AI Exposure in Postsecondary Education

The national reference on AI exposure in postsecondary education

The AI Exposure Index scores 1,806 academic programs and 696 occupations on how exposed their work is to AI, across three dimensions: digital intensity, human interaction, and physical work. Built from O*NET work characteristics and BLS employment data.

This is the national overview: how exposure is distributed across fields of study, which programs sit highest and lowest, and how it intersects with discipline, earnings, enrollment, and Workforce Pell eligibility.

See the breakdown by state →

Listed in the CAAIL research dataset catalog alongside Stanford HAI's AI Index. Used and cited by →

The national picture

How AI exposure is distributed across postsecondary programs

Every one of the 1,806 scored academic programs receives a composite exposure score between 0 and 1. The national distribution is concentrated in the middle: most fields of study combine digital work that AI can reach with human or physical work that it cannot. The tails are where the signal is strongest.

0.557
median program exposure score (0–1 composite)
14%
of programs score high (≥0.65) on AI exposure
15%
score low (<0.45), anchored by human or physical work
11
0.2
109
0.3
428
0.4
751
0.5
434
0.6
60
0.7
13
0.8
Programs by composite exposure score (lower bound of each 0.1 band). 1,806 academic programs, CIP 2020.
See it by state
AI exposure of academic programs, mapped across all 50 states and DC
Open the map →
Exposure by discipline

Mean exposure by field of study

Programs grouped by their two-digit CIP family and averaged. Quantitative and analytic fields sit highest because their work is largely digital; trades, personal services, and hands-on health roles sit lowest because the work is physically anchored. Bars scaled to the highest-scoring discipline; count is the number of programs in each family.

Computer & Information Sciences
0.73
28
Engineering
0.69
58
Social Sciences
0.66
40
Legal Professions & Studies
0.66
32
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
0.64
58
Mathematics & Statistics
0.63
18
History
0.63
9
Physical Sciences
0.63
45
Philosophy & Religious Studies
0.62
16
English Language & Literature
0.61
13
Architecture
0.61
18
Area, Ethnic & Gender Studies
0.61
50
Communication & Journalism
0.61
24
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
0.58
92
Business & Management
0.58
92
Engineering Technologies
0.57
49
Library Science
0.57
5
Psychology
0.57
31
Public Administration & Social Service
0.57
13
Medical Residency/Fellowship Programs
0.56
191
Communications Technologies
0.55
15
Foreign Languages & Linguistics
0.54
84
Military Technologies
0.54
3
Science Technologies
0.54
7
Natural Resources & Conservation
0.54
22
Family & Consumer Sciences
0.54
32
Theology & Religious Vocations
0.52
19
Health Professions
0.52
209
Education
0.52
101
Visual & Performing Arts
0.50
68
Agriculture & Related Sciences
0.50
83
Homeland Security & Law Enforcement
0.47
37
Mechanic & Repair Technologies
0.46
41
Parks, Recreation & Fitness
0.46
10
Precision Production
0.43
15
Health Residency/Fellowship Programs
0.43
112
Transportation & Materials Moving
0.41
14
Other / Unclassified
0.39
1
Construction Trades
0.36
20
Culinary, Personal & Cosmetic Services
0.34
31
Highest exposure

The 100 highest-exposure academic programs

The programs whose graduates feed most heavily into AI-exposed work: computing and information sciences, quantitative methods and economics, finance, and analytics. Scroll the full ranking; open the Academic Program index to sort and filter all 1,806 programs.

#CIPAcademic programScore
111.0102Artificial Intelligence0.821
211.0804Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation0.816
311.0104Informatics0.816
411.0204Computer Game Programming0.816
511.0203Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification0.816
615.1204Computer Software Technology/Technician0.816
711.0202Computer Programming, Specific Applications0.816
811.0205Computer Programming, Specific Platforms0.816
930.4801Linguistics and Computer Science0.816
1014.0903Computer Software Engineering0.815
1114.0901Computer Engineering, General0.812
1211.0902Cloud Computing0.806
1311.0201Computer Programming/Programmer, General0.800
1427.0303Computational Mathematics0.792
1530.7001Data Science, General0.784
1630.3901Economics and Computer Science0.783
1711.0401Information Science/Studies0.783
1830.0801Mathematics and Computer Science0.779
1911.0299Computer Programming, Other0.779
2011.0103Information Technology0.777
2145.1101Sociology, General0.773
2245.1102Applied/Public Sociology0.773
2314.3301Construction Engineering0.769
2414.3601Manufacturing Engineering0.769
2511.0701Computer Science0.769
2645.0603Econometrics and Quantitative Economics0.766
2745.0604Development Economics and International Development0.766
2803.0204Environmental/Natural Resource Economics0.766
2914.1901Mechanical Engineering0.764
3044.0504International Policy Analysis0.764
3144.0501Public Policy Analysis, General0.764
3245.0602Applied Economics0.764
3330.2001International/Globalization Studies0.762
3414.1801Materials Engineering0.761
3530.3001Computational Science0.755
3645.1004Political Economy0.753
3714.3701Operations Research0.749
3830.1801Natural Sciences0.747
3940.9999Physical Sciences, Other0.747
4030.1601Accounting and Computer Science0.746
4143.0121Suspension and Debarment Investigation0.740
4245.0103Survey Research/Methodology0.740
4345.1199Sociology, Other0.736
4445.1103Rural Sociology0.736
4530.4901Mathematical Economics0.732
4630.7099Data Science, Other0.732
4751.2706Medical Informatics0.732
4845.0902National Security Policy Studies0.729
4945.0999International Relations and National Security Studies, Other0.729
5045.0901International Relations and Affairs0.729
5111.1004Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster0.728
5230.4601History and Political Science0.726
5319.0401Family Resource Management Studies, General0.722
5451.0723Healthcare Information Privacy Assurance and Security0.719
5552.1304Actuarial Science0.718
5614.0201Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General0.718
5714.0902Computer Hardware Engineering0.716
5811.0101Computer and Information Sciences, General0.713
5930.0501Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution0.712
6045.0102Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods0.710
6111.0199Computer and Information Sciences, Other0.710
6245.0599Demography, Other0.710
6345.0502Applied Demography0.710
6445.0501Demography and Population Studies0.710
6514.0202Astronautical Engineering0.706
6643.0403Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism0.705
6711.0501Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst0.704
6845.0605International Economics0.702
6945.0699Economics, Other0.702
7045.1301Sociology and Anthropology0.701
7115.0805Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician0.701
7215.1306Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD0.701
7311.1003Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance0.701
7413.0403Adult and Continuing Education Administration0.700
7516.0199Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other0.699
7645.9999Social Sciences, Other0.699
7703.0209Energy and Environmental Policy0.699
7840.0808Condensed Matter and Materials Physics0.699
7940.0809Acoustics0.699
8040.0899Physics, Other0.699
8140.0802Atomic/Molecular Physics0.699
8240.0804Elementary Particle Physics0.699
8340.0810Theoretical and Mathematical Physics0.699
8440.0807Optics/Optical Sciences0.699
8540.0806Nuclear Physics0.699
8640.0805Plasma and High-Temperature Physics0.699
8711.1001Network and System Administration/Administrator0.697
8811.1005Information Technology Project Management0.696
8914.1001Electrical and Electronics Engineering0.696
9052.0211Project Management0.695
9152.1201Management Information Systems, General0.694
9251.3204Medical/Health Humanities0.694
9314.1201Engineering Physics/Applied Physics0.694
9443.0405Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation0.693
9515.1201Computer Engineering Technology/Technician0.693
9615.1202Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician0.693
9752.0301Accounting0.693
9852.1601Taxation0.693
9914.0299Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Other0.692
10030.5101Philosophy, Politics, and Economics0.692
Lowest exposure

The lowest-exposure academic programs

Fields whose work resists software-only substitution because it happens with bodies, tools, and people in real places: cosmetology and personal services, transportation, construction and repair trades, and hands-on clinical training.

#CIPAcademic programScore
112.0402Barbering/Barber0.248
212.0413Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor0.258
312.0407Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design0.258
412.0499Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other0.259
512.0404Electrolysis/Electrology and Electrolysis Technician0.259
612.0406Make-Up Artist/Specialist0.259
712.0411Permanent Cosmetics/Makeup and Tattooing0.259
846.0408Painting/Painter and Wall Coverer0.266
946.0399Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, Other0.287
1012.0401Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General0.297
1151.3602Yoga Teacher Training/Yoga Therapy0.298
1231.0507Physical Fitness Technician0.303
1349.0106Airline Flight Attendant0.306
1460.0102Dental Public Health Residency Program0.307
1560.0106Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program0.307
1646.0406Glazier0.310
1751.3301Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine0.313
1812.0412Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager0.315
1912.0602Casino Dealing0.315
2049.0207Flagging and Traffic Control0.319
2112.0506Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter0.320
2246.0410Roofer0.320
2312.0508Institutional Food Workers0.321
2412.0505Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant0.321
2546.0412Building/Construction Site Management/Manager0.322
2651.2605Physical Therapy Technician/Aide0.324
2746.0504Well Drilling/Driller0.325
2846.0503Plumbing Technology/Plumber0.325
2951.2604Rehabilitation Aide0.327
3060.0105Orthodontics Residency Program0.333
3112.0501Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef0.339
3260.0101Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program0.339
3346.0413Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker0.339
3446.0414Insulator0.342
3512.0414Master Aesthetician/Esthetician0.344
3612.0408Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist0.344
3712.0409Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist0.344
3846.0402Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher0.344
3947.0610Bicycle Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician0.346
4012.0410Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist0.351
4119.0708Child Care and Support Services Management0.352
4260.0312Veterinary Preventive Medicine Residency Program0.352
4360.0317Zoological Medicine Residency Program0.352
4460.0310Veterinary Pathology Residency Program0.352
4560.0309Veterinary Ophthalmology Residency Program0.352
4660.0315Theriogenology Residency Program0.352
4760.0314Veterinary Surgery Residency Program0.352
4860.0308Veterinary Nutrition Residency Program0.352
4960.0316Veterinary Toxicology Residency Program0.352
5060.0311Veterinary Practice Residency Program0.352
The full index

Sections

The AI Exposure Index is the reference source on how postsecondary programs and the work they feed into stand against AI. Sections marked live are published; the cross-cut analyses are in development.


The three dimensions

Most "AI exposure" measures collapse to a single number. This index keeps three dimensions visible, because the same job can be highly digital and also heavily human-facing, and that combination matters for what AI can and cannot do.

Digital intensity

How much of the work happens through computers, structured data, and digital tools. Higher scores mean more of the task surface is reachable by software.

Human interaction shield

How much the role depends on real-time interaction with other people: care, persuasion, coordination, judgment in social context. Higher scores mean a stronger buffer against pure automation.

Physical anchor

How much the work is tied to physical objects, places, and bodies. Higher scores mean the work resists software-only substitution because something has to happen in the world.


Why this exists

Being grounded in data is essential. In a labor market changing this fast, the decisions institutions, workforce boards, policymakers, and individuals make today carry long horizons. A program built, a training investment funded, a credential pursued: each plays out over years, into work that may not look the way the data describes it now.

The AI Exposure Index is a structured way to look ahead. It scores where work sits along three measurable dimensions, built from public O*NET data and weighted by BLS employment counts, so program decisions made today can be informed by where the work is heading rather than only where it has been.

The goal is not to predict which jobs disappear. It is to give institutions, advisors, and policymakers a frame for asking which programs prepare students for work that will keep its shape, which programs feed into work being reshaped, and where the answer depends on which dimension you weigh most.

For the full construction, including variable selection, weighting, and limitations, see the methodology.

External use

Used and cited by

Organizations that use Opportunity Data statistical infrastructure in their own research programs and data catalogs. Each entry is verified against the organization's own published materials and links to those materials directly.

AI Exposure Index applications
Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence and Learning (CAAIL)
A nonprofit research lab studying how AI shapes learning, opportunity, and educational innovation. The CAAIL research dataset catalog lists "AI Exposure of Academic Programs by State," which combines the Opportunity Data AI Exposure Index with 2023 IPEDS completions, and credits Opportunity Data as publisher. The catalog annotation reports the dataset's state-level findings, including the narrow band of state scores and the role of credential-level mix.
Catalog entry undated; verified September 2026.
View the CAAIL dataset catalog

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Released March 2026 · Updated September 2026