When ChatGPT became mainstream in 2022, colleges and universities immediately worried about the potential for plagiarism. But generative AI offers other opportunities, too, including aiding in college search.  

According to the Eduventures 2025 Student Sentiment Research™, only about 16% of college-bound high school students have used generative AI to learn about colleges. But this number has increased from 12% in 2024, indicating we might be at the dawn of a new search era.  

Just as early adopters of social media 15 years ago speculated about what role it would eventually play in college search, it is time to explore the growing role of ChatGPT and other language models. 

While still a novelty in college search, many students have discovered the benefit of getting quick answers to their most pressing questions about college from AI—even if these answers can’t always be trusted. As one student in our 2025 Student Sentiment Research discovered: “ChatGPT lies to you sometimes so I don’t know if I can ever believe what it’s telling me.” 

Some were kind enough to share with us some typical questions they would ask ChatGPT about college. Here are the top six prompt themes students shared with Eduventures: 

1.) College Selection and Comparisons 

As one of the most common prompts, many students asked ChatGPT for side-by-side comparisons of factors such as cost and campus culture, pros and cons of different institutions or of institutional types, and recommendations based on GPA or interests. Examples include: 

“What kind of sports, scholarships, job outcomes, and financial aid is available at WSU compared to CBC?” 

“I am looking to see if there is a school in Georgia that has amazing facilities such as classroom space, gyms, rankings, & also that has great exceeding athletics.” 

2.) Major Selection 

Academic program selection and ideas on the best-fit institutions for specific fields are also common themes among students. These queries include major exploration and major-specific institutional comparisons. Examples include: 

“Which colleges in Florida do you suggest that I attend when I want to major in Chemistry and also pursue study abroad?” 

“What are the most and least popular majors at USC in the cinematic arts school? 

3.) Career Preparation and Outcomes 

Closely related to major exploration are, of course, career preparation and outcomes. These questions include career pathways, specific job outcomes, and the best majors for specific careers. For example: 

“What major would be most helpful in entering the Fashion Marketing industry after college?” 

“What is a good school to go to Lock Heed Martin?” 

“Do I need college if I wanna become an actor?” 

4.) Cost, Scholarships, and Financial Aid 

Questions about college inevitably come back to the topic of cost. Students report asking ChatGPT for cost comparisons, affordable options, and specific scholarships—with many prompts that reveal misconceptions about the financial aid process. Examples include: 

“How much will I get from FAFSA?” 

“What is the average cost of living in a college dormitory?” 

“Give me scholarships I can apply for as an 18-year-old straight Caucasian male going to a Christian private university in Rochester NY.” 

5.) College Admissions Criteria 

Concerned about admissibility, many students report asking ChatGPT about realistic options for students with their academic profiles. This includes prompts about admissions requirements for specific institutions and application guidance in general. Examples include: 

“Based on my 3.9 GPA, please tell me any potential colleges that might accept me.” 

“How long is a typical essay in college?” 

“Based on my act scores will I be able to get into this college?” 

6.) Campus Life and the Student Experience 

While prospective student questions about student life vary, they reveal concerns about what life at college will be like. Prompts range from innocuous queries about daily life to specific worries. For example: 

“What does an average day on the UAF campus look like when you are majoring in English?” 

“Is college significantly harder?” 

“Is college life scary as it is in the movies for women?” 

Some of the most common queries—scholarship search, college exploration, and admissions chances—are addressed by other AI powered tools as well. And students tell us they use these more than more general language models like ChatGPT. According to our research, 35% of prospective students say they’ve used scholarship search engines, 33% have used college matching tools, and 24% have used admissions calculators.  

Compared to these numbers, language models like ChatGPT remain on the fringes of college search—for now. But they are notably more frequently used than institution-provided chatbots, offering a convenient “one stop shop” to answering all questions students might have. You may be wondering if they will be the future, potentially replacing the institutional website? 

The short answer is no, but they may require we evolve our approach to the institutional website—perhaps a topic for a future Wake-Up Call. 

The Bottom Line 

While generative AI is gaining traction among college-bound students, it will not remain on the margins for long, especially for college exploration. Our data shows that those who have used these tools generally prefer them to more traditional sources.  

Institutions that want to stay relevant should review their outreach practices: 

• Answer prospective students’ questions before they ask them. Students gravitate to ChatGPT to find quick answers as they begin college searches. The themes outlined in this post provide a roadmap for the most common questions they ask. Ensure that you proactively provide answers through email, social platforms, print mail, and other channels. And, of course, be sure to keep the tone positive and encouraging, just like ChatGPT. 
• Review your institutional website. While students may use generative AI for quick answers, your website is still a key resource throughout recruitment. Prospects, applicants, and parents routinely visit for information. Ensure your site offers clear navigation, up-to-date content, and easy access.  
• Prioritize quality website content and SEO. If generative AI doesn't mention your institution, you will lose visibility with prospects. Generative AI learns by scraping websites, so make sure your site has accurate information and is optimized to rank highly in search results.