From Gen Z to Gen Alpha: A New Era of Digital Expectations for US Colleges

New survey of U.S. teens shows AI-native, mobile-first students expect hybrid learning, seamless digital experiences and strong technology support from higher education institutions

In 2028, the first members of Generation Alpha will enter higher education. Born in 2010 — the year of the iPad and Instagram — they are the most digitally connected, technologically fluent, and AI-native generation in history.

Their arrival follows Generation Z, whose own expectations reshaped higher education over the past decade demands for flexibility, digital-first learning, and greater alignment between education and career outcomes. Where Gen Z introduced these expectations, Gen Alpha will amplify them.

Since birth, Gen Alphas have used screens as pacifiers, entertainment, social facilitators and educational aides. Having engaged with online learning as early as primary years throughout the pandemic, Gen Alphas are self-taught, expect instant answers and are likely to look for them online – via the likes of ChatGPT, TikTok and YouTube – rather than wait to ask their teachers.

So, how will colleges adapt to meet Gen Alpha’s expectations of AI-powered learning and 24/7 digital access? What happens when traditional classrooms meet a generation raised on YouTube, edutainment, and mobile-first design? Can current IT infrastructures keep up with the demands of students who code before university and expect more from digital tools than ever before?

This report, based on responses from over 3,000 U.S. adolescents aged 13 to 15 – via a bespoke survey and data from research partners The Insights Family – provides valuable insights to help you answer these questions and shape higher ed IT strategy to remain relevant. Their answers reveal how Gen Alpha learns, what technology they use in and outside their classrooms and what they expect from their college education.  

What you’ll learn

• AI is already mainstream: 73% are using or planning to use AI-powered tools
• Hybrid learning is the new baseline: more than half (56%) prefer hybrid, while only 14% envision a fully campus-based experience, with the ideal learning environment being a mix of online and practical hands-on experience‍
• College is a big part of their future, but on their own terms: 90% plan to attend college, but that comes with a suite of expectations
• Tech equity and wellbeing emerge as deal-breakers: 52% do their homework on their phones, and 72% express concerns about the negative impacts of technology use, from bullying and online safety to excessive screen time
• High expectations for technology provision – 96% expect their college to provide devices to own, borrow or use on campus, and 9 in 10 believe technology is crucial for their future success.

Read the full report for more insights.