Study finds 4 in 5 students use AI for schoolwork, with Arkansas and Mississippi leading adoption
New research shows widespread student use of AI tools across the U.S., with English, math, and history the most AI-supported subjects and ChatGPT the dominant platform.
A new study from online tutoring platform Preply reports that 80% of students and recent graduates have used AI tools in school. Usage trends vary significantly by state, subject, and task, with Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas reporting the highest adoption rates.
Preply is a global language tutoring company with over 90,000 tutors and students in more than 175 countries. The company commissioned the research to understand how students in the U.S. are integrating AI into academic work and what this means for the future of learning.
Students use AI most for English, math, and summarizing texts
Among academic subjects, English/language arts and mathematics top the list, with over 42% of students reporting AI use in each. History follows at 27%, and computer science at 22%.
In terms of academic tasks, summarizing reading material is the most common use case (45.1%), followed closely by editing essays (44.8%) and solving math or science problems (44.6%). Writing full essays or reports is less common, used by 36.4% of students.
College students are more likely than high schoolers to use AI daily and to cross-check its outputs. However, nearly one in five students admit they rarely or never verify information provided by AI before submitting schoolwork.
ChatGPT dominates, but students are using a mix of platforms
When asked which tools they use most, nearly 80% of students named ChatGPT. Google Gemini came second at 36.5%, followed by Microsoft Copilot (16.4%), Deepseek (11.6%), and Meta AI (11%).
Grammarly is the most widely used AI-integrated platform outside of chatbots, followed by Canva and Quillbot. Students report using these tools for writing correction, creative projects, and paraphrasing.
Language learning is another common area for AI use. Most students who use AI to study a language are learning English, followed by Spanish and French. However, 45% say they still prefer human tutors when it comes to mastering the nuances of communication.
AI use highest in southern states, lowest in the Midwest and Northwest
The highest reported student AI usage scores came from Arkansas (58.3), Mississippi (51.6), and Texas (49.2). At the other end of the scale, students in Illinois, Nevada, and Oregon reported the least frequent use.
Cristina Miguelez, author of the study, notes the findings reflect more than just tech trends. “True learning takes more than quick answers,” she writes, “it takes guidance, empathy, and real understanding.”
Anita Derecskei, a learning expert at Preply, adds, “AI can enhance language practice, but it’s the insight and encouragement of an expert tutor that unlock deeper learning.”
