GRAND RAPIDS – As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, cyberattacks become more sophisticated, and the digital gaming industry continues its explosive growth, colleges across Michigan are rethinking how they prepare students for the jobs of the future.
Aquinas College is the latest institution to adapt, announcing three new technology-focused majors that will launch in Fall 2026: Artificial Intelligence Literacy, Cybersecurity, and Esports and Gaming Administration.
The move reflects a broader transformation taking place across Michigan higher education. From Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo to Mount Pleasant, East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Detroit and Southfield, colleges and universities are redesigning curricula around artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital technologies as employers compete for workers in some of the fastest-growing and highest-paying occupations in the economy.
More importantly, the careers tied to these fields are among the most lucrative available to recent graduates.
Six-Figure Careers Driving Demand
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security analysts—the core occupation supported by cybersecurity programs—earned a median annual salary of $124,910 in 2024. Employment in the field is projected to grow nearly 29 percent through 2034, making it one of the fastest-growing occupations in America.
Artificial intelligence careers are generating even larger paychecks. Industry compensation surveys show AI engineers earning average salaries approaching $145,000 annually, while companies increasingly hire workers with AI-related skills for positions in consulting, training, operations, software development, marketing and data analytics.
The broader computer and information technology sector remains one of the highest-paying segments of the U.S. economy, with median annual wages exceeding $105,000 and hundreds of thousands of projected job openings expected during the next decade.
For Michigan families weighing the cost of a college education, those numbers help explain why schools are investing heavily in technology-focused programs.
By The Numbers: Careers Behind Aquinas’ New Majors
- Information Security Analyst: Median salary $124,910; projected growth 29%
- AI Engineer: Average salary approximately $145,000
- Computer Systems Analyst: Median salary $103,790
- Computer and Information Technology Occupations: Median salary $105,990
AI Literacy Goes Beyond Learning ChatGPT
Unlike traditional computer science programs, Aquinas’ Artificial Intelligence Literacy major focuses less on software coding and more on understanding how AI technologies affect business, society and decision-making.
Students will learn how AI systems work, how to evaluate AI-generated information, and how organizations can deploy AI responsibly.
The curriculum also explores questions many businesses are beginning to confront: When should humans override AI recommendations? How can organizations reduce bias in automated systems? What happens when efficiency becomes more important than human judgment? And what environmental impacts accompany the growth of AI infrastructure?
College officials say the goal is to produce graduates who can effectively use AI while understanding its limitations and risks.
Cybersecurity Skills Remain In High Demand
Cybersecurity may be the most immediately marketable of the three new programs.
Cyberattacks targeting businesses, hospitals, schools, financial institutions and government agencies continue to increase nationwide. At the same time, employers report significant difficulty filling cybersecurity positions.
Students in the Aquinas program will receive training in ethical hacking, digital privacy, network defense and cybersecurity best practices while preparing for industry certifications valued by employers.
The demand is especially strong in Michigan, where manufacturers, healthcare systems, defense contractors and financial institutions are increasing cybersecurity spending as artificial intelligence introduces new vulnerabilities and attack methods.
Industry analysts cite AI-powered cyberattacks as one of the primary reasons demand for cybersecurity professionals is expected to remain strong for years.
Esports Evolves Into A Serious Business
The third new major, Esports and Gaming Administration, reflects the rapid growth of a global industry that now attracts millions of viewers and generates billions of dollars in annual revenue.
While gaming was once viewed primarily as entertainment, esports has evolved into a professional ecosystem requiring expertise in event management, marketing, sponsorships, broadcasting, operations and community development.
Students enrolled in the program will focus on the business and leadership side of gaming while exploring how organizations can build healthy and inclusive gaming communities.
The esports industry continues to expand as colleges nationwide launch competitive teams and academic programs tied to the sector.
Michigan Colleges Are Racing To Meet Tech Workforce Demand
Aquinas is not alone in expanding technology-focused degree programs.
Across Michigan, colleges and universities are rapidly adding programs tied to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, data analytics and digital gaming as employers struggle to fill high-paying technology jobs.
In West Michigan, Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, Ferris State University and Aquinas College have all expanded programs related to cybersecurity, computing, data analytics and artificial intelligence.
In Southeast Michigan, Lawrence Technological University has long been recognized for programs in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics, engineering and game design. Wayne State University offers advanced degrees in artificial intelligence and machine learning while continuing to expand technology-focused curriculum.
The University of Michigan remains one of the nation’s leading AI research institutions, while Michigan State University continues investing in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and advanced computing research with applications ranging from agriculture and manufacturing to national security.
Together, these institutions represent a statewide effort to build the workforce needed for Michigan’s next generation of economic growth.
Michigan’s Talent Pipeline Is Being Rebuilt For The AI Economy
The launch of Aquinas’ new majors comes as Michigan increasingly positions itself as a center for artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing and robotics.
Major investments are already underway.
OpenAI and Oracle have proposed a massive AI data center campus near Saline Township that could eventually require thousands of construction workers and hundreds of technology professionals. Data center developers are also exploring projects in Van Buren Township and elsewhere across Southeast Michigan.
Meanwhile, automotive manufacturers, healthcare systems, banks, defense contractors and government agencies are expanding investments in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity technologies.
Industry leaders say Michigan’s challenge is no longer attracting technology investment. It is producing enough skilled workers to support that growth.
That challenge is becoming increasingly important as states compete for billions of dollars in AI, semiconductor, robotics and data center investments.
Aquinas officials say their new programs are designed to address that need while maintaining the college’s traditional liberal arts focus.
“We are deeply grateful and very excited for the addition of these majors,” said Aquinas Provost Terry Keller, Ph.D. “At Aquinas, we will continue to educate students through a liberal arts education, building within them critical thinking and communication skills, as well as a passion for lifelong learning.”
The programs will be delivered through a combination of online and in-person instruction. General education courses will remain classroom-based, while major-specific courses will utilize a hybrid format intended to provide students greater flexibility.
Founded in 1886, Aquinas College serves approximately 1,300 students on its 107-acre campus in Grand Rapids and is the only Catholic college in West Michigan.
For Michigan employers increasingly concerned about finding workers with AI and cybersecurity expertise, the college’s newest majors may offer a glimpse of how higher education is adapting to the next phase of the technology economy.
