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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