![Lumina > Research Hub > Top Card > AI Report > 2026-04 [UPDATE]](https://imagekit.gallup.com/fusion/tr:n-emd_tmpl_dlp_bg_lg/ANALYTICSV9CMS/rnl3ntrrfkguzqnov9obtg.jpg)
Lumina Foundation
Gallup and Lumina Foundation are committed to studying the most pressing issues facing higher education.
AI in Higher Education: Widespread Use, Unclear Rules
Artificial intelligence has become a routine part of college life, even as many institutions struggle to set clear rules for its use. New research from Lumina Foundation and Gallup finds that a majority of college students now use AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini for their coursework at least weekly, including many students at schools that discourage or prohibit their use.
The Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education study, based on a survey of nearly 4,000 associate and bachelor’s degree students, finds that 57% use AI daily or weekly for schoolwork, while just 13% say they never use it. Yet more than half of students (53%) say their institution discourages or prohibits AI use in coursework, and 52% report that at least some of their classes lack clear guidance on specific use policies.
Read the full report for more findings and insights.
57% of college students use AI tools in their coursework on a daily or weekly basis, while 13% say they never use it
53% of students say their school discourages or prohibits AI use, but 48% of students at schools that discourage AI still use it weekly
29% of all college students say they are not receiving enough AI instruction or training
Aligning Education and Work: What Employers Say Higher Education Must Deliver
Higher education continues to play a central role in hiring decisions. However, employers report growing challenges in finding candidates with the right skills and preparing recent graduates for immediate effectiveness. The 2026 survey of 2,000 U.S. employers from Lumina Foundation and Gallup examines how employers view the state of higher education and the talent pipeline it produces.
Employers across industries continue to value degrees and credentials, and most expect them to remain important in hiring. At the same time, many report gaps between what graduates bring to the workplace and what employers need to stay competitive. These findings complement the Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education study, which captures student perspectives and consistently shows that Americans value postsecondary education even as concerns about cost and accessibility persist.
48% of employers believe most jobs at their organization require a college degree to be successful
3 in 4 employers say a college degree will be as or more important five years from now to get a good job at their organization
54% of employers say U.S. colleges and universities are graduating students with the skills their organization needs
Lumina Foundation in the Media
Download Past Gallup-Lumina Foundation Reports
-
Aligning Education and Work: What Employers Say Higher Education Must Deliver
-
The College Reality Check: What Students Experience vs. What America Believes
-
The State of Higher Education 2025
-
Beyond the Headlines: The Reality of Free Speech on College Campuses
-
Bridging the Gap: Insights on Cost and Value of a College Degree
-
The State of Higher Education 2024
-
Cost of College: The Price Tag of Higher Education and Its Effect on Enrollment
-
Policies and Laws: How They're Impacting College Enrollment
-
Education for What?
-
The State of Higher Education 2023
-
Stressed Out and Stopping Out: The Mental Health Crisis in Higher Education
-
Balancing Act: The Tradeoffs and Challenges Facing Black Students in Higher Education
-
The State of Higher Education 2022 Report
-
State of the Student Experience 2020 Report
-
Some College and No Degree
-
Americans Value Postsecondary Education
-
Great Jobs Great Lives Purdue Index Report
-
What America Needs to Know About Higher Education Redesign
Subscribe to Our Research
Sign up to receive email updates about our latest global analytics work, including insights from our survey research and polling around the world.