in the United States has shown signs of strain long before AI entered mainstream discussions. Between 2010 and 2022—the year ChatGPT was released—university enrollment nationwide fell by nearly 15 percent. Cuts in public funding have shifted more higher-education costs onto students, raising tuition and leading many families to question whether a college degree is still a worthwhile investment.
This decline reflects a broader trend, encompassing rising student debt, uneven wage gains for graduates, and increasing skepticism about job prospects. Despite universities expanding programs and amenities, the financial calculus for students has become harsher, especially for those lacking access to elite institutions or robust professional networks. By the early 2020s, the perceived return on investment of a college degree began to dominate discussions among students and parents, coinciding with rapid technological disruption.
When AI chatbots entered the mainstream, they did so against the backdrop of a tightening labor market for young workers. Recent graduates like Alina McMahon, a University of Pittsburgh alumna, illustrate the harsh realities. After applying to roughly 150 full-time jobs, she reported receiving only notifications about eliminated roles. “I know those are kind of rookie numbers in this environment,” she told New York Magazine. “It’s very discouraging.”
Her experience resonates with broader labor data: according to figures from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the unemployment rate for recent college graduates stands at 5.8 percent—1.7 percentage points higher than the overall workforce average and nearly double the unemployment rate for all college graduates, which remains at 2.9 percent. For employers in sectors that previously served as reliable entry points for graduates, hiring has slowed or, in some cases, halted entirely, creating a disconnect between educational attainment and immediate employment opportunities.
Internships and early-career training programs have also seen cutbacks, eroding crucial pathways between college and full-time employment. Businesses navigating economic uncertainty and rapid technological advancements are becoming increasingly cautious about investing in inexperienced workers. Simon Kho, the former head of early-career programs at Raymond James Financial, noted that artificial intelligence has shifted the hiring calculus. Training a fresh graduate typically required about 18 months before the employee generated enough value to offset the costs of onboarding and mentorship. “At around that point, they get fidgety,” Kho explained, highlighting how young employees often start searching for new roles just as companies begin to see returns on their investment. This raises uncomfortable questions for employers: where is the value, and can AI perform certain functions more cheaply or efficiently?
As a result, companies are increasingly hesitant to shoulder the burden of training, even as graduates find themselves in need of experience to secure stable employment. These dynamics are feeding back into higher education. As perceived returns on a college degree decline, class sizes are shrinking, particularly in tech-focused fields like computer science. Students who lack internship experience by graduation are finding themselves significantly less likely to land jobs in their chosen fields, yet opportunities to gain that experience are dwindling.
Ryan Craig, author of “Apprentice Nation,” starkly captured the challenge facing colleges and universities: they must find ways to integrate relevant, in-field, and ideally paid work experience into the undergraduate curriculum, and not merely as optional add-ons. “They need to figure out how to integrate relevant, in-field, and hopefully paid work experience for every student,” Craig asserted, “and hopefully multiple experiences before they graduate.”
For institutions already under financial strain, rising to this challenge is formidable. As enrollment continues to decline and employer expectations shift, the future of the traditional college-to-career pathway appears increasingly uncertain, shaped as much by economic realities as by the rise of artificial intelligence.
See also
Andrew Ng Advocates for Coding Skills Amid AI Evolution in Tech
AI’s Growing Influence in Higher Education: Balancing Innovation and Critical Thinking
AI in English Language Education: 6 Principles for Ethical Use and Human-Centered Solutions
Ghana’s Ministry of Education Launches AI Curriculum, Training 68,000 Teachers by 2025
57% of Special Educators Use AI for IEPs, Raising Legal and Ethical Concerns
