Meadow Releases Study on AI Use in Student Accounts

April 15, 2026
Meadow has published a study showing that most student accounts professionals in U.S. higher education use AI tools independently, often without institutional oversight. The report highlights a lack of policy clarity and leadership engagement around AI adoption in financial services.

Meadow has published a survey on the use of artificial intelligence in student accounts operations, announced in a press release. The study, titled *AI in the Tuition Billing and Payment Journey*, surveyed 147 professionals across U.S. colleges and universities and found widespread informal AI use without institutional policies or approvals.

According to the report, 76% of respondents using AI do so through unsanctioned tools, while only 14% have access to approved systems. Nearly half of participants are unaware of any AI policy at their institution, and only one reported a department-specific policy. ChatGPT was the most commonly used application, cited by 62% of respondents.

The study also found that 63% of professionals face no pressure from leadership to adopt AI, and 44% said the topic is never discussed in team meetings. Data privacy remains the top concern, with 78% naming FERPA compliance as a key issue. Despite these challenges, 45% of respondents are already using or piloting AI to draft responses to student inquiries.

Meadow will present the full findings in a webinar with NACUBO on April 30, 2026, where participants can explore the report’s insights and practical examples of AI adoption in student financial services.

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