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Americans Want College Students Taught AI But Wary Of AI Use, Quinnipiac University Higher Ed Poll Finds; 76% Think International Students Studying In U.S. Is A Good Thing

As artificial intelligence transforms the way we live, work and learn, Americans think it is important that students at higher education institutions be taught how to use AI while at the same time, they are skeptical about AI's impact on students' ability to learn and how institutions may use AI. At a time when colleges and universities are under financial and political pressure, nearly 8 in 10 adults with an associate's degree or higher (78 percent) say getting their degree was worth it, citing job opportunities, salaries and a quality education as major reasons. A vast majority of Americans see benefits to international students studying in the U.S., a plurality think federal money for student loans should be increased, and Americans are mixed about the idea of a three- year "applied bachelor's" degree.

These are just some of the findings from a deep dive looking at education issues in a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University Higher Ed Poll among adults nationwide released today.

AI'S IMPACT ON LEARNING

Americans were asked whether they think college students are more likely to use AI to help them learn or to help them avoid learning. Forty-two percent of Americans think college students are more likely to use AI to help them learn, while 47 percent think college students are more likely to use AI to help them avoid learning.

There are sharp differences across age groups in how Americans think students are likely to use AI:

  • 18 to 34 year olds: 35 percent think help learn, 58 percent think help avoid learning, with 8 percent not offering an opinion;
  • 35 to 49 year olds: 41 percent think help learn, 48 percent think help avoid learning, with 11 percent not offering an opinion;
  • 50 to 64 year olds: 52 percent think help learn, 43 percent think help avoid learning, with 5 percent not offering an opinion;
  • 65 years of age and over: 48 percent think help learn, 35 percent think help avoid learning, with 17 percent not offering an opinion.
"Who is most skeptical about the merits of having AI provide a learning assist? By age, the generation most likely to be familiar with the workings of AI in the classroom," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

TEACHING ABOUT AI

Seventy-four percent of Americans think it is either very important (42 percent) or somewhat important (32 percent) that college and university students be taught how to use AI, while 23 percent think it is either not so important (9 percent) or not important at all (14 percent).

USING AI TOOLS

Americans 59 - 30 percent oppose colleges and universities using AI tools in screening new student applications.

They also 52 - 44 percent oppose colleges and universities using AI to tutor students.

"While a large majority of Americans think students should know how to use AI, it's a different story about its application. They say, 'Keep it old school,' by choosing human eyeballs over faceless algorithms when selecting and tutoring students," added Malloy.

COLLEGE DEGREE WORTH

Seventy-eight percent of Americans who earned an associate's degree or higher say getting their degree was worth it, considering the costs of getting their college degree versus the benefits to them personally, while 20 percent say it was not worth it.

Worth It: Those who say getting their college degree was worth it were given four possible reasons and asked how big a reason each is in their thinking that getting their college degree was worth it:

  • More or different career paths or job opportunities: 67 percent say a major reason;
  • The quality of their education: 65 percent say a major reason;
  • Earning more money: 61 percent say a major reason;
  • The quality of their social connections, networking and personal development: 44 percent say a major reason.

Not Worth It: Those who say getting their college degree was not worth it were given four possible reasons and asked how big a reason each is in their thinking that getting their college degree was not worth it:

  • The cost of college: 58 percent say a major reason;
  • Lack of good career paths or job opportunities: 25 percent say a major reason;
  • The quality of their education: 17 percent say a major reason;
  • The quality of their social connections, networking and personal development: 17 percent say a major reason.

HIGHER ED PERFORMANCE

A majority of Americans (58 percent) give colleges and universities a good grade, with 15 percent thinking they are doing an excellent job educating their students and 43 percent thinking they are doing a good job, while 36 percent give colleges and universities a bad grade, with 17 percent thinking they are doing a not so good job and 19 percent thinking they are doing a poor job.

COLLEGE DEGREE BENEFIT

Nearly two-thirds of Americans (66 percent) think a college degree is either a major benefit to graduates (33 percent) or a benefit, but not a major one (33 percent), while 28 percent think a college degree is either a minor benefit (21 percent) or not a benefit at all (7 percent) to graduates.

THREE-YEAR COLLEGE DEGREES

Some colleges and universities are offering a three-year degree with less course work than a traditional four-year degree, which is often called an "applied bachelor's degree."

Americans were asked whether, compared with a traditional four-year bachelor's degree, they think a three-year applied bachelor's degree is a better choice for most students, a worse choice, or about the same. Thirty-six percent of Americans think a three-year applied bachelor's degree is a better choice for most students, compared with a traditional four-year bachelor's degree, 13 percent think it is a worse choice, and 42 percent think it is about the same.

"Three years with fewer course demands, or four years of classes under the traditional college model? The shorter model is gaining traction in the educational world. Americans mulled over the options and give the three-year a lukewarm reception," added Malloy.

FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS

A plurality of Americans (44 percent) think the amount of money the federal government provides in student loans should be increased, 29 percent think the amount should remain the same and 18 percent think the amount should be decreased.

Americans under 50 years old are more likely to think the federal government should increase the amount of money it provides in student loans than those 50 years of age and over. A majority of those 18 - 34 years old (59 percent) and 35 - 49 years old (51 percent) think the amount should be increased, while only about a third of Americans 50 - 64 years old (35 percent) and 65 years of age and over (33 percent) think the amount should be increased.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Roughly three-quarters of Americans (76 percent) think international students coming to the United States to study at colleges and universities is a good thing for the United States, while 16 percent think it is a bad thing.

Good Thing: Those who think international students coming to the U.S. to study is a good thing for the U.S. were given a list of three possible reasons and asked which, if any, were reasons for their thinking:

  • International students bring different perspectives that can benefit U.S. students: 77 percent agree;
  • International students bring talent that can benefit U.S. employers: 67 percent agree;
  • International students bring more revenue to U.S. colleges and universities: 50 percent agree.

Bad Thing: Those who think international students coming to the U.S. to study is a bad thing for the U.S. were given a list of three possible reasons and asked which, if any, were reasons for their thinking:

  • International students take spaces of U.S. students at colleges and universities: 60 percent agree;
  • International students' beliefs do not align with American values: 60 percent agree;
  • International students pose security risks: 50 percent agree.
"Three-quarters of Americans think students coming from around the world to study on American campuses is a good thing for the country, with the most cited reason being that their different perspectives benefit American students," added Malloy.

1,210 adults nationwide were surveyed from April 9th - 13th with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points, including the design effect. The survey included 654 adults with an associate's degree or higher, with a margin of error of +/- 4.8 percentage points, including the design effect.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on probability-based samples using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.

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