US Computer Science Enrollment Plummets as AI Displaces Entry-Level Coding Jobs
Preliminary data from the National Student Clearinghouse shows US CS undergraduate enrollment fell over 12% and graduate enrollment over 10% this fall, driven by AI reducing entry-level coding roles.
According to preliminary data released Thursday by the National Student Clearinghouse, US colleges saw a significant exodus of students from computer and information science departments this fall. Undergraduate computer science enrollment declined by more than 12%, while graduate program enrollment dropped by more than 10%. This trend builds on last year's drop, reversing years of growth for computer science programs.
The report notes that the rise of artificial intelligence has made it increasingly difficult for computer science graduates to find jobs in recent years, as companies eliminate many entry-level coding roles. A Bureau of Labor Statistics report from August found that computer and mathematics jobs would feel the most impact from AI. In just two years, computer science undergraduate programs have lost 18.4% of their students, while graduate programs have lost 27.1%.
"Those are just remarkable declines for a field that until recently was one of the fastest growing areas that we'd seen in higher education," said Matthew Holsapple, the National Student Clearinghouse's senior director of research. He added that students are identifying pathways beyond the traditional route, with affordability likely being an important factor.
More broadly, undergraduate enrollment at US universities flattened this fall, rising by only 0.6%, marking a fourth year of growth but a slowdown from the 2.4% increase in fall 2025. Graduate program enrollment fell by 1.6%, driven by a 3.7% loss in master's programs. Community colleges were the only bright spot, seeing a 1.2% bump in undergraduate enrollment.