Students Nationwide Rethink College Majors as AI Changes Careers, and Oregon Tech Is Betting on the Shift

As AI’s traction in traditional careers increases, students nationwide are reconsidering what to study. Oregon Tech offers one local example of colleges adapting with a new artificial intelligence degree.

US Students Changing Career Paths To Adapt to AI

Driven by rapid shifts in the job market and concerns about entry-level automation, students in computer science and technical programs recognize the necessity of mastering AI tools, and more are likely to pivot to “AI-Proof” their fields of study.

In the findings of an October 2025 Gallup poll published in April 2026 surveying 3,801 US students pursuing bachelor’s or associate degrees:

• 16% of students said they had already changed their major or field because of AI’s potential effect on jobs. Of these, 19% were studying associate degrees and 13% were bachelor’s students.
• 56% of associate degree students had seriously considered changing fields.
• 42% of bachelor’s students had seriously considered changing majors.
• Students in technology, vocational and business programs were the most likely to reconsider their choices.
• Healthcare and natural science students were among the least likely to reconsider.

Oregon Tech Welcomes First Artificial Intelligence Bachelor’s Cohort in Fall 2026

While nearly half of college students have considered changing their majors- with technology and computer-related fields seeing the most hesitation and hands-on vocational and health fields gaining traction- Oregon Tech is welcoming its first artificial intelligence bachelor’s cohort in fall 2026.

Oregon Tech’s first applied Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence program focuses on building, deploying, and managing AI systems.

The curriculum emphasizes hands-on projects and industry applications instead of studying AI only in theory. According to Oregon Tech, the program will include ethical and human-centered use of AI.