Almost one in eight college students would use AI agents to help with school processes, and 83% of administrators would welcome AI agent support in their roles, according to Salesforce and YouGov research.
Also: Employers want workers with AI skills, but what exactly does that mean?
The survey of more than 500 college students and 200 administrators highlighted how higher education students are eager for AI assistance in admissions, campus support, coursework, and all other student-related activities.
The campus experience must improve because higher educational institutions face challenges, including fewer college-aged students. Today, one in four college students questions the value of their degree. The demand for faster, more personalized and relevant student support is growing. Almost two-thirds (63%) of college students wanted to access 24/7 assistance.
Also: This new AI benchmark measures how much models lie
Below we summarise some of the key findings of the 2025 higher education research on the potential benefits of using agentic AI to deliver seamless experiences.
<!–>
College students require personalized services
- Half of students said they felt overwhelmed by the application process.
- 62% of students felt they’d benefit from improved assistance during admissions.
- Nearly half of students said it can take up to a week to hear back from school administrators on inquiries.
- 56% of students reported not having 24/7 access to answers for common questions, while 63% wished they did.
- One-third of students don’t even contact their school admins with inquiries because they don’t anticipate getting the help they need.
- The top three factors that prevent students from applying to schools: not understanding financial options; the process takes too long; and the process is confusing and hard to navigate.
- 52% of students would be more likely to apply to a school if it were easier to find information on its websites and digital channels.
- Nearly half (46%) would be more likely to apply to a school if the admissions processes were more personalized and the wait times were shorter between applying and acceptance.
Also: 10 key reasons AI went mainstream overnight – and what happens next
College students would welcome agentic AI
- 77% of students would use AI agents to help with school processes. And 60% would interact with an AI agent if it provided timely and accurate responses.
- Nearly half of students are excited about having an AI agent help them with coursework. AI already supports one-fourth of students’ workloads.
Also: The most critical job skill you need to thrive in the AI revolution
College administrators see the benefits of AI
- Over one-third (35%) of school administrators find themselves unable to provide timely support to students due to the burden of administrative tasks. One-third are prevented from offering personalized support for the same reason.
- 83% of school admins said they’d welcome AI agent support in their roles.
- One-third experience burnout at least once a week.
- Only 27% of administrator time is spent on direct student support.
- Staying current with evolving policies, such as governmental orders, adds another layer of complexity, with 57% of administrators expressing a need for support.
Also: Searching for your dream job? Google’s new career AI tool can help – and it’s free
The research shows how educators can use AI agents to build more responsive, tailored, and efficient support systems to ensure student and administration success.
