Could AI Make College Even More Expensive?

As students prepare to spend lakhs, or even crores, on an undergraduate degree, there is a new question families should be asking: is a college genuinely preparing students for an AI-driven world, or is it simply adding “AI” to its website?

Universities have now had several years to respond to tools such as ChatGPT, yet many are still struggling to create clear rules. In one class, a student may be encouraged to use AI for brainstorming. In another, the same behaviour could be treated as academic misconduct. Students are often left confused, anxious and unsure about what is acceptable. The most reasonable request from students is also the simplest: “Please just tell us what you expect.” But inconsistent classroom rules are only part of the problem. The bigger question is whether anyone at the university is responsible for creating a proper AI strategy. Is it the academic dean, the technology department, individual professors or a newly created AI committee? When nobody appears to be in charge, it may reveal something important about how effectively the institution is managed.

The greatest concern, however, is not cheating. It is employment. AI is beginning to perform many of the basic tasks that traditionally formed the first step of a graduate’s career, including research summaries, data analysis, presentations, basic coding and marketing content. If these entry-level responsibilities disappear, fresh graduates may be expected to arrive with more advanced skills and real experience from day one.

Forward-thinking colleges are responding by making internships, industry projects, fieldwork, research and capstone assignments central to the degree. They are helping students move beyond the tasks AI can easily perform and develop judgement, creativity, communication and problem-solving skills.

AI may also make a poor college education feel even more expensive. Families are not paying international tuition fees merely for lectures, notes and assignments that can be generated online. A college becomes worth its price when it provides experiences technology cannot easily replace: close mentorship, thoughtful debate, collaborative projects, laboratory work, meaningful friendships and the struggle of solving genuinely difficult problems.

As a high school student, you should be asking: How is AI used across different courses? Are the rules consistent? How is the curriculum changing? What real-world experience will I receive? How will the university prepare me for jobs that may not yet exist?