For the first time since the dot-com crash, computer science enrollment across University of California campuses has declined — down 6% this year after a 3% drop in 2024.

Nationally, overall college enrollment is rising, but traditional CS degrees are losing ground. The major exception? UC San Diego — the only UC campus to launch a dedicated AI major this fall.

This doesn’t look like a tech exodus. It looks like a shift. Students aren’t abandoning technology — they’re pivoting toward AI-focused programs instead.