r/CollegeHomeworkTips

▲ 8 r/CollegeHomeworkTips+1 crossposts

i failed org chem, pls send encouragement

hello everyone. i am feeling really awful right night. i just failed organic chem 1, for a second time. and failed calculus 1. i tried so so hard in both and it wasn’t enough.

i am ending my third year and about to start my fourth year. i get overly anxious that i will never make it to graduation and even worse dental school. i feel mentally drained and have been crying about it. i meet with a counselor Wednesday to talk about plans, but it still sucks.

i could really use some encouragement and good advice. please help a girl out :-,)

reddit.com
u/jalieahlex5 — 3 days ago
▲ 1 r/CollegeHomeworkTips+1 crossposts

Blackboard - how to show your work on an exam?

I just started an MBA program after being out of school for 15 years. Blackboard is new to me.

My instructor wants us to show our work on exams for math questions. How am I supposed to do that? I’ve never seen an exam yet in blackboard. If the exam is timed, am I supposed to take a picture of my work, email it to myself and attach it?

reddit.com
u/quarter-six — 3 days ago
▲ 521 r/CollegeHomeworkTips+1 crossposts

My secret weapon for writing papers throughout undergrad and now grad school

It’s called Zotero.

Barely anyone seems to know about it and more people should because it genuinely carried me through undergrad, publishing research, and now grad school. It’s the best tool I’ve ever used.

I was introduced to Zotero by my PI during undergrad to help me write APA papers for school and papers for my research.

Eventually I ended up using it while I was working on my (now) published manuscript during undergrad and it lifted off so much stress because everything was already organized and easy to access.

It’s basically a free research and citation tool plus browser extension that lets you save journal articles, books, PDFs, websites, and sources directly from your browser into organized folders for different classes, projects, and papers.

And when I say free I mean actually free. No weird hidden fees. (Edit: they give you a certain amount of storage that’s free but over that is $20 a year. The storage seems pretty big since I personally haven’t run out myself!)

What makes it so much better than a lot of other citation generators or extensions is that it is not just a quick citation website. It actually helps you organize your entire academic life long term.

You can save sources directly from databases and websites in one click, organize all your research into folders, store and annotate PDFs, automatically generate citations and bibliographies, insert citations directly into Word or Google Docs while writing, and instantly switch citation styles. It does all the hard work for you.

I still use it constantly now in grad school and it has genuinely saved me an embarrassing amount of time and stress.

I hope someone finds this tool helpful as well! I wanted to share because I genuinely do not think tools like this should be gate kept, especially when so many students are already overwhelmed and struggling through papers and research.

Knowledge should always be shared!

reddit.com
u/No_Bid_8376 — 6 days ago
▲ 9 r/CollegeHomeworkTips+3 crossposts

Chapman vs USD for social life / party scene?

Hey everyone, I’m trying to decide between Chapman University and University of San Diego and wanted some honest opinions on student life.

Main things I care about:

•	social life / making friends
•	party scene (frats + weekend life)
•	overall campus vibe
•	how easy it is to get involved socially if I’m transferring 

I’ve heard mixed things about both schools, so I’d appreciate real experiences or comparisons.

Which one has the better overall college social experience and why?

reddit.com
u/Sweet-Performance259 — 5 days ago
▲ 15 r/CollegeHomeworkTips+7 crossposts

Making 20–30k/month at 18 — what next?

I’m 18 and currently in Mumbai for college. I do affiliate marketing and make around 20-30k ₹ per month from it. Recently started learning trading too because finance/business stuff interests me more than college honestly.

Not really into academics that much. I just want to build skills, make money early, meet smart/ambitious people and try different things while I’m young.

Wanted advice from people who started early or are doing something on their own.

Like:
- what skills are actually worth learning rn
- online/offline income ideas
- businesses worth exploring
- courses/resources that genuinely helped you
- how to network with the right people

And pls don’t say “focus on studies” 😭 I’ll manage college somehow. Just don’t want to waste years being clueless.

reddit.com
u/Professional-Run3510 — 6 days ago
▲ 5 r/CollegeHomeworkTips+3 crossposts

College student for interview needed

I have an ap seminar project where I have to interview a college student and see how their college experience aligns with skills we’ve learned in seminar. Below r the questions:
What type of research do you need to complete?
What do your college writing assignments and presentations look like?
What role does working in a group play in your college assignments/research?
What are 3-4 specific assignments where you used group work, research, presentations, or writing?
Also what are the courses in which those assignments were done?
What is your major and any minor?
What's your email address?

reddit.com
u/giannisglazer — 7 days ago
▲ 5 r/CollegeHomeworkTips+4 crossposts

[Academic] STATS Final Project Survey

Hi, can I please get some people to fill out my survey? It’s about pets! More responses = more data! Thank you!

forms.gle
u/such_a_nerd — 8 days ago
▲ 3 r/CollegeHomeworkTips+3 crossposts

Professor accusing me of cheating on Respondus exam because of monitor + mic issue — need advice

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for advice on how to handle a situation with my professor after a final exam.

I recently took a proctored final exam using Respondus LockDown Browser with webcam monitoring. After the exam, my professor emailed me saying she reviewed the recording and has concerns about possible violations.
She mentioned two main issues:

During the environment check, she saw what looked like a desktop monitor on my desk

My laptop microphone was turned off during the exam, which she says violates exam rules and makes it unclear whether another device was being used

I replied explaining my situation, but I’m still really worried about how this is going to go.

Here’s what actually happened:
I had just moved out of my dorm the night before the exam, so my room was still in the middle of being unpacked and messy

I normally use a desktop setup with two monitors, but everything was fully disconnected because I hadn’t set it back up yet

One monitor was still physically on my desk, but it was unplugged and not connected to anything

The desktop PC itself was completely powered off and not connected at all

I only used my laptop for the exam

I also made sure to move my phone behind me and keep my desk as clear as possible

About the microphone issue:
Respondus made me pass the camera/mic check before starting the exam

I didn’t intentionally turn off the microphone

I assumed it had to be working because Respondus wouldn’t let me continue otherwise (I also had issues earlier in the semester when AirPods were detected and I had to disconnect them before starting)

I also had to take the exam in my room because there were other people in the house and dogs barking, so I had no other quiet place available.

I’ve already emailed her a detailed explanation and offered to provide:
pictures of my desk setup
pictures of my normal monitor setup
screenshots/photos of my handwritten notes and scratch work from the exam
I’m really stressed because I did not cheat and I’m worried this is going to turn into a serious academic integrity issue.

TL;DR:
Professor thinks I cheated on a Respondus final because a monitor was visible during setup and my mic was off. I had just moved, my desktop was fully disconnected, and I only used my laptop. I already sent a detailed explanation and offered evidence, but I’m worried it still looks bad.

reddit.com
u/BBA_0197 — 8 days ago
▲ 12 r/CollegeHomeworkTips+1 crossposts

Percentage of Students Who Plagiarize in the U.S. [Updated March 2026]

If you want to cite this research, go here

Key findings:

  • The percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S. increased from 9.8% in 2018 to a peak of 29.0% in 2020, before stabilizing at 26.9% in 2024, indicating that plagiarism rates have remained above 20% in recent years.
  • Survey data shows that 39% of undergraduate students admit to copying or paraphrasing internet sources without citation (including paraphrasing), while plagiarism detection systems report that 11% of student papers contain more than 25% unattributed text overlap.
  • Across education levels, plagiarism appears widespread, with 51% of secondary school students reporting plagiarism from internet sources, compared with 36% of undergraduate students copying text verbatim without citation (verbatim copying only, a separate and narrower measure), and 47% of dental students plagiarizing written assignments.
  • Different research methodologies produce varying estimates, with 68% of students admitting to written cheating behaviors in ICAI surveys, 30% admitting plagiarism in meta-analyses, and 11% of student submissions flagged by detection systems.
  • The growing use of artificial intelligence is influencing academic writing, as 17% of college students report using AI tools for assignments, 56% report using AI tools for coursework, and 6-11% of student papers are identified as mostly AI-generated.
  • Cite Institutional data indicate variation in plagiarism rates across educational settings, with community colleges reporting 32% plagiarism rates, public and private schools 28%, and career and technical colleges 23%, while international comparisons show rates ranging from 13% in South Africa to 33% in the United Kingdom.

Academic integrity is a widely discussed topic in modern education. With unlimited access to online resources, essay databases, and AI-powered writing tools, students today rely on a broader range of digital resources when preparing academic assignments. As a result, plagiarism is widely recognized as a common form of academic misconduct in schools and universities across the United States.

But how widespread is plagiarism among students? Research suggests the problem is far from rare. Surveys conducted by academic integrity organizations, universities, and plagiarism-detection platforms reveal that a significant share of students report copying text, paraphrasing sources without citation, or submitting assignments containing unattributed material. At the same time, institutions are increasingly relying on detection tools and stricter academic policies to address the issue.

In this article, we analyze the percentage of students who plagiarize in the U.S., using data from academic studies, plagiarism detection systems, and educational surveys. The statistics below explore how plagiarism rates have changed over time, how they differ across education levels, and how new technologies, especially generative AI, are influencing student writing behavior.

Understanding these numbers provides valuable insight into the scale of academic misconduct and the challenges educators face in maintaining originality in student work.

To better understand the scale of the issue, it is useful to examine how the percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S. by year has changed over time.

Percentage of students who plagiarize in the U.S. by year

The chart below presents the percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S. by year, based on a statistical report by PlagiarismSearch. This dataset contributes to a broader percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S. statistics and illustrates how the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. has evolved across recent years. Examining the percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S. by year since 2018 helps identify changes in plagiarism trends. 

  • The percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S. in 2019 increased to 22.0%, more than doubling from 9.8% in 2018.
  • The percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S. statistics for 2020 reached the highest level in the dataset at 29.0%.
  • By 2024, the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. stabilized at 26.9%, following several fluctuations after the 2020 peak.

Trends in the percentage of students who plagiarize in the U.S. over time

Year Average plagiarism rate, %
2018 9.8%
2019 22.0%
2020 29.0%
2021 20.1%
2022 22.3%
2023 26.7%
2024 26.9%

Overall, the percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S. statistics indicates that plagiarism levels have varied across recent years but remain consistently significant. These figures show that the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. increased sharply between 2018 and 2020 and remained above 20% in subsequent years. The data provides additional context and helps clarify the percentage of students who have plagiarized in recent academic environments.

After reviewing how the percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S. by year changes over time, it is useful to examine several key indicators that illustrate the overall plagiarism rate among students in the U.S.

Percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S.: Key indicators

The chart below summarizes several indicators that help explain the percentage of students who plagiarize in the U.S. according to multiple academic studies and plagiarism detection data. These figures contribute to a broader percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S. statistics and provide additional context on what percentage of students have plagiarized in academic work. Together, these metrics illustrate different ways researchers measure the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S.

  • Surveys indicate that 39% of undergraduate students reported copying or paraphrasing internet text without citation.
  • Analysis of student submissions shows that 11% of student papers contain significant text overlap exceeding 25% similarity.
  • A global meta-analysis estimates that 30% of students admit to at least one instance of plagiarism during their studies.

Plagiarism rate among students in the U.S.: Core statistics

Indicator Percentage, %
Undergraduate students who copied or paraphrased internet text without citation 39%
Student papers with significant text overlap (>25%) 11%
Students admitting to at least one plagiarism instance (global meta-analysis estimate) 30%

These statistics indicate that plagiarism appears in several measurable forms, including self-reported behavior and detected similarity in student papers. The data also provides additional insight by showing that a substantial share of students who plagiarize acknowledge copying content without proper citation. Overall, these findings help clarify the percentage of college students who plagiarize and contribute to a broader understanding of academic integrity trends.

Beyond overall indicators of the percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S., it is also useful to examine how plagiarism behavior differs across education levels.

Plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. by education level

The chart below presents the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. across several education levels. These figures contribute to broader plagiarism statistics and help explain what percentage of students have plagiarized in different academic settings. Comparing these groups provides additional facts about plagiarism and shows how the prevalence of students who plagiarize varies depending on the level of education.

Plagiarism Among Students by Academic Level

  • Surveys indicate that 51% of secondary school students reported plagiarizing content from the internet.
  • Among undergraduates, 36% of students admitted to copying text verbatim without proper citation (verbatim copying only; a broader measure including paraphrasing puts this figure at 39%).
  • In professional education programs, 47% of dental students reported plagiarizing written assignments.

What percentage of students have plagiarized at different education levels

Education level Percentage, %
Secondary school students plagiarizing from the internet 51%
Undergraduate students copying text without citation 36%
Dental students plagiarizing written assignments 47%

These plagiarism statistics show that plagiarism occurs across multiple levels of education, from secondary school to specialized university programs. The data also shows that younger students and professional program participants report relatively high rates of plagiarism behavior. Overall, these findings illustrate how the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. can vary depending on educational context.

While previous charts examined the percentage of students who plagiarize in the U.S. in specific contexts, different research methodologies often produce varying estimates of the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S.

Plagiarism rate among students in the U.S.: Estimates from major studies

The chart below compares several widely cited plagiarism statistics reported by academic surveys, meta-analyses, and plagiarism detection systems. These estimates provide additional context for understanding what percentage of students have plagiarized and how different research approaches measure the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. It is important to note that the ICAI estimate includes broader cheating and plagiarism behaviors rather than plagiarism alone.

Plagiarism Estimates from Major Studies

  • The long-term ICAI survey reports that 68% of students admitted to written cheating behaviors, which include cheating and plagiarism.
  • A meta-analysis of multiple studies estimates that 30% of students admit to at least one instance of plagiarism.
  • Detection data indicate that 11% of student submissions contain significant unattributed text overlap.

Plagiarism statistics from academic surveys and detection systems

Period/study Percentage, %
Long-term ICAI survey average (2000s-2020s) – written cheating including plagiarism 68%*
Meta-analysis estimate of self-reported plagiarism 30%
Turnitin detected plagiarism in submissions 11%

*68% includes cheating behaviors, not only plagiarism

These plagiarism statistics demonstrate that the reported prevalence of plagiarism varies depending on the measurement method used. Self-reported surveys tend to produce higher estimates than plagiarism detection systems, while broader academic integrity studies may include both cheating and plagiarism behaviors. Together, these findings provide a more complete understanding of plagiarism rates among students in the U.S. and help clarify the percentage of college students who plagiarize in academic settings.

In addition to traditional forms of academic misconduct, recent plagiarism statistics also examine how internet resources and AI tools influence the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S.

Internet and AI-Related plagiarism among students

The chart below summarizes several indicators related to AI use and internet-based writing tools in academic work. These figures provide additional facts about plagiarism and help explain how digital technologies influence the behavior of students who plagiarize. In particular, the data highlights the percentage of students using AI tools and other digital writing technologies that may contribute to new forms of plagiarism.

Internet and AI-Related Plagiarism Among Students

  • Surveys indicate that 17% of college students reported using AI tools for assignments.
  • Detection systems estimate that 6% to 11% of student papers contain mostly AI-generated text.
  • A broader survey found that 56% of students reported using AI tools for coursework.

Percent of students using AI tools in academic work

Indicator Percentage, %
College students using AI tools for assignments 17%
Student papers flagged as mostly AI-generated 6%
Student papers flagged as mostly AI-generated (upper estimate) 11%
Students using AI tools for coursework 56%

These statistics show that AI tools and internet-based resources have become common in academic work. The data indicates that a notable share of students who plagiarize may rely on AI-generated or internet-assisted content. As a result, the influence of AI tools is increasingly relevant when evaluating the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. and interpreting modern facts about plagiarism in education.

While the previous chart examined the presence of AI-generated content in student work, it is also important to look at how frequently students use AI tools during the writing process.

AI tools and academic writing practices among students

The chart below summarizes several AI-related writing practices reported by students. These figures provide additional plagiarism statistics and help explain how AI tools influence the behavior of students who plagiarize. The data also highlights the percentage of students using AI tools and other digital tools that can affect academic writing practices.

AI Tools and Academic Writing Practices

  • Surveys indicate that 89% of students reported using ChatGPT for homework.
  • About 48% of students use AI tools to generate outlines for academic papers.
  • Approximately 18% of students reported using AI tools specifically to bypass plagiarism detectors.

Percent of students using ChatGPT and other AI tools for academic work

AI-Related activity Percentage, %
Students using ChatGPT for homework 89%
Students using AI to generate paper outlines 48%
Students using AI to bypass plagiarism detectors 18%
Students frequently use paraphrasing tools 44%

These statistics illustrate how AI tools have become integrated into student writing workflows. The data provides additional facts about plagiarism, showing that AI-assisted writing, paraphrasing tools, and automated content generation are commonly used during assignment preparation. Together, these findings help explain how modern technologies influence academic writing and the broader plagiarism rate among students in the U.S.

After examining how AI tools influence student writing practices, it is also useful to analyze how the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. varies across different types of educational institutions.

Plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. by institution type

The chart below compares the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. across several institution types. These plagiarism statistics provide additional context for understanding the percentage of college students who plagiarize in different academic environments. Examining institutional differences also contributes to broader facts about plagiarism in higher education.

Plagiarism Rates by Institution Type

  • Community colleges show the highest plagiarism rate, with 32% of students involved in plagiarism-related activity.
  • Public and private schools report a plagiarism rate of 28%, slightly lower than that of community colleges.
  • Career and technical colleges record the lowest level in this dataset, with 23% of students involved in plagiarism.

Plagiarism statistics across different types of educational institutions

Institution type Plagiarism rate, %
Career & technical colleges 23%
Community colleges 32%
Public & private schools 28%

These figures suggest that plagiarism rates among students in the U.S. vary depending on the institutional setting. The data indicate that plagiarism levels are relatively high across multiple education sectors. Overall, these findings contribute to broader interesting facts about plagiarism and help explain the percentage of college students who plagiarize in different types of academic institutions.

After examining institutional differences in the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S., it is useful to compare these findings with plagiarism statistics reported in other countries.

Global comparison of student plagiarism rates

The chart below compares plagiarism statistics across several countries and includes the percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S. alongside international estimates. These figures provide additional facts about plagiarism and help place the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. in a broader global context. The dataset also shows how levels of AI-generated academic content vary between countries.

  • The percentage of students who plagiarise in the U.S. is estimated at 30%, while 17% of academic content is reported as AI-generated.
  • The United Kingdom reports the highest plagiarism rate in the dataset at 33%, despite only 10% AI-generated content.
  • South Africa shows the lowest plagiarism rate at 13%, even though 26% of academic content is AI-generated.

Plagiarism statistics across countries

Country AI-Generated content, % Plagiarism rate, %
United States 17% 30%
Canada 16% 27%
United Kingdom 10% 33%
South Africa 26% 13%
Myanmar 23% 24%
Philippines 19% 30%
Australia 31% 19%

These plagiarism statistics demonstrate that plagiarism rates vary significantly across countries. The data also provides additional interesting facts about plagiarism, showing that higher levels of AI-generated content do not necessarily correspond to higher plagiarism rates. Overall, the comparison highlights how the plagiarism rate among students in the U.S. fits within broader international facts about plagiarism and contributes to understanding the percentage of students who have plagiarized in different academic systems.

Conclusions

  • The available data indicate that plagiarism remains a persistent issue within the U.S. education system. The percentage of students who plagiarize in the U.S. increased from 9.8% in 2018 to a peak of 29.0% in 2020, before stabilizing at 26.9% in 2024, suggesting that plagiarism rates have remained above 20% in recent years.
  • Survey indicators show that plagiarism appears in several measurable forms. Approximately 39% of undergraduate students report copying or paraphrasing internet sources without citation, while plagiarism detection systems estimate that 11% of student papers contain more than 25% unattributed text overlap, and 30% of students admit to at least one instance of plagiarism during their studies.
  • Data indicate that 51% of secondary school students report plagiarizing internet content, compared with 36% of undergraduate students copying text verbatim without citation and 47% of dental students plagiarizing written assignments.
  • Technological changes are influencing academic writing practices. Surveys indicate that 17% of college students use AI tools for assignments, 56% report using AI tools for coursework, and 6-11% of student papers contain predominantly AI-generated content, reflecting the growing role of digital tools in academic work.
  • Institutional and international comparisons show variation in plagiarism rates across contexts. Plagiarism rates reach 32% in community colleges, compared with 28% in public and private schools and 23% in career and technical colleges, while global comparisons show rates ranging from 13% in South Africa to 33% in the United Kingdom, with the United States reporting approximately 30%.

Sources

reddit.com
u/Only-Entertainer-992 — 10 days ago
▲ 8 r/CollegeHomeworkTips+3 crossposts

How to start an AI workflow for a college student

I’ve been very interested in how AI can help improve my workflow and overall organization because I think of myself as a pretty unorganized person with bad time management skills. I know that this is a big problem as I would be going to college next year and being organized will help me out a lot for college and for my future as well. I’m going to major in Finance so I’ll be very busy with cold emails, networking, etc… Right now I am only using ChatGPT, Claude, my traditional Gmail, Word, and all that basic stuff but I’m interested in learning more about other AI help like Notion.

Hence, I’m very interested in learning how to build and automate my own workflow and what AI can help me study better. Here are some problems I have in mind right now and if there are any other niche problems that you think can be automated, please tell me! I’m also interested in how to learn this from scratch so I can help my friends and family automate their own lives as well.

-Emails
-Canvas (School work)
-Note Taking/Summarization (Looking at Plaud)
-Learning
-Essay Writing
-Life Admin Assistant/Lifestyle Assistant
-Keeping track of lifting and the gym
-Cold email outreach automation
-Tools used specifically in Investment Banking and High Finance
-Anything that can help with teaching me and getting me adapted to the use of Excel, Powerpoint, etc…
-Anything that can help reduce mental clutter in my life

I’m very interested in building a personal AI agent that can learn who I am and help me with organizing my life but don’t know where to start as well. Also I mainly use an iPad for studying as I hate using my Macbook. I am thinking about switching to an Windows OS computer so I can learn Excel and PPT better as well

Any advice and help would be much appreciated!

reddit.com
u/Substantial-Pie-3553 — 14 days ago
▲ 5 r/CollegeHomeworkTips+2 crossposts

What I should be doing before, during, and after studying

I am studying for finals right now and want to make sure I do the most efficient studying possible and more important retain as much info as possible. I’ve been seeing a lot of stuff on what I should be doing so I came here to ask as well.

What should I be doing before studying? Should it be listening to music to get me in the zone, or no music, or perhaps looking at certain things to warm me up?

What should I be doing during studying? Mainly asking, should i be listening to music and if so what music is best to listen to during studying?

And what should i do after studying? I see a lot of people saying this is the most important phase for retention. Should I be listening to certain music? Should I not be listening to anything? Should I sit still and try to recount everything I learned?

I have very bad study habits and bad focus (maybe ADHD related I’m undiagnosed tho and don’t have time to get any meds if so lol) currently so genuinely any advice EVER on studying is super appreciated!

reddit.com
u/Sea_Tap5338 — 11 days ago