It’s live! Access exclusive 2026 AI live chat benchmarks & see how your team stacks up.
Unlock the insightsThree out of four higher education institutions have implemented or are actively rolling out AI-backed student services. But adoption rates tell only part of the story. Where campuses deploy AI, how quickly they see returns, and what’s still holding the rest back reveal a much sharper picture of where the industry stands.
We dug into the numbers and the behind-the-scenes in this report, produced in partnership with Campus Technology, surveyed higher education leaders across admissions, advising, IT, student services, and more.
It covers which departments are gaining the most from AI-powered support, what measurable outcomes early adopters are reporting, and why some institutions remain on the sidelines despite growing pressure to modernize.
Student expectations for instant, always-available support aren’t slowing down, but campus staffing and budgets are. Departments that adopted AI-backed services report saving 6 to 10 staff hours per week (24% of respondents), with 60% seeing faster response times to student and parent inquiries.
Meanwhile, the top-ranked benefit among adopters was improved student retention, followed by reduced support costs and higher student satisfaction. For institutions still evaluating their options, this report provides the benchmarks and evidence needed to build a credible case for investment.