AI is quickly becoming standard practice in higher education, with students and faculty reporting widespread use and a largely positive view of its impact, according to Coursera’s new report, “AI in Higher Education: Insights on Attitudes, Adoption, and Risks.”
The findings also point to rising demand for formal training. Nine in 10 students said they want generative AI instruction included in their degree programs. On the hiring side, 75% of employers said they would rather hire a less experienced candidate with a generative AI credential than a more experienced candidate without one.
Even as adoption accelerates, the report underscores growing pressure on campus leaders to address academic integrity, governance and institutional readiness.
AI adoption on campus is widespread
Use of artificial intelligence is nearly universal, with fewer than 5% of respondents identifying as non-users. Students report slightly higher levels of positivity (83%) than educators (77%).
Other key findings include:
- 80% of students say AI has helped improve their grades.
- About 70% believe artificial intelligence will improve exam performance.
- 70% believe the quality of higher education will improve as adoption increases.
- Only 26% of educators say their institution has a formal policy governing AI use.
Even so, most students are not relying on artificial intelligence for all academic work—63% report using it for less than half of their tasks.
Students most often use AI for research (51%) and writing (49%), followed by practice tests (46%), time management (44%) and exam revision (44%).
Faculty adoption is similarly high. Ninety-five percent of educators report using AI at least sometimes, including for setting assignments (34%), planning lectures (33%), drafting emails (33%) and grading exams (30%).
AI benefits come with real concerns
Respondents cite personalized learning as the top benefit (47%). Another 41% point to increased productivity and efficiency, while 36% say real-time feedback improves the learning experience.
However, optimism coexists with persistent concerns. The leading worries are reduced human interaction (37%), cheating and plagiarism (37%) and privacy (35%). Notably, nearly one-quarter (24%) of students admit submitting AI-generated work without disclosure.
“Generative AI will be integral to the future of education, but its adoption demands careful consideration. Instead of letting AI replace creativity and critical thinking, we must guide people to use it as a tool to enhance these skills,” said Dr. Jules White, senior advisor to the chancellor on generative AI at Vanderbilt University.
These tensions reflect the broader challenge institutions face: balancing innovation with academic integrity.
Policy gaps leave leaders little room to wait
Despite widespread use, 52% say their school is unprepared, while only 28% report that their institution has incorporated AI literacy into the curriculum. Just 26% of educators say their school has a formal policy. The data suggests adoption is moving faster than governance.
Guidance for campus leaders
The report outlines several actions institutions can take:
Build AI literacy
- Integrate artificial intelligence training into professional development and curricula
- Provide workshops and guidance on responsible use
Create clear governance
- Establish policies that address integrity, disclosure and privacy
Protect human-centered learning
- Encourage collaboration and in-person interaction
- Offer ethics training and support research on long-term impact
Ultimately, the question is no longer whether campuses will use AI, but whether they will build the governance and literacy needed to manage it responsibly.
