Survey: More Than Half of College Students Are Using AI Tools

More than 60% of college students now report using AI tools for coursework, and the number keeps growing.

If it feels like everyone around you is using AI to study, write papers, or prep for exams, you’re probably right. Multiple major surveys conducted in 2024 and 2025 confirm that artificial intelligence has moved from a novelty to a mainstream academic tool on college campuses across the United States and the world.

This article breaks down the most important survey data on student AI usage, which tools are most popular, how students are using them, and what colleges are doing about it.

Key Statistics: How Many Students Use AI?

Survey data from multiple credible sources tells a consistent story: AI adoption among college students has crossed a tipping point. Here’s what the numbers show:

• BestColleges (2025): 60% of online college students use AI tools like ChatGPT to complete assignments or exams. This figure is up from 58% in 2024.
• HEPI / Kortext (2025, UK): 92% of full-time undergraduate students now use AI tools in some aspect of their academic work, compared to just 66% in 2024.
• Digital Education Council (2024 Global Survey): 86% of students across 16 countries report using AI in their studies, with 54% using it at least weekly and nearly 1 in 4 using it daily.
• Chegg (2025): 80% of undergraduates worldwide have used generative AI to support their studies.
• RAND (2025–2026): Among students using AI for homework, the share rose from 48% in May 2025 to 62% by December 2025, with college student usage remaining comparatively steady.
• Quizlet: 82% of college students regularly use AI tools compared to 58% of high school students.

The picture is clear: AI is no longer the exception in college academics; it’s the norm.

Did You Know? 60%+ of college students use AI tools for coursework (BestColleges, 2025)

What AI Tools Are Students Using?

Not all AI tools are created equal, and students have clear favorites. According to the Digital Education Council’s global survey, on average, college students use 2.1 different AI tools for their courses.

Top AI Tools Used by College Students

• ChatGPT: The most widely used AI tool, cited by 66% of students globally (Digital Education Council). ChatGPT remains the dominant platform for homework help, writing assistance, brainstorming, and research.
• Grammarly: Used by 25% of students, primarily for writing refinement, grammar checking, and proofreading.
• Microsoft Copilot: Tied with Grammarly at 25%, Copilot is popular because it’s built into Microsoft 365 tools that many students already use.
• Google Gemini: Usage more than doubled between May and December 2025 (RAND), making it the fastest-growing student AI tool.
• Perplexity AI & Claude: Growing in popularity, especially for research-heavy assignments and longer writing projects.

“ChatGPT remains the most commonly used tool cited by 66% of students, followed by Grammarly and Microsoft Copilot, each at 25%.” – Digital Education Council, 2024

How Are Students Using AI in Their Studies?

It’s not just about writing essays. Students are applying AI across nearly every phase of academic work, from initial research to exam prep. According to the RAND survey, the top uses include:

• Getting better explanations of confusing assignments or concepts (38%)
• Brainstorming ideas for papers or projects (35%)
• Looking up facts and information (33%)
• Drafting or revising written work (33%)
• Summarizing textbook chapters and dense articles (major growth area per HEPI 2025)
• Preparing for assessments and exams: 88% in 2025, up from just 53% in 2024 (HEPI)

One of the most striking findings from the HEPI survey: AI use for assessment preparation nearly doubled in a single year, from 53% of students in 2024 to 88% in 2025. That kind of rapid adoption signals a permanent shift in how students prepare for high-stakes academic moments.

Did You Know? 88% of students used AI to help prepare for assessments in 2025, up from 53% the year before (HEPI, 2025)

The Academic Integrity Question

With AI this embedded in student life, colleges are grappling with a genuinely hard question: where does helpful tool use end and academic dishonesty begin?

The answers vary widely. Only 44% of students in the BestColleges survey say their instructors generally allow the use of AI to complete assignments or exams. Meanwhile, just 5% of students report being fully aware of their institution’s AI guidelines, according to additional Quizlet data.

Fast Company reported in September 2025 that some educators describe cheating as being “off the charts,” with take-home essays and tests becoming increasingly difficult to assign without assuming AI involvement. At the same time, researchers and ethicists caution that the burden of responsible AI use shouldn’t fall entirely on students.

Key takeaway: AI policies vary by course and professor — not just by school. Always read your syllabus and ask your instructor before using any AI tool on an assignment.

Most universities are now either updating or actively developing AI policies. The American Association of Colleges & Universities published the 2025 Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence, covering AI ethics, academic integrity, and career readiness in an AI-enabled world. Many institutions, including Duke University, treat unauthorized use of generative AI as a form of cheating under existing academic integrity codes.

There’s also a growing recognition that AI policies need to be clearer. Among students who are aware of their school’s AI policy, 4 in 5 agree it is clearly stated, but most students simply don’t know the policy exists.

What Students Actually Think About AI

Students’ feelings toward AI are nuanced. They’re enthusiastic adopters, but not uncritical ones.

According to RAND research, even as AI use for homework climbed sharply in late 2025, more students simultaneously expressed concern that the technology might be harming their ability to think critically. That’s a tension playing out on campuses everywhere: students want the efficiency AI provides, but worry about what it’s costing them in terms of skill-building.

Other key attitudes from the surveys:

• 58% of students feel they don’t have sufficient AI knowledge and skills (Digital Education Council)
• 48% feel inadequately prepared for an AI-enabled workforce (Digital Education Council)
• 80% believe their university’s current AI tool integration doesn’t meet their expectations (Quizlet)
• 53% think institutions should provide AI tools as part of enrollment (Quizlet)
• 65% agree that AI tools are essential for academic success (various surveys)

The gap between adoption rates and institutional readiness is real. Students are racing ahead, while many colleges are still figuring out how to keep up.

Is There an Access Gap?

One finding that deserves more attention: AI adoption in college is not equal across student populations.

UCLA’s 2024 Undergraduate Survey found that while 67% of respondents overall had used AI tools at least several times per year, usage dropped to 57% among underrepresented student groups, compared to 72% of Asian students and 91% of White students. Female students (67%) were also less likely to use AI than their male peers (78%), and Pell Grant recipients used AI less than non-Pell students.

The HEPI survey flagged the same issue in the UK context: male students, those in STEM or health fields, and more socioeconomically advantaged students are all more likely to use AI. This creates a digital divide that institutions will need to actively address.

If AI tools become essential for academic success (and surveys suggest many students already believe they are), unequal access is an equity problem, not just a tech problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of college students use AI tools?

Based on 2025 survey data, estimates range from 60% (BestColleges, focused on online students) to 82% (Quizlet) and higher in international contexts. Most surveys agree that more than half of college students now use AI for at least some academic purposes.

What is the most popular AI tool among college students?

ChatGPT is by far the most widely used AI tool for students. In the Digital Education Council’s global survey, 66% of students named it as their primary AI tool. Grammarly and Microsoft Copilot each came in at 25%. Google Gemini usage grew rapidly through late 2025.

Is using AI for college assignments cheating?

It depends on the course and the assignment. Policies vary by professor and institution. Many colleges treat unauthorized AI use as a form of academic dishonesty. The safest approach: always check your syllabus and ask your instructor before using any AI tool on graded work.

How are students using AI for schoolwork?

The most common uses include getting explanations for difficult concepts, brainstorming ideas, looking up information, drafting or revising written work, summarizing readings, and preparing for exams and assessments.

Are colleges providing AI tools to students?

Some are, but adoption is inconsistent. Only about 44% of students say their instructors generally allow AI on assignments, and 80% believe their college’s AI integration doesn’t meet student expectations. Many students are calling on institutions to provide official AI tools as part of the academic experience.